There Is No Such Thing as Safe Teenage Sex

by Walter L. Bradley
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 20 No. 3, September 1994

Once upon a time, in a faraway place, in a lovely little town, a problem arose that sparked a great controversy. Some small children had developed the careless habit of playing in the street. The untimely death of several children who were hit by passing cars caused a true and appropriate crisis in the community. Subsequently, a debate raged over what should be done to prevent this needless bloodshed, either entirely or at least minimize it in the future. The most "enlightened" people argued that it was hopeless to try to persuade children not to play in the street, and that the only possible course of action would be to teach them how to play in the street safely (as if playing in the street is ever really safe). Some old "fuddie-duddies" questioned the wisdom of teaching children how to play safely in the street, arguing that persuading children not to play in the street at all was practical (and had been done with considerable success for many, many years). Naturally, the "enlightened" modernist prevailed, and vigorous instruction in safe play in the street was instituted in all schools and churches.

This strategy had a most unfortunate and unintended effect. The education program was so successful that the number of children playing in the street dramatically increased, since the children had been taught that playing in the street was indeed safe after all, and of course, everybody was "doing it." Though the children did sometimes remember their lessons and play in the street more carefully, the occasional exercise of greater care by the children did not compensate for the much greater number of children playing in the street, with a tragic increase in child fatalities. When the old "fuddie-duddies" questioned the efficacy of this "play safely in the street" strategy, they were rebuked and told that an even greater effort was needed regarding the educational program.

In a few neighborhoods, the parents rebelled and banded together to insist that no children play in the street. Working together, their collective ban on street play was highly successful (though not perfect), resulting in a dramatic decrease in child fatalities. Did their success influence the rest of the city, where children played "safely" in the streets? No way! These parents were told by international authorities, Dr. Elders and Donna Shalala, that their positive results were not statistically significant, but that the current educational program would be modified to mention in passing the option of not playing in the street, as a comprehensive "play safely in the street" program is being taught. And to this day, it remains so, almost all children playing in the street as they have been taught, sometimes carefully, often not, with many tragic fatalities.