Bush to waste even more money [seeks funds for abstinence education]

[AnIndependentTexan]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apwashington_story.asp?category=1151&slug=Second%20Term%20Abstinence

Bush seeks funds for abstinence education

WASHINGTON -- President Bush's re-election insures that more federal money will flow to abstinence education that precludes discussion of birth control, even as the administration awaits evidence that the approach gets kids to refrain from sex.

Congress last weekend included more than $131 million for abstinence programs in a $388 billion spending bill, an increase of $30 million but about $100 million less than Bush requested. Meanwhile, a national evaluation of abstinence programs has been delayed, with a final report not expected until 2006.

Ten state evaluations, compiled by a group that opposes abstinence-only education, showed little change in teens' behavior since the start of abstinence programs in 1997.

The president has been a strong proponent of school-based sexual education that focuses on abstinence, but does not include instruction on safe sex.

"We don't need a study, if I remember my biology correctly, to show us that those people who are sexually abstinent have a zero chance of becoming pregnant or getting someone pregnant or contracting a sexually transmitted disease," said Wade Horn, the assistant secretary of Health and Human Services in charge of federal abstinence funding.

Those who say schools also should be teaching youths how to use contraceptives say Horn's argument ignores reality. Surveys indicate that roughly 50 percent of teens say they have sex before they leave high school. While the nation's teenage pregnancy rate is declining, young people 15 to 24 account for about half the new cases of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States each year.

[cavanaghjam]

1. Abstinence education

seems the Bush policy all right. He wants everyone to abstain from educating themselves, especially about government policy.

[Beetwasher]

2. They WANT MORE Teen Pregnancies and HIV Infection

That's the only explanation...

[seaj11]

3. hmm

"We don't need a study, if I remember my biology correctly, to show us that those people who are sexually abstinent have a zero chance of becoming pregnant or getting someone pregnant or contracting a sexually transmitted disease."

Very good, Horn. But the study would be about whether learning about contraceptives prevents kids from having sex/getting pregnant. Get with it!

[CornField]

4. "Meanwhile, a national evaluation of abstinence programs has been delayed"

And, if the results are something the * Administration doesn't like, they'll simply be recompiled (like the budgets/deficits, charter school evaluations, etc.)

[Bridget Burke]

5. Aren't Jen & Barb still unemployed?

Sounds like a great crusade for them. They can go out & teach other young people to value their virginity.

[tanyev]

6. Faith-based contraception.