HOUSTON - Abstinence-only sex education programs, a major plank in President George W. Bush’s education plan, have had no impact on teenagers’ behavior in his home state of Texas, according to a new study.

Despite taking courses emphasizing abstinence-only themes, teenagers in 29 high schools became increasingly sexually active, mirroring the overall state trends, according to the study conducted by researchers at Texas A&M University.

“We didn’t see any strong indications that these programs were having an impact in the direction desired,” said Dr. Buzz Pruitt, who directed the study.

The study was delivered to the Texas Department of State Health Services, which commissioned it.

The federal government is expected to spend about $130 million to fund programs advocating abstinence in 2005, despite a lack of evidence that they work, Pruitt said.

“The jury is still out, but most of what we’ve discovered shows there’s no evidence the large amount of money spent is having an effect,” he said.

'More concerned about politics than kids'

The study showed about 23 percent of ninth-grade girls, typically 13 to 14 years old, had sex before receiving abstinence education. After taking the course, 29 percent of the girls in the same group said they had had sex.

Boys in the tenth grade, about 14 to 15 years old, showed a more marked increase, from 24 percent to 39 percent, after receiving abstinence education.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6894568

I completely agree, Sky...we had the same philosophy when our two sons were growing up. Now, they're both married and living in different parts of the country. But they still call us to discuss whatever happens to be on their minds.

The best part?

They have both thanked us for raising them the way we did.

Catherine

Kids are not stupid. Not at any age!
However, not being open with your teenager with all his intellect,
Is very similer to sending him down rapids in a canoe with no paddle!

Unless he is informed he has a paddle, what it's for and how to use it,
he has nothing to steer with! It also never hurts as part of his training with canoe and paddle to build confidence by letting him know how wonderful he is using his new skills with a paddle to avoid the rocks!

I believe fundies and other conservatives that do not feel this way must not like them selves. They seem afraid of passing the stupid to their kids whom they most certainly love!

If I had the power of god for a day I would inform every adult that is or may someday be a parent, that it's ok to screw up! What is critical is how you deal with it! This is what you teach your kids! If your kids see that you never screw up, how can he learn to cope with mistakes? Instead they learn that failing is not an option and because of that may fear trying!

Fact, there are no mistakes save one. Only chances to learn! The only possible mistake, is not learning from the mistake!

People are born with all the intellect they are ever going to have.
How smart they are depends on how well they are educated!

To say the least I wasn't really suprised at the response of teens after the Abstinence-only program. I can seem to remember way back in my foggy teen years that being told "to say no" by some old guy in a suit would tempt me to do the opposite. It's funny how the mentality stays the same, but why cant' the old guys in suits learn from their mistakes? Can't answer that one. It just seems the most practical and effective way is being shunned or frowned upon.

Here is a great commentary on the subject by my favorite columnist Mark Morford.

Sex and the Disgruntled Teen

More proof that *not* having sex is sad and dangerous -- even in Texas. What is wrong with us?

BTW, in case you are wondering, Morford does not receive "Day Passes" to White House press conferences.

No surprises here, tell a kid not to have sex, don't orovide the education or the tools to protect themselves and you end up with unwanted pregnancies and/or sexually transmitted diseases, when are the repressives ever going to learn...


Doc