Once again, experts have testified that abstinence only sex education programs don't work. This time, groups of experts, including representatives from the American Public Health Association, the U.S. Institute of Medicine, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists testified before various Congressional groups that abstinence only sex education programs simply and plainly do not work. They do not cut teen pregnancy rates, they do not slow the spread of STIs, and do not delay age of first sexual experience. Of course, the Bush Administration doesn't want to cut funding to these abstinence only programs (and especially not in favour of comprehensive sex education programs). The choice quote of the day award goes to Tennessee Republican representative John Duncan, who apparently said with a completely straight face, "that it seems 'rather elitist' that people with academic degrees in health think they know better than parents what type of sex education is appropriate."
-Kelly Hills
(* With my own apologies to anyone now wandering around singing Broadway, or Buffy, showtunes.)
1 comment:
"that it seems 'rather elitist' that people with academic degrees in health think they know better than parents what type of sex education is appropriate."
First of all, these aren't mutually exclusive categories. I've heard of people who can actually have both academic degrees and children. Even simultaneously. Seriously.
Secondly, what a ridiculous thing to say. I concede that being a parent gives a person rights as to what their children can be exposed to and when (for those things over which they have control). But people with academic degrees are familiar with the science that shows, for instance, that abstinence-only programs do not delay first sex, they do not cut teen pregnancy rates, and they don't stifle (or even slow) the spread of STD's. You don't have to be a parent (or even a Ph.D.) to understand these facts. They exist regardless of how you feel about exposing children to it. If we are interested in changing these outcomes, we will have to change the behaviors that lead to them. We have seen repeatedly that naive sex-ed doesn't work. A more comprehensive approach (including admitting that, yes, sex happens, even to minors) is necessary.
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