As a parent/relative/friend... what topics do you think need to be addressed within an Abstinence program?

Personally, I dont' think abstinence programs work. What we should be teaching our children/teens/students is how to be sexually mature and responsible - if that means abstinence is the best for a particular student - Great! But in general teens are going to have sex regardless of whether they take an abstinence only program/seminar. Because these programs leave teens unaware of how to practice their sexuality safely, they are at a higher risk for contracting sexually transmitted diseases adn unwanted pregnancies.

EDIT: In response to your questions:

1) I am not aware of any abstinence only programs being taught in my school district.

2) Actually, in my research I found the opposite to be true. Using nationally representative data, the average age of sexually active teens is about 16 AND the vast majority of sexual encounters that teens have are in committed monogamous relationships. Teens are not "sexually out of control" like some politicians would like to have us believe.

3) I dont think abstinence only programs should be taught at all. Instead we need to focus on teaching our children how to make sexually mature and responsible decisions. Sex in and of itself is not a bad thing! My research has shown that teens in abstinence only programs are actually more sexually active, have more sexual partners, and are less likely to use contraception.

4) I don't quite know what you mean by the "state of affairs in our current society". However, I think sexual education should be taught once our children begin puberty, that is around middle school.

5) I went to a Lutheran grade school/high school so abstinence was the only thing we were taught. In the name of abstinence we were also given misinformation, such as that if both partners are wearing jeans and engaging in petting you can still get pregnant. These are the types of lies that abstinence only programs proliferate.

that is such a good question.

the most important thing is to have a sex talk with kids.

i never had one and it really made sex not a big deal to me.. which it should be a big deal. The only person that made me feel like it was wrong when i was young was my sister... because she's a really strong Christian.

Make the kids (i'm assuming they're kids) ... live the life of a pregnant woman, or a mother, or a father.

Make the girls wear the pregnant women suits.

Make the girls and the boys take care of those babies, that are FAKE, but act as tho they are real babies.

Give them responsibilities.. and literally make them fear being pregnant.

I woudl also suggest talking about abortion and how it is morally wrong... explain what it is (depending on the age of the kid) because i know alot of people who went through this procedure and copped out of their pregnancy.

Have couples come in that did not wait until marrige to have sex and what they regret about it

Have couples come in that DID wait until marrige to have sex

and how happy they are because they waited

VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC