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Post details: Sex Education: Conservatives hate facts like this

11/07/07

06:55:26 am, Categories: Announcements [A], 316 words

Sex Education: Conservatives hate facts like this

By H. JOSEF HEBERT, Associated Press Writer
Wed Nov 7, 12:06 AM ET

WASHINGTON - Programs that focus exclusively on abstinence have not been shown to affect teenager sexual behavior, although they are eligible for tens of millions of dollars in federal grants, according to a study released by a nonpartisan group that seeks to reduce teen pregnancies.

"At present there does not exist any strong evidence that any abstinence program delays the initiation of sex, hastens the return to abstinence or reduces the number of sexual partners" among teenagers, the study concluded.

The report, which was based on a review of research into teenager sexual behavior, was being released Wednesday by the nonpartisan National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

The study found that while abstinence-only efforts appear to have little positive impact, more comprehensive sex education programs were having "positive outcomes" including teenagers "delaying the initiation of sex, reducing the frequency of sex, reducing the number of sexual partners and increasing condom or contraceptive use."

"Two-thirds of the 48 comprehensive programs that supported both abstinence and the use of condoms and contraceptives for sexually active teens had positive behavior effect," said the report.

A spending bill before Congress for the Department of Health and Human Services would provide $141 million in assistance for community-based, abstinence-only sex education programs, $4 million more than what President Bush had requested.

The study, conducted by Douglas Kirby, a senior research scientist at ETR Associates, also sought to debunk what the report called "myths propagated by abstinence-only advocates" including: that comprehensive sex education promotes promiscuity, hastens the initiative of sex or increases its frequency, and sends a confusing message to adolescents.

None of these was found to be accurate, Kirby wrote.

Instead, he wrote, such programs improved teens' knowledge about the risks and consequences of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and gave them greater "confidence in their ability to say 'no' to unwanted sex."

21 comments

Comments:

Comment from: phreedm [Member]

Is there any doubt that AA is a wing of the DNC...?

Just read the last 3 threads...

And still Dave ignores the Dems using God in their campaigns...

So much for enforcing the "myth"...

11/07/07 @ 07:28

Comment from: phreedm [Member]

Dave...how about this huge loss for the next thread...?

School board approves amended 'In God We Trust' posters

http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=49ef4ae5-ca6d-49cf-a6b2-df82f462fff4

11/07/07 @ 07:31

Comment from: DeepDiver [Member]

I think if you were to post this, it should be accurate and not a lie. Something like:

"In the Gods Some Here Trust, While Others Trust in Logic and Reason"

Putting the "In god we trust" is totally inclusive to the xtian gods. That is a lie and a wrong example to teach our young.

11/07/07 @ 08:16

Comment from: DeepDiver [Member]

Also voted against a Dem that was pandering to the religious. Does not matter what party. I vote for the person.

11/07/07 @ 08:18

Comment from: Rusty Shackleford [Member]

Conservatives' hatred of sex education might explain why they're so bad at sex.

11/07/07 @ 09:10

Comment from: Rusty Shackleford [Member]

Poor phreedm... so ignorant he doesn't know that Charles Grassley is a Republican...

As usual, all emotion, no facts from phreedm... just ranting...

Typical of the weak-minded and gullible...

11/07/07 @ 09:13

Comment from: alexatheist [Member]

Are any of us suprised at this story? Avoidance of uncomfortable reality, regarding sex or the nature of the universe, is the cornerstone of a religious mind.

11/07/07 @ 10:38

Comment from: What [Member]

Abstinence programs don't work #$%^%!?

Gee, biology trumps religion? Who would'a thought ...

The mind wobbles.

11/07/07 @ 12:24

Comment from: karen [Member]

$141 million in assistance for community-based, abstinence-only sex education programs,

Is anyone familiar with an abstinence only sex-ed program? Phreedm, maybe? What's involved? How the hell can it cost that much to say "Just don't have sex!" Is there THAT much in printing costs for the ceremonial contracts the kids sign?

11/07/07 @ 13:10

Comment from: DeepDiver [Member]

No Karen, the $141 million is to line pockets.

11/07/07 @ 13:20

Comment from: paulb [Member]

Get this: The people pushing abstinence don't care whether it works! What they care about is being right with their god.

This was admitted by Pam Stenzel, a member of a 12-person panel at the Dept. of Health & Human Services and appointed to that post by Pres. Bush.

Ref: Michelle Goldberg, Freethought Today, March, 2007

11/07/07 @ 13:34

Comment from: karen [Member]

DD

Well, shoot, I can tell christian kids not to have sex. How can I get in on this pocket-lining scheme?

In fact, we can combine some of these problems and solve them at the same time.

On the back of our currency, cross out "god" and add "Don't have sex!"

In nativity scenes, replace the baby Jesus with a big poster that says "Kids, DON'T HAVE SEX!"

Wherever the 10Cs are displayed, overstamp them in red in with "Kids, DON'T HAVE SEX!"

And best of all, in that moment of silence at the beginning of school, have the announcement made to not even THINK about having sex! (heheh).

11/07/07 @ 13:42

Comment from: alexatheist [Member]

Karen,
From some quick online research it seems that abstinece only sexual education teaches students about sexual anatomy, sexually transmitted diseases, and waiting until marriage to have relations so it's a little more involved than just telling kids not to have sex. Not only is this information lacking in real world information but it is also homophobic since 1)there is no mention of homosexuality in the classes and 2) since gays can not marry in the USA the message being sent is that gay kids should never have sex.

11/07/07 @ 14:27

Comment from: karen [Member]

Alex
Okay, so the kids get taught what their naughty bits are and about getting cooties. But still, where does the $141 mil come in? For that they could do a production of La Cage aux Folles and quit pretending there aren't gay people in the classroom.

Oh, and I know we're waging a war on xmas and all that , but condoms make great stocking stuffers!

11/07/07 @ 16:40

Comment from: atomictesting [Member]

Oh, and I know we're waging a war on xmas and all that , but condoms make great stocking stuffers!

The stockings themselves could help here, too. Only for men, though.

11/07/07 @ 17:11

Comment from: What [Member]

Karen

But still, where does the $141 mil come in?

Abstinence only pamphlets and videos = 1 mil

GOP "pocket liners" = 140 mil

Ineffectiveness = priceless

There are Some Things Money Can't Buy. For Everything Else There's MasturBate.

11/07/07 @ 20:48

Comment from: bernarda [Member]

In civilized countries like France, they have a more open and rational attitude towards body parts and functions.

Currently there is an exhibition for 9-14 year olds at the national Science Museum, "Zizi sexuel, l'expo".

"zizi" is children's language for the little soldier.

http://de.parisinfo.com/paris-kultur/ausstellungen/5887-zizi-sexuel-l-expo-

Guess what, they even organize school trips to see it. More here in French with some Flash animation.

http://www.cite-sciences.fr/francais/indexFLASH.htm

11/08/07 @ 02:53

Comment from: bernarda [Member]

A bit more. The exhibition explains the condom and the pill, and the morning-after pill. In fact, the last is given free to minors at drug stores, family planning associations, and by nurses in junior high school and high school.

11/08/07 @ 03:11

Comment from: karen [Member]

What

LOL

11/08/07 @ 12:32

Comment from: reason [Member]

sex ed. should be limited to teaching what the laws are.beyond that is the parents obligation.

11/09/07 @ 19:52

Comment from: Jimmy [Member]

We should quit the old program. If the new one really works like it is said, we will have less AIDS and abortions.

11/14/07 @ 16:46

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