Schools are a place of knowledge and learning but when it comes to the subject of sex education, the amount of knowledge and learning students should receive is often debated. Some believe abstinence alone should be taught in schools. Others believe a comprehensive curriculum, including both abstinence and birth control, is the better choice.

Junior David Maul strongly supports the abstinence only curriculum because of his Christian beliefs. He said, "I think abstinence is the only thing that should be taught, because I believe that God has chosen us to have only one spouse. The one and only time to break your abstinence is when you're married. Everybody should follow abstinence; it's the safest way."

Junior Chris Garcia also applies his religious beliefs to his opinion on what kids should be taught in sex education. He said, "I believe they should teach abstinence just because I believe you shouldn't have sex before marriage; that is what it says in the Bible."

"I think abstinence is the only thing to be taught," echoed sophomore Lisa Bloomquist. "If teachers teach it is better to use a condom, they're saying: 'If you want to do this, go get a condom.' Wait till you're married; that's the way God intended it."

But Lisa's older sister, senior Treva Bloomquist, voiced a different opinion. She believes in abstinence herself, but realizes that others may have different beliefs. "Abstinence is the only way to go, but other people don't feel that way. So, other people should be taught about birth control," said Treva Blomquist.

Senior Bob Morrison believes it's important that sex education informs kids of all their options since many kids are already having sex by the time they take the class. "No matter what we do, kids are still going to have sex, so, it's important we educate kids about sex to prevent the negative consequences." Marilyn Fenn, Chehalis School District Nurse, agreed. "I think they (sexual education curriculums) have to be comprehensive. We can't deny that teenage sex is going on. If they are going to be at risk, we need to teach them ways to minimize the risk."

Others believe that a comprehensive approach is fine, but that abstinence should be emphasized. "I think that comprehensive curriculums should focus on abstinence much more. The only safe sex is no sex until a marital commitment," said Patricia Roby, Executive Director of the Care Center. The Care Center is a local clinic where teens can receive free pregnancy tests, counseling, and clothes and supplies for their babies.

Many people find faults with the abstinence only curriculum, though. Jennifer Soper, Teen Advocate for Planned Parenthood, dislikes how abstinence-only programs can make certain kids feel bad about themselves or their families. "When there are kids in the classroom who had a teen mother or a teen father, is it right to teach, in a way, that 'those' people are bad? Are we going to make these kids suffer for their mother's and father's choices?" asked Soper.

Often, people disagree with the abstinence-only curriculum's use of fear tactics. "The teacher tells the students that if they have sex out of wedlock they will [automatically] get pregnant, AIDS, or other STD's," according to the program, Sex, Teens, and Public Schools with Jane Pauly.

Finally, one must consider how much kids pay attention at all when a view contrary to their own is presented. "If they teach only abstinence, kids won't listen," said sophomore Josh Patten.

In 1993 the World Health Organization released the results of their study on the sex education question: "Which is the more effective way to teach kids about sex, abstinence only or a comprehensive curriculum?" They concluded that a curriculum teaching both abstinence and birth control was more effective than abstinence only programs in preventing STD's and teen pregnancy. They also concluded that no curriculum makes students more sexually active.

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These are some statistics from the 1993 World Health Organization's study on kids in sexual education classes.

· 7 out of 10 teens will become sexually active before high school graduation.

· 1 out of 4 teens will have an STD before graduation.

· 4 out of 10 girls will become pregnant while in her teenage years.

· 2 out of 10 will become teenage mothers.

· 8 out of 10 teen mothers will drop out of school.

· 1 out of 3 teen mothers will give birth to another child within two years.

· 8 out of 10 of children from teen mothers will grow up in poverty

· Schools devote fewer than two hours to sex education per year.

· $34 billion in welfare is spent on teen mothers per year.