Patrick Proposes Giving Up Abstinence-Only Grant Money

OhDear · 04-25-2007, 06:51 AM

Though not expressly about abortion, this thread is about Birth Control and Sex Education:

Quote:

Claiming that lessons about abstaining from having sex until marriage are not working for thousands of students, the Patrick administration has decided not to re-apply for the federal funding that pays for them.

Quote:

NewsCenter 5's Amalia Barreda reported that Gov. Deval Patrick said the message in the poster is not getting through to kids, so he's pulling the plug on federally funded abstinence-only sex education. Planned Parenthood said studies back the governor's decision.

"The only approach that has been scientifically proven to work is comprehensive sex education. That includes information about abstinence but also about birth control and protection methods," said Angus McQuilken of Planned Parenthood.

[center]The abstinence-only curriculum was put together by Healthy Futures, an organization based in Dorchester. Last academic year, Healthy Futures taught about 5,000 middle-schoolers in a dozen districts.

The agency has seven teams of men and women who go to health classes and deliver the message in five sessions. The program's director said cutting the program will hurt students.

"I do absolutely. I don't think they're getting that message anywhere else, and we see from the comments that we get from the students that it really is making a difference," said Rebecca Ray, of Healthy Futures.

A survey done last year reveled only 9 percent of Massachusetts voters believe abstinence-only until marriage was the best way to teach sex education. Eighty-three percent believed abstinence needed to be included with information about birth control and sexually transmitted diseases.

Seventy-six percent strongly or moderately agreed teaching abstinence only is not realistic.

Even so, the Rev. William Dickerson said that he believes the abstinence-only message is better than nothing.

"Just as we promote anti-violence and we still see violence, we still see homicides, we should continue to promote anything that's positive as it relates to our young people, even if it seems as if they're not listening," he said.

Copyright 2007 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Article

Antithesis · 04-25-2007, 07:24 AM

It's surprising how people still say that it works when it clearly doesn't. The only reason is because people think that teens are so easy to control, that anything fed to us will work, when it doesn't. People WILL have sex, that's certain. Keep it safe when it's done, but don't be so presumptuous in saying that the only way to make it safe is not to do it at all. That's ignoring the very nature of youth.

OhDear · 04-25-2007, 07:37 AM

Actually I can tell you that when a girl is taught that sex outside of marriage is wrong, she will not take the necessary planning of birth control. It is like "planning to sin" so it is not permissable, and so then when the moment catches her in the throes of "love and hormones" ...well, she gets pregnant.

OD

tadpole256 · 04-25-2007, 08:14 AM

Abstinence education requires funding???

CrazyFlamingos · 04-25-2007, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhDear

Actually I can tell you that when a girl is taught that sex outside of marriage is wrong, she will not take the necessary planning of birth control. It is like "planning to sin" so it is not permissable, and so then when the moment catches her in the throes of "love and hormones" ...well, she gets pregnant.

OD

I have a great niece who is a direct result of this phenomenon.

CrazyFlamingos · 04-25-2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antithesis

It's surprising how people still say that it works when it clearly doesn't. The only reason is because people think that teens are so easy to control, that anything fed to us will work, when it doesn't. People WILL have sex, that's certain. Keep it safe when it's done, but don't be so presumptuous in saying that the only way to make it safe is not to do it at all. That's ignoring the very nature of youth.

There are people who think teens are easy to control?!?!?!

mmmmkay

Antithesis · 04-25-2007, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyFlamingos

There are people who think teens are easy to control?!?!?!

mmmmkay

Yeah, that's the premise behind AOE. Unfortunately, it doesn't work. It's better to assume that all teens are going to have sex & helping them prepare for it than hoping they won't and wishing for the best.

Preacherman · 04-27-2007, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhDear

Actually I can tell you that when a girl is taught that sex outside of marriage is wrong, she will not take the necessary planning of birth control. It is like "planning to sin" so it is not permissable, and so then when the moment catches her in the throes of "love and hormones" ...well, she gets pregnant.

OD

Thats a excuse. You dont need to plan anything to stop at a 7-11 and pick up some rubbers.

tadpole256 · 04-27-2007, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Preacherman

Thats a excuse. You dont need to plan anything to stop at a 7-11 and pick up some rubbers.

Isn't it better to teach them to be ready? Semper Paratus...

OhDear · 04-27-2007, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Preacherman

Thats a excuse. You dont need to plan anything to stop at a 7-11 and pick up some rubbers.

Preacherman, when does it ever work like that? Be real. Young man and young lady are in the throes of heavy petting. Nearly about to . . .

do it!

And one of them thinks: "nothing like taking a little break and going to the 7-11 for a Slurpee and a condom. "

That ain't happenin' . . .

OD