Abstinence Only Education

[OneBlueSky]

by Eleanor Bader
Z Magazine
January, 2005

http://zmagsite.zmag.org/Images/bader0105.html

Dr. Kimber Haddix McKay, an anthropologist who teaches Human Sexuality at the University of Montana-Missoula, thought it would be a good idea to expose her students to those who promote sexual abstinence until marriage. “Since Montana accepts federal money for abstinence education, I thought I’d show the students what this means and who is involved in the state’s campaigns,” she says. She invited representatives from Sexual Abstinence and Family Education (SAFE) to address the 250 undergraduates enrolled in the course.

The content of the talk outraged McKay and shocked and confused her students. “They said things like condoms aren’t effective against STDs and explicitly predicted that those who have premarital sex will have unhappy marriages because people feel insecure when their partners have had previous sexual experiences,” McKay recalls. The presenters also cited a specious 2003 study, conducted by the right- wing Heritage Foundation, that purportedly found that sexually active teens are more likely to be depressed or suicidal than their celibate peers.

(snip)

The Planned Parenthood Federation of America calls the funding of abstinence programs “one of the religious right’s greatest victories.” PPFA has issued chilling warnings about the program’s far-reaching national impact, pointing out that stepped-up funding has meant that kids throughout the country hear three consistent messages:

- that sexual activity between unmarried people has negative physical and psychological consequences
- that all people are expected to live in monogamous heterosexual marriages that bearing children out of wedlock hurts child, parent, and society.

Some programs go even further. Peggy Papsdorf, project coordinator for Plain Truth for Washington, a group that promotes comprehensive sex education in public schools, witnessed a lecture by Pam Stenzel, a former Crisis Pregnancy counselor turned abstinence instructor. According to Papsdorf, Stenzel told a class of eighth graders that:

- no one has ever had sex with more than one partner without paying a price
- birth control pills make you ten times more susceptible to death
- abortion causes long-term psychological damage
- condoms are unsafe
- boys don’t get hurt by premarital sex while girls suffer for life
- large numbers of 18 to 20-year- old women are having radical hysterectomies because of cervical cancer caused by early sexual activity

- more . . .

http://zmagsite.zmag.org/Images/bader0105.html

[Erika]

1. Bush is Taliban with a PR spin arm

Aka liar and a theocratic snakeoil salesman.

[Maat]

2. Stunning! And depressing!

Thanks for helping me understand what I have to make sure my daughter doesn't fall for.

[ezgoingrl]

3. My son brought home a non-permission slip for

human growth and development classes. He's in the fourth grade. From the letter, I gather that they hold 3 classes one in the fourth grade, one in the fifth grade and one in the sixth grade. The sixth grade class is described as follows: Abstinence education, refusal skills and how to deal with peer preesure are taught to boys and girls separately.

Needless to say, I plan on signing the non-permission slip to keep my kiddo out of these classes and I want to see exactly what the school system means by "straightforward and objective program of instruction as mandated by HB 1017" means. I'm sure it will be interesting.

[proudbluestater]

6. When my kids started to bring home permission slips from school,

they also offered a gathering for parents so we could see just what was taught. At the time we followed something called the Michigan Model. Once I heard those words, I knew it was something I wanted my kids exposed to.

If you do decline, be sure to let them know exactly why you are declining. In other words, if you oppose it on the basis of it being abstinence based, let them know that. Often teachers are not in favor of the methods they have to teach, but the law "commands" it.

[ezgoingrl]

7. I will definitely say why I'm not letting him participate if it goes

in that direction. Considering I live in a relatively rural part of Oklahoma, I'm pretty confident that it will. I'm in the buckle of the Bible belt to say the least. Abstinence rallies often make the front page of our local newspaper.

[MLE]

4. yuck

Abstinence Only Education will never work. There are still going to be sexually active teenagers no matter what they try to brainwash them with. I mean, I agree w/ teaching abstinence as the first and best method of birth control, but if they do choose to have sex they should at least be taught how to protect themselves.
Lies. Oh yeah, that's a great way to get your children to trust you.


Those people are sick.

[Ruffhowse]

5. I've been hearing stories like this since "abstinence" sex ed has been

rearing its ugly head. It's shocking the degree to which Fundies will outright lie to promote their theocratic agenda, and the administration of Chimpy is more than happy to go along. We are now seeing government sanctioned roll backs in scientific knowledge and studies. This is one of the first steps towards establishing a Christo-Fascist theocracy in America, and if you don't believe that, you are as blind as the people who accept these programs as truth. With the MSM's tacit approval by their silence, the only way to counter this outrageous activity is to increase our vigilance and spread the word via non-MSM as much as we can. Fundies are classic cultists in their behavior. It's like trying to fight an army of Moonies.

[rodeodance]

8. Abs. agenda is one of the "mandates"!!!!! Look for more of the same and

with an increased verosity!!!!!

[Solly Mack]

9. Abstinence Only Education abstains from educating