Abstinence Education Faces Uncertain Future

[Hissyspit]

Source: New York Times

Abstinence Education Faces Uncertain Future

By LAURA BEIL

HALLSVILLE, Tex. — When Jami Waite graduated from high school this year in this northeastern Texas town, her parents sat damp-eyed in the metal bleachers of Bobcat Stadium, proud in every way possible. Their youngest daughter was leaving childhood an honor graduate, a band member, a true friend, a head cheerleader — and a steadfast virgin.

- snip -

For the first time, however, Virginity Rules and 700 kindred abstinence education programs are fighting serious threats to their future. Eleven state health departments rejected abstinence education this year, while legislatures in Colorado, Iowa and Washington passed laws that could kill, or at least wound, its presence in public schools.

Opponents received high-caliber ammunition this spring when the most comprehensive study of abstinence education found no sign that it delayed a teenager’s sexual debut. And, after enjoying a fivefold increase in their main federal appropriations, the abstinence programs in June received their first cut in financing from the Senate appropriations committee since 2001.

But the final outcome is in question. Some $176 million in federal support has survived several early maneuvers in the House, and the full House plans to debate the issue July 18 as part of the proposed Health and Human Services budget.

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Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/education/18abstain.html?hp

[Vincardog]

1. Do ya think it should end because it does not work?

[atommom]

2. Abstinence-only education doesn't deserve a future. nt

[sutz12]

3. It's future should be a certain end. nt

[frogcycle]

4. i've said it before and I'll say it again

I practiced abstinence all through high school, and I didn't need any classes to teach me about it. It seemed to come all too naturally.

[Bob3]

5. becasue like trying to fly by flapping your hands real hard

it doesn't work. I know there are lots of folks who would like it to work but wishin' don't make it so in the real world.

[Hekate]

6. In the good ol' days there was a thriving adoption industry; amazing how many girls lost it despite

...the prevailing social mores in the 1940's, 1950's and most of the 1960's.

Abstinence programs work for compliant teenagers who probably would have stayed virgins anyway. I was one of those, despite having a boyfriend I really cared about. I believed my mother's counsel, I had long-term goals, my boyfriend was scared because his best friend was a father at 19, and I had no access to birth control.

None of that really stopped the kids who for a variety of reasons went ahead. It was the early 1960's. I know of one girl for sure who got pregnant in our sophomore year and had to give up her baby. I know several others who got married pretty fast after graduation.

It wasn't the sexual revolution that made teenagers decide to have sex; it was and is human nature.

Abstinence programs by themselves are a waste of time and money.

Planned Parenthood has good programs for teens if anyone cares to investigate, and they include a lot of role-playing designed to help kids resist social pressure and wait until they are really ready for the responsibility. PP educates kids about their bodies forthrightly and honestly. PP tells them about contraception, what it is, how it works, and how to obtain it.

That works.

Hekate