More on abstinence-only sex education

[MountainLaurel]

And how they instill fear and use lies . . .

As part of its Third Annual "Back to School" briefing, the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS) is pleased to release its latest reviews of three abstinence-only-until-marriage curricula used in federally funded programs. Although the programs vary, these reviews document that the programs are riddled with messages of fear, shame, gender stereotypes, and medical misinformation that put young people at risk.

"These reviews provided an excellent portrait of the types of abstinence-only-until-marriage curricula used in the programs funded by the federal government," said William Smith, vice president for public policy at SIECUS . "We hope this information will give educators, policymakers, community leaders, and parents the true picture of what our nation's young people are, and in many cases, are not learning with respect to their sexual health," Smith continued.

SIECUS reviewed Passions and Principals, Worth the Wait, and Navigator . These curricula are taught in federally-funded abstinence-only-until-marriage programs located in more than a dozen states across the nation, including, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Texas, and Virginia among others. Since FY 2001, the programs that use these curricula have received more than $4 million.

http://www.siecus.org/media/press/press0114.html

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. Abstinence is a great thing

and should always be presented as a viable alternative and not something only for the ugly girls.

But not teaching birth control and STD info is like turning kids loose on a minefield.

I graduated from high school in 1968. We learned about STD's way back then, and birth control too. What's the big deal? I never got the impression from my sex ed teacher (she was the PE coach) that I should go out and try it all that night.

[rodeodance]

2. the SIECUS title says it all------- How Medical Inaccuracies, Fear

How Medical Inaccuracies, Fear, and Shame in Federally Funded Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs Put Our Youth at Risk

SIECUS Releases Review of Commonly Used Curricula

[Arkansas Granny]

4. From one granny to another, well said. If young people are to

make informed choices concerning their sexuality, all the facts and choices need to be presented to them. Knowledge is the greatest protection of all.

[rodeodance]

3. kick

[Ally McLesbian]

5. Gender Stereotypes

Something I am extremely against - since I am transgender and break every gender stereotype out there.

Back to the topic, abstinence should be taught as the first choice - but not the only choice. Sex education should be informative, not fearful. It's a shame that my own state California - a so-called "blue state" - is participating in abstinence-only education, under pressure from conservative immigrant groups.

[bammertheblue]

6. abstinence only is full of lies.

I also do not have anything against abstinence. I'd certainly prefer it if we were talking about, say, my fourteen year old (theoretical) kids. But teenagers also need to know FACTS about things like condoms, the pill, AIDS, what to do if you or a friend is raped, and abstinence only just doesn't teach these things, or worse, it teaches bald-faced lies.