SCHOOL ABSTINENCE PROGRAMS ARE NOT ALWAYS ABSTINENCE BASED     
Thursday, January 29, 2004

We hear a lot today about abstinence-based sex education. Even the President is talking about promoting abstinence for teenagers. Many teens don’t know what abstinence means, but they need to be taught first at home, then at school.

Abstinence can protect the health of a teenager. Abstinence will help a teen stick to his or her spiritual and moral values. Making the decision to be abstinent until marriage means a teen has taken control of his or her life and will protect his
or her reputation.

Abstinence is the only way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). STDs can make a teen very sick or even bring about death. Many STD’s are incurable. HIV infection leads to AIDS, which is a fatal disease. Other STD’s can lead to blindness or cause one not to be able to have children.

This is good information that a child needs to know, but is it what is being taught in public school abstinence-based Sex Ed? Not always. As a matter of fact most government funded “abstinence-based” or “abstinence plus” programs offered nationwide contain little mention of abstinence.

What is worse is what the programs do say – with explicit demonstrations
of contraceptive use and the graphic encouragement to experiment sexually.

In a recent Zogby poll, 3 in 4 parents disapproved or strongly disapproved
of abstinence-plus curriculum. Most parents want authentic abstinence
education for their children.

Focus on Kids is a program that begins with a warning that says “Explicit language ahead.” There is the program “Becoming a Responsible Teen” or
BART or the program “Be Proud – Be Responsible” or “Reducing the Risk.”
These programs are graphic with teachers showing kids as young as 13 “how to
make condoms “fun and pleasurable.”

These types of programs hide behind the abstinence label. They are sending
kids the wrong message.

Parents check to see if your child is in one of these so called abstinence classes.
If they are – they are receiving graphic information and as a taxpayer, you are footing the bill.

Teach your child to wait while they date and save sex for marriage.