h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've seen a lot of these in my school, typically at the end of sex ed classes. The class is spread out over several days, with one day being devoted to basic anatomy, one to STDs, and one to birth control. At the end of the class on birth control, they discuss abstinence (for about twice as long as they spent on all other methods of birth control, together). Once they're done telling us not to have sex, they pass out the pledges.

The teacher makes a big deal out of it being optional, but there's a tremendous amount of pressure to sign. If you don't sign, the rest of the students assume you're 'doing it' or will in the immediate future. Every single person in that class but me signed the pledge, and probably two or three of them will actually wait until marriage. Personally, I don't see the point of signing something you don't intend to honor. Do you?

Yes, "pledges" sound completely daft. On the other hand, there is only so much to say about contraceptives. Once you've explained how to use them, and what kinds are appropriate in what situation, that’s about it, really.

In my school they spent some time trying to get us to think about "relationships", which I think is somewhat more sensible, although it wasn't done particularly well. "Relationship discussions" are supposed to be statistically the most effective way of delaying the age at which recipients first have sex. So I suppose it has been pretty darn effective on me...