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Show READERS RESPOND:; WHAT TEENS AEALLY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SEX Ina recent story, “We've Made Everything Too Easyfor Our Children,” the assistant superintendent ofa Mississippi schooldistrictcriticized both teenagers and parents, focusing particularly on teenage sexuality and sex-education programs. He said, “Whatis it [teenagers] want to know? Hownotto get pregnant? Thatis an easy lesson. Abstain.” Here are some excerptsfrom our readers’ responses: I was a teenage parent. NowthatI havea teenager, I am attempting to arm her with knowledge of sex, boys and peerpressure, with moral guidance—andaccess,ifneed be,to the tools that will prevent her (excuse me, possibly prevent her) from becoming pregnantor being afflicted with somehorrible disease. Accessto all the righttools for every decision is a must. The school superintendentshould leave his cocoon. Unfortunately,all you can do as a parentis impart knowledgeandtry to instill values. You cannotlivetheir lives for them. I am 29 now, and my daughteris 14. With mylove, support and guidance, like to think I can trust her to maketheright decision when the time comes. But my mottois: Neverlet your guard down, and always Lisa (r), 28, and Blyth, 14 seize a good moral situation to talk about when yousee it. Sex education should fo- poccecc--- Pe ae ee, ee Good for Users of cus more onlife education: how to handle situations, and how to feel good about yourself and the decisions you make.If I'd had betterself-esteem, I would neverhave gotten pregnantat age 14. —Lisa A.M. Toor, 29, Riverside, Calif. 3 My school taught us what our sexual anatomydid. But whenthe time came, what I really needed to know was all the dimensions of having a sexualrelationship with my boyfriend. My schoolonly provided condoms. And my parents were horrified that I was asking for help. I used the condoms and avoided Cassandra, 26 talking to myparents,since the issue was “taboo.” Butall the while, whatI really needed was someone totell me whatexisted beyondthe physical,like: WasI ready to makelove with a man I perceived I loved deeply? Neither parents nor schoolprovided this for me. Teenagers need education on being in a lovingrelationship—with and withoutsex. By focusing only on one aspectofa relationship—to abstain from sexor to use birth control—our society is not preparing teens for a healthy, loving relationship in the future. ae —Cassandra L. Medier, 26, Missoula, Mont. J agree that parents shouldgive their children the love, security and support they need. ButI also believethat this is too much to hope for. So teenagers turn to a boyfriend/ girlfriendto giveit to them. And that loveis often expressed sexually. The school superintendent said that “teenagers want adults to provide them with everything they need to keep them from getting pregnant, so they can be promiscuous without having to be responsible for their behavior.” But by practicing safe sex, teenagers are taking responsibility for their actions. Teenagers are more mature than the superintendentbelieves. But we're trying to find a wayto deal with a world full of violence,hate, drugs and AIDS—andstill live the carefree lives that teenagers are supposed tolive. TIMOPTIC Timolol Maleate) —Anna M. Johnston, 19, Greenville, N.C. | I've been taking sex-educationclass#{ es since fourth grade. These classes, whichtell us aboutall the risks, haven't madeit easier for me to choose to have sex—they’ve made it harder,I've chosen abstinence. Yes, adults need to assumeresponsibility for their children. But Summer, 16 shouldn't children be given the education they need to assumeresponsibility for themselves? Now there’s a form of TIMOPTIC called % TIMOPTIC-XE™ (Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Gel Forming Solution) Ask your eye doctor today about TIMOPTIC-XE EB MERCK copyrtt © 1095 by More & Co, ne ‘Ali rights reserved. JSTM29A —Summer Ostiund, 16, Las Vegas, Nev. Me Ueeeele Se meBgae leh elae 1 Tans sie: inl aaa ibs tee ss cae Gans Sd ora oe esa ent PAGE @ - MAY 20,1906 - PARADE MAGAZINE |
