Thursday, April 24, 2008
No, seriously, abstinence-only education works! We swear!
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Yahoo News had an article today about how abstinence-only education doesn't work. First of all, can I just say:
NO SHIT!
Ahem. On Wednesday, health groups told Congress that sex education programs that only preach abstinence do not cut down on teen pregnancies or STDs, nor do they cause teenagers to start having sex at an older age.
However, the Bush administration is STILL supporting abstinence-only education (God only knows why), and they voiced that support during a hearing before a House of Representatives panel.
Point: Dr. Margaret Blythe of the American Academy of Pediatrics told the committee: "vast sums of federal monies continue to be directed toward these programs. And, in fact, there is evidence to suggest that some of these programs are even harmful and have negative consequences by not providing adequate information for those teens who do become sexually active."
Counterpoint: Rep. John Duncan, a Tennessee Republican, said 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. "I don't think it's something we should abandon," he said of abstinence-only funding.
"Elitist"?! People with health degrees have the expertise to decide what is going to protect children, and what isn't. Parents shouldn't be the ones to decide because they have a bias! Of course nearly all parents are going to want their children to wait to have sex, but that isn't realistic. What everyone needs to come to terms with is the fact that abstinence-only education is a great way to leave teenagers completely misinformed, thus causing them to do stupid things, like drinking bleach because they think it can beat HIV, or not using a condom because they have no idea how to use one.
"Charles Keckler of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the Bush administration believes abstinence education programs send the healthiest message."
Yeah, and that's why statistics show that 1 in 4 teenage girls has an STD, and 30% of girls become pregnant before the age of 20. Doesn't sound very healthy to me.
NO SHIT!
Ahem. On Wednesday, health groups told Congress that sex education programs that only preach abstinence do not cut down on teen pregnancies or STDs, nor do they cause teenagers to start having sex at an older age.
However, the Bush administration is STILL supporting abstinence-only education (God only knows why), and they voiced that support during a hearing before a House of Representatives panel.
Point: Dr. Margaret Blythe of the American Academy of Pediatrics told the committee: "vast sums of federal monies continue to be directed toward these programs. And, in fact, there is evidence to suggest that some of these programs are even harmful and have negative consequences by not providing adequate information for those teens who do become sexually active."
Counterpoint: Rep. John Duncan, a Tennessee Republican, said 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. "I don't think it's something we should abandon," he said of abstinence-only funding.
"Elitist"?! People with health degrees have the expertise to decide what is going to protect children, and what isn't. Parents shouldn't be the ones to decide because they have a bias! Of course nearly all parents are going to want their children to wait to have sex, but that isn't realistic. What everyone needs to come to terms with is the fact that abstinence-only education is a great way to leave teenagers completely misinformed, thus causing them to do stupid things, like drinking bleach because they think it can beat HIV, or not using a condom because they have no idea how to use one.
"Charles Keckler of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the Bush administration believes abstinence education programs send the healthiest message."
Yeah, and that's why statistics show that 1 in 4 teenage girls has an STD, and 30% of girls become pregnant before the age of 20. Doesn't sound very healthy to me.
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