Abstinence-only sex education does not work!

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » January 31, 2005, 8:34 pm

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u ... e_texas_dc

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Abstinence-only sex education programs, a major plank in President Bush (news - web sites)'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.

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.

Abstinence-only programs, which have sprouted up in schools across the nation, cannot offer information about birth control and must promote the social and health benefits of abstaining from sex.

Pruitt said he hoped the study would bring about changes in the content of abstinence-promoting programs.

"These programs seem to be much more concerned about politics than kids, and we need to get over that," he said.

One program technique has been to try to bolster students' self-esteem, based on the theory that self-confident teenagers would not have sex. Those programs, which sometimes do not even mention sex, have shown no effect, Pruitt said.

Other programs that focus on the social norms and expectations appear to be more successful, he said.

Lohrno · Post by **Lohrno** » January 31, 2005, 8:41 pm

This is news?

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » January 31, 2005, 9:48 pm

Lohrno wrote:This is news?

Now that they have scientific data proving it doesn't work, yes.

noel · Post by **noel** » January 31, 2005, 9:50 pm

Unfortunately, I'm not sure how effective scientific data will be on people who still think we all came from Adam and Eve ~8000 years ago.

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » January 31, 2005, 9:52 pm

noel wrote:Unfortunately, I'm not sure how effective scientific data will be on people who still think we all came from Adam and Eve ~8000 years ago.

touche!

Drasta · Post by **Drasta** » February 1, 2005, 12:09 am

but god says condoms are bad!

nobody · Post by **nobody** » February 1, 2005, 12:10 am

Drasta wrote:but god says condoms are bad!

i never said that!

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » February 1, 2005, 1:02 am

Lalanae wrote:http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u ... e_texas_dc

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Abstinence-only sex education programs, a major plank in President Bush (news - web sites)'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.

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.

Abstinence-only programs, which have sprouted up in schools across the nation, cannot offer information about birth control and must promote the social and health benefits of abstaining from sex.

Pruitt said he hoped the study would bring about changes in the content of abstinence-promoting programs.

"These programs seem to be much more concerned about politics than kids, and we need to get over that," he said.

One program technique has been to try to bolster students' self-esteem, based on the theory that self-confident teenagers would not have sex. Those programs, which sometimes do not even mention sex, have shown no effect, Pruitt said.

Other programs that focus on the social norms and expectations appear to be more successful, he said.

Personally im looking foward to hearing bush's 2nd term "war on sex"

Niffoni · Post by **Niffoni** » February 1, 2005, 1:35 am

We've been over this. Bush can't declare war on something that physically exists, so a "War on Sex" would be too... you know... real. It would have to be the War on Pleasure or the War on Sexuality. We must fight abstract concepts! Preferably by bombing shit that'll blow up reeeeal good!

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » February 1, 2005, 8:43 am

Niffoni wrote:We've been over this. Bush can't declare war on something that physically exists, so a "War on Sex" would be too... you know... real. It would have to be the War on Pleasure or the War on Sexuality. We must fight abstract concepts! Preferably by bombing shit that'll blow up reeeeal good!

didnt you hear him? he has political capital and he intends to spend it!
it can join the ever so victorious wars on drugs, porn, un-christian values

Aruman · Post by **Aruman** » February 1, 2005, 10:35 am

Yeah, it's all President Bush's fault, and the schools.

Parents have nothing to do with it.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » February 1, 2005, 10:48 am

Have you noticed, that people are still having sex?
All the denouncement, had absolutely no effect.
Parents and counselors, constantly scorn them.
But people are still having sex and nothing seems to stop them.

Do you realize that people are still having sex?
They've been told not to, perhaps they are perplexed.
When you see them holding hands, they're making future plans to engage in the activity.

Do you understand me?
People are still having sex.
Lust keeps on lurking.
Nothing makes them stop.
This aids things not working.

People are still having sex.
It's been going on for quite awhile.
Perhaps it's quite fashionable.
It hasn't gone out of style.

It's a fact that people are still having sex.
It's rather obvious, it's just what one expects.
The evidence is all around.
That everyone in every town has had it one time, or another in their life.

At this very moment people are still having sex.
In a downtown condo, or street in the projects.
Although you can't see them or hear their breathing sounds.
Someone in this world is having sex right now.

People are still having sex!
Sex! Sex! Sex! Sex!
Sex! Sex! Sex! Sex!

People are still having sex.
Lust keeps on lurking.
Nothing makes them stop.
This aids things not working.

People are still having sex.
It's been going on for quite awhile.
Perhaps it's quite fashionable.
It hasn't gone out of style.

People are still having sex
Sex!

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » February 1, 2005, 11:32 am

Aruman wrote:Yeah, it's all President Bush's fault, and the schools.

Parents have nothing to do with it.

Parents in the US seem to be scared shitless of disciplining their kids, as are the schools.

Children have been afforded all sorts of overblown rights by well meaning idiots, such that they have become basically untouchable, unless you want them taken away from you.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Yet, simple measures like enforcing a uniform in schools which has all kinds of socially limiting and leveling effects, is seen as draconian and outdated, so you see 14 year old girls attending school dressed like whores.

People value freedom of expression in children far too highly =p

However, Bush pushing his abstinence message world-wide, when even he couldn't handle it as a youth, is both pointless and hypocritical. At best it's a cynical grab at votes from "his base" that you are funding.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » February 1, 2005, 12:41 pm

noel wrote:Unfortunately, I'm not sure how effective scientific data will be on people who still think we all came from Adam and Eve ~8000 years ago.

its actually around 5800 years ago idiot!!!!

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » February 1, 2005, 1:33 pm

Did anyone with an IQ above 80 actually think this would work? or anyone with an IQ below 80 if they ever spent any time around teenagers? GAH... morons.

Marb

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » February 1, 2005, 1:52 pm

Aruman wrote:Yeah, it's all President Bush's fault, and the schools.

Parents have nothing to do with it.

The point is that Bush wants to implement this kind of sex education (I should say "education") when other more realistic types of sex education are more effective and more educational.

If kids are going to have sex we should be teaching them about birth control. Just telling them "Here is sex. Don't do it" is asking for another generation of unwanted babies and rampant STDs.

It kills me how some people are so against abortion but they refuse to take some of the necessary proactive steps required to prevent it.

Burke · Post by **Burke** » February 1, 2005, 3:09 pm

This is all Sex's fault. I say we sue that sumbitch.

Rekaar. · Post by **Rekaar.** » February 1, 2005, 4:18 pm

Pruitt said he hoped the study would bring about changes in the content of abstinence-promoting programs.

"These programs seem to be much more concerned about politics than kids, and we need to get over that," he said

Maybe it's just me sure, but isn't the expert here quoted NOT as saying the concept doesn't work but that the course needs tweaking? There's a fundamental difference between a government program's effectiveness and a concept.

You can make your own assertions sure but don't misrepresent the guy.

Lohrno · Post by **Lohrno** » February 1, 2005, 4:21 pm

Ok. But abstinence only education is fundamentally flawed.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » February 1, 2005, 5:02 pm

He's saying the programs are flawed because they are teaching a politically dictated platform, not one designed to educate and prepare the kids.

Unless you are up your kid's ass 24/7, they are gonna have sex.

Lohrno · Post by **Lohrno** » February 1, 2005, 5:20 pm

masteen wrote: Unless you are up your kid's ass 24/7, they are gonna have sex.

Fash · Post by **Fash** » February 1, 2005, 5:50 pm

You want your kids to not have sex? Feed them. Over-feed them. Bring them up to be fat self-conscious introverts.

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » February 1, 2005, 6:52 pm

Aruman wrote:Yeah, it's all President Bush's fault, and the schools.

Parents have nothing to do with it.

what the hell is wrong with teen or pre marital sex??, almost every member on this board has has teen sex (or wished they had

)
I think its healthy for future serious relationships ot have a extensive and open sexual history, sex in itself is healthy, there is nothing wrong with having sex, or a lot of sex, as long as your smart about it and use the appropriate protection and take other individual matters into consideration

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » February 1, 2005, 8:31 pm

Rekaar. wrote:
Pruitt said he hoped the study would bring about changes in the content of abstinence-promoting programs.

"These programs seem to be much more concerned about politics than kids, and we need to get over that," he said
Maybe it's just me sure, but isn't the expert here quoted NOT as saying the concept doesn't work but that the course needs tweaking? There's a fundamental difference between a government program's effectiveness and a concept.

You can make your own assertions sure but don't misrepresent the guy.

Part of that "quote" is an actual quote, the rest is the reporters view of what "the guy" is saying.

None of the direct quotes support your "Bush is my God, let me lick his feet" view of the world.

At best he might be giving the benefit of the doubt that there might be an effective astinence-based course that wasn't written by a god botherer with a skewed and unrealistic view of the world, but he hasn't seen one yet. Scientists are loath to jump to wild conclusions based on limited evidence, unlike reporters and dumbfucks.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » February 2, 2005, 8:03 am

noel wrote:Unfortunately, I'm not sure how effective scientific data will be on people who still think we all came from Adam and Eve ~8000 years ago.

If they practiced abstinence, we would not be here

(

Thank you God, for inventing fucking.

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » February 2, 2005, 11:29 am

Fash wrote:You want your kids to not have sex? Feed them. Over-feed them. Bring them up to be fat self-conscious introverts.

FUCK YEAH!

Rekaar. · Post by **Rekaar.** » February 2, 2005, 4:09 pm

Fash wrote:You want your kids to not have sex? Feed them. Over-feed them. Bring them up to be fat self-conscious introverts.

Sargeras · Post by **Sargeras** » February 2, 2005, 5:51 pm

Lalanae wrote:Just telling them "Here is sex. Don't do it" is asking for another generation of unwanted babies and rampant STDs.

Agreed!

I do think abstinence is very helpful, but cramming "Don't do it" down their throats when it isn't illegal is just more motivation for the youth to do it.

VeeshanVault

Abstinence-only sex education does not work!

Abstinence-only sex education does not work!

Re: Abstinence-only sex education does not work!