DR. WALLACE: I admit I'm a bit on the wild side and I'm not your normal, middle-of-the-road teen, but your stance on sexual abstinence is antiquated. You advocate abstinence for a number of reasons — pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, the loss of self-esteem, immoral acts and a number of other no-nos.
I realize that you're not a teenager, and since you have worked with teens I'm surprised how naive you are regarding teen sex. When you were dating, kissing on a first date was considered a no-no and a girl who allowed a good night kiss could have her splendid reputation soiled.
Today, first-date sex is the norm rather than the exception. If protection is used properly, unwanted pregnancy and the threat of con attracting a sexually transmitted disease is so low it's worth the gamble.
I'm now 16 and have been sexually active for two years. It's away of life that I choose to live. Do I have sex on a first date? Most of the time, and I'm proud of it. —Nameless, Las Vegas, Nev.
NAMELESS: maybe you are part of the "sex on the first date" crowded, but don't try to con me into believing this is the norm for most teens.
In recent years, several national surveys on teen sexuality have revealed that less than 40 percent of teen girls 18 or under are sexually active. So the norm is that the majority of teen girls have the opposite view of sex that you have.
Thanks for reading my column! In a year or so, I would enjoyed hearing from you that you are doing well in school, planning to attend college, and dating a guy who cares for YOU - not just your body, and that you feel the same way about him.
THE TEACHER IS NOT FAIR
DR. WALLACE: I am in the ninth grade and am getting all A's except for my English class. I have never received any grade lower than a B since I was in seventh grade. Our English teacher said that she doesn't give A's to freshman students because they'll think she's an easy grader. I talked to her and she said I was a good student, but I am a freshman and the best I can do is to earn a B+.
My mom is upset and wants to talk to our principal, but I'm not sure that's a good idea. What do you think? —Alberto, Miami, Fl.
ALBERTO: This is definitely isn't fair. Have mom make an appointment for the two of you with the principal. If the teacher is serious about not giving an A to a freshman even if they've earned it, she needs to read evaluate her grading system or find another job.
And if the principal agrees with the teacher, the district superintendent and the Miami Board of Education are the next stops.
GRANDMA IS NOT RIGHT THIS TIME
DR. WALLACE: I like to prepare my own meals because I enjoy eating healthy foods but my parents and my grandmother do not. Most of my meals are cooked in a microwave oven. My grandmother keeps telling me that foods cooked in a microwave are very unhealthy and could cause all kinds of health problems. I talked with my science teacher and he said that foods cooked in a microwave are safe to eat. Who is right? I hope it's my teacher. —Keisha, Dallas, Tx
KEISHA: In conventional cooking, heat is applied from the outside and gradually penetrates food, but microwaves cooked the interior of foods directly by causing water molecules to vibrate, thus causing heat.
According to the university of California wellness letter, microwaving is like steaming — an excellent way to preserve nutrients and is one of the better cooking methods.
Grandmothers are usually right, but not this time.
Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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