|
Editorial: Congress should stop funding abstinence-only ed
Monday, July 7, 2008
When it comes to federal grants for abstinence education, the question at this point is not why 22 states are spurning them, but why 28 are still accepting them. After 12 years of this program, the evidence is clear that it doesn’t work. That makes it a waste of money — not only on the part of the federal government ($50 million this year, and more than $1.5 billion overall), but on the part of the states, which must provide a 75 percent match. Teen sex is a complicated issue, as demonstrated by the recent case in Gloucester, Mass., where 17 teenage girls may or may not have made a pact to get pregnant. It is at once a biological urge, a rite of passage, a way of feeling accepted, important or loved. That’s not to say it should be encouraged. Pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS, are serious problems, and there’s no denying that for these reasons, as well as psychological, emotional and economic ones, young people are better off waiting to have sex. They need to hear that message — and they do as part of most comprehensive sex education programs, including Planned Parenthood’s. But they also need to know how their bodies work, and how to protect themselves from pregnancy and STDs if they do have sex — and the reality is that many will, regardless of what they are told. It is silly, and dangerous, to pretend otherwise. But that is what abstinence-only sex education (the only kind this federal program allows) does. It is a faith-based approach to sex education, an ideological fantasy pushed by people who, because they believe kids shouldn’t have sex, think they won’t if we only wish hard enough and preach to them that they shouldn’t. The futility of this approach can be seen in a comprehensive, multiyear study released last year by the federal Department of Health and Human Services. It showed that kids who had participated in a wide variety of such programs were no less likely to stay abstinent than others; they started having sex at the same age, with the same frequency and same number of partners. Previous studies had reached similar findings, even with kids who had taken a vow to remain chaste until marriage. New York state withdrew from the program last year, redirecting its share of the money to comprehensive sex ed programs — where it should have gone all along. Two more states, Iowa and Arizona, have announced they will drop out later this year. Congress should stop giving others the choice. It should abolish the program.
comments
|
Advertisement
|
August 29, 2008
4:40 a.m. [ Suggest removal ]
The abstinance program is the right program but since people are over sexed in this culture, as the stats on teen pregnancy shows, and adults they want to have sex and do not want a program that hinders there lust for sensual satisfaction. Whether it be addictions to smoking, drinking, drugs or what ever they want a bandaid put over an open wound or a doctor to tell them that have fun with your cancer even though it will kill you in the end. People will sacrifice anything for there vice or sin, though the cost is high. The Godly way is the best but if you are not Godly you go the way of sex programs and hand out protection, True christians will take Gods way instead of mans way and live.
5:37 a.m. [ Suggest removal ]
This one is a no-brainer. Keep God and laws seperate is an easy one.
Congress is in the middle of its decisions about the federal budget for 2009. Here’s the good news: The House is proposing to increase federal funding for family-planning services, and the Senate is proposing to cut funding from reckless and irresponsible “abstinence-only” programs! This program is a failure, promotes unsafe sex and takes away teens being teens.
But the process is still playing out, and anti-choice activists like backwards coach dave and his ilk are throwing everything they have into their efforts to kill these proposals. Please click the link below or copy and paste to send Congress a clear message: Say YES to family planning and NO to “abstinence-only” policies.
https://secure.prochoiceamerica.org/site...
With pro-choice leadership in Congress, we finally have a chance to get a few things right. We’ve seen public health shortchanged for a far-right political agenda for too long. Tell Congress to bring some common sense back to family-planning and sex-education policy.
https://secure.prochoiceamerica.org/site...
And after you’ve contacted your members of Congress, will you help turn up the pressure even more, and ask your friends and family to do the same? We’re so close, and we need all the help we can get.
http://action.prochoiceamerica.org/site/...
Thank you,
ji
4:50 a.m. [ Suggest removal ]
Dranon...reckless and irresponcible abstinance only program...that is an UnGodly responce, I guess you agree with teen and preteen sex and family planning gives the excuse for those kids to begin there life by practicing sex...The abstinance only program does not promote sex between kids at all, but the family planning groups and people like you will increase the already over sexed kids that are given the opportunity to do what ever they want by the " pro-choice" movement. This country is promoting not only sexual awareness but encouraging kids to increase there sexual activities under the disguise of " it is my right to do what I want", well that will fall short the day they have to stand in judgement because of there sins, then they will have "no choice" then.
10:57 a.m. [ Suggest removal ]
Wait a second. I thought life was all about choices, about options. Pro-choice? This should be the other options for kids, why should it be stopped? I'm confused. Things can't just be one sided. Options should always be made available....bad editorial. Sorry.