BSVDWatch.org

As a parent I really think this sort of panel is inappropriate for a school audience. It is the job of parents to teach their children about responsible choices, not other adults. In case that makes me incredibly Neanderthal, so be it. We have discussed sex, sexuality, drugs and alcohol with our teenaged daughters in an age appropriate way since they were young and both of them are very responsible. Our eldest daughter insisted on keeping our house as a totally alcohol free gathering place for her friends all through high school. I am happy to say that we had a full house every weekend and it was worth every penny I spent on soda, take out and junk food and all the hours I spent in the kitchen eavesdropping and supervising.

What a pitiful group of adults. They couldn't pass a public speaking course in middle school! The speakers may have been well-meaning, but the presentation was so extremely one-sided that the message was lost amid all the politics and personal opinion. Shame on the speakers and shame on the educational system in Boulder!

I think as a grown adult reading this transcript, it is clear that the central message is to think about your actions and their possible ramifications. However, it seems that the fact that they are talking to a group of 14-18 year old kids, seems to have escaped the panelists. These are not kids who hear, "this happened, these are the facts, so if you do all of this stuff, do it responsibly," they hear, "...do all this stuff..." When you tell a kid that age, "wait until you're ready," but do not supply them them with what "being ready means, it is irresponsible and dangerous. The fact that every time acts of sex or drug use was mentioned, it was followed by laughter or applause, should have been a red flag to administrators and the panelists themselves that a substantial part of this group of young people was not mature enough to interpret the messages as they were intended. I can appreciate the intent of this panel and its panelists. I do not, however, believe it was conducted correctly or responsibly.

I think as a grown adult reading this transcript, it is clear that the central message is to think about your actions and their possible ramifications. However, it seems that the fact that they are talking to a group of 14-18 year old kids, seems to have escaped the panelists. These are not kids who hear, "this happened, these are the facts, so if you do all of this stuff, do it responsibly," they hear, "...do all this stuff..." When you tell a kid that age, "wait until you're ready," but do not supply them them with what "being ready means, it is irresponsible and dangerous. The fact that every time acts of sex or drug use was mentioned, it was followed by laughter or applause, should have been a red flag to administrators and the panelists themselves that a substantial part of this group of young people was not mature enough to interpret the messages as they were intended. I can appreciate the intent of this panel and its panelists. I do not, however, believe it was conducted correctly or responsibly.

I enjoyed this transcript thoroughly. I liked how they brought up the point about how if you are abstinent you still have a responsibility to learn about the risks associated with having sex. Because most people have sex eventually, be it a 1 night stand or a wedding night. I also liked how the panel tried to keep their answers directed in a point of view that todays teens would understand. I also like the fact that even though the QUESTIONS asked weren't the best that none of them were hushed up, or ignored. I think it is important that we answer all the questions not just the politically correct ones. I will say this though, I do disagree that Mr. Becker shouldn't have said he encourages drug usuage. In the following paragragh afterward he talks about sex for the majority of it because as he states he is more proficient in that area, so if he wasn't going to talk about using drugs appropriately with as much emphasis as having sex then he should have left it out.

This should not have been a mandatory event.

I wonder if #152 sees the irony in their own comment. "What a pitiful group of adults. They couldn't pass a public speaking course in middle school! The speakers may have been well-meaning, but the presentation was so extremely one-sided that the message was lost amid all the politics and personal opinion. Shame on the speakers" I guess if you're incapable of being critical of your own thinking, I can see how you would be offended.

The message of this presentation is that drugs and sex have bad consequences. I'm confused as to why so many people are intrepreting it as having the opposite message.

I'm a high school student currently, and to be totally honest, I greatly appreciated this transcript. A lot of people commenting have responded with something akin to, "It is a parent's job to teach their children these values." But, to be completely honest, not all teenagers have parents that teach them things. I'm going to be honest and say that I spent the majority of my freshmen and sophomore year high. Of course, I knew it was bad, but that never stopped me from doing it. But, as a currently sober senior in high school, I almost wish I had read this earlier. The part especially about the lack of motivation in school of people who used marijuana applied very well. But, you know, I think it's very true that many teenagers have unrealistic expectations about sex especially, and getting a realistic view on a very sketchy idea can help people. I think a lot of teenagers go into sex only knowing the purely physical aspects of sex that you learn in high school sex education. A dear friend of mine ended up pregnant her senior year, and had a miscarriage, because she didn't fully understand the consequences of sexual activity. Sometimes, it takes somebody to say, "You may think I'm just an adult lecturing you, but I was a teenager once too, and I wasn't perfect and made mistakes." As a teenager, it's a lot easier to listen to somebody who isn't condemning everything and instead can listen and provide insightful advice just in case you find yourself in a particular situation. That's my opinion. :)

When people turn our schools into a tool for their political/religious platform, times are pretty sad.

Get real, read this transcript and think about WHO these kids are.. Just say no! and abstain till marriage does not work or help the kids.

Get your buts out of church and talk to your kids, they are people with real needs and feelings, not tools for some abstract idealism.