December 19, 2007

Continuing the Abstinence-Only Debate

Though there has been an increasing amount of evidence showing that abstinence-only education does not work, the United States government still spends $176 million on such education, according to a Palm Beach Post editorial (palmbeachpost.com, 12/15).

The column referenced a study from November by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, which concluded that: “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.”

Last year, the state of Florida received $10.7 million in federal funds to support abstinence-only-until-marriage programs; however, Florida has the sixth-highest rate of teen pregnancy in the nation, and the second-highest rate of annual HIV infection. Promisingly, Florida’s St. Lucie County School Board last Tuesday, December 11, approved a new sex-education curriculum that will teach fourth through 12th graders about condoms.

The editorial suggests that Florida, in particular, should “make it a priority to replace ineffective abstinence-only programs with comprehensive education about reproductive health, sexually transmitted diseases and contraception.”

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Judith Backof, Ft. Pierce, FL, 2007-12-22 22:06:15
The School Board of St. Lucie County recently voted 4-1 to replace its abstinence-only curriculum with lessons that provide information on safer sex. This in spite of a very vocal, very parochial group at a Public Forum held on December 8. Let's all get our heads out of the sand, Floridians! Judi Backof