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Thread: Abstinence Programs Distort Truth

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    Default Abstinence Programs Distort Truth

    boldface done by me

    Wednesday, December 01, 2004


    WASHINGTON — Federally funded abstinence education programs that are used in 25 states contain false and misleading information about contraception, abortion and sexually transmitted diseases, a Democratic lawmaker said Wednesday.

    The abstinence programs have been embraced by President Bush They will receive $170 million in the current government spending year, more than double what the government was spending when Bush took office in 2001. The abstinence curriculum may not include instruction in contraceptive use as a condition of federal funding.

    But a report from Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said that 11 of the 13 most widely used programs underestimate the effectiveness of condoms in preventing pregnancy and the spread of disease, exaggerate the prevalence of emotional and physical distress following abortion, blur science and religion or get fundamental scientific facts wrong.

    Alma Golden, the deputy assistant Health and Human Services secretary for population affairs, said the report took statements out of context to present the programs in the worst possible light.

    "These issues have been raised before and discredited," Golden said. "One thing is very clear for our children, abstaining from sex is the most effective means of preventing the sexual transmission of HIV, STDs and preventing pregnancy."

    Waxman said, "It is absolutely vital that the health education provided to America's youth be scientifically and medically accurate. The abstinence-only programs reviewed in this report fail to meet this standard."

    A.C. Green's Game Plan, named for the professional basketball player who said he would not have sex before he was married, raises question about whether condoms can stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, Waxman's report said. "The popular claim that condoms help prevent the spread of STDs, is not supported by the data," the program's teacher's manual says.

    The federal Centers for Disease Control and Preventionand other researchers have found that consistent and correct condom use does protect against transmissions of many STDs, the report said.

    Other programs asserted as fact sharply contested claims, the report said. The FACTS middle school program, developed by Northwest Family Services, says, "Conception, also known as fertilization, occurs when one sperm unites with one egg in the upper third of the fallopian tube. This is when life begins."

    In another instance, the Why kNOw curriculum asserts "twenty-four chromosomes from the mother and twenty-four chromosomes from the father join to create this new individual," the report said. The correct number is 23 each.

    Some curriculums also rely on what Waxman called damaging stereotypes about boys and girls, including that girls care less about achievement and their futures.

    The Why kNOw curriculum teaches: "Women gauge their happiness and judge their success by their relationships. Men's happiness and success hinge on their accomplishments


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    Default Re: Abstinence Programs Distort Truth

    Waxman is a nut job. But his point is pretty well taken here.

    If we're going to spend $900 million over five years on programs of this nature, that's a waste of resources and a disservice to students.

    MSNBC has a WP report from Ceci Connolly with a bit more detail on the issue.

    Women gauge their happiness and judge their success by their relationships. Men's happiness and success hinge on their accomplishments
    I don't think that's a stretch to say that's pretty true. Doesn't really belong in a sex ed curriculum, but that doesn't make it less true.
    Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

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    God/dess Jenny's Avatar
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    Default Re: Abstinence Programs Distort Truth

    Hi. I'm not a democrat, I have no opinion on Bush (outside of he doesn't seem too smart) and I don't believe that human life begins at conception. I actually believe that human life begins at birth. (Hence the term "birthday" - not biological, but still). You might argue that "life" begins at conception, but whether that life should be privileged as human, and as important (or more important) than that of the woman carrying it is the contentious argument. There are all sorts of lives on this planet that are not given the protection a human fetus gets in some states. But - just because I'm not understanding your issue here - are you contending that condoms DON'T help prevent STD's? Or that half the gay teenagers in America DO test positive for AIDS? Because gay teenagers are significantly less likely than straight teenagers to have penetrative or oral sex before the age of 17 (the scripts of Queer as Folk notwithstanding) and gay teenagers, because of heavy media focus and socialization, are also much more likely to use condoms.

    When I was in school I was taught the many, myriad way one could get pregnant - which are pretty limited when you think about it. I was taught that abstinance was preferable to sex, if by nothing else than sheer implication, and that it was better to stop at the proverbial first base than second, etc. I was also taught that condoms help prevent pregnancy and aids. I don't see the problem with that. What's the problem with that method? I don't think there is much they could have taught me in school that would change my sexual history - these abstinence programs and objections to them are more an effort to hegemonize community morals than teach children anything - how many teenagers don't know about birth control, regardless of their school background? However if one is interested in promoting abstinence in teenagers I think one would be better off teaching them to place value themselves and their bodies (which I think is something that most people, male and female here could relate to when recalling their first time having sex - if you have in fact had sex), and healthy outlets for sexuality (like masturbation, not sports).
    I have taught that the sky in all its zones is mortal and its substance was formed by a process of birth

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    Default Re: Abstinence Programs Distort Truth

    the plain and simple truth is that this heavily funded program doesnt even have the facts correct and it even goes so far as to promote the crazy and dangerous idea that condoms are not needed.

    Ofcourse many of the fundy and/or conservative/repub still support it as we can clearly see right here in this thread.
    Last edited by GirlFriday; 12-22-2004 at 04:50 PM.

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    Default Re: Abstinence Programs Distort Truth

    It's sad that people's political agendas get in the way of real education. Especially with something so important as sexual health, which can truly be a mater of life and death.

    However, as a former teacher, I can tell you that conservatives aren't alone in their desire to use the public schools as indoctrination camps for their political ideas. To observe Earth Day, I was told to instruct kids that aerosal spray cans were bad for the environment (not true, the stuff that was bad for the atmosphere was taken out years ago). I was told to lead the kids in a Kawanzaa celebration just like they have in africa (also not true, Kawanzaa was invented in the 60's by a Calif. College Professor, africans have never heard of it). To celebrate hispanic culture, we were told to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Imagine explaining to recently immigrated mexicans that to celebrate thier culture we are going to observe a holiday they never heard of. Cinco de Mayo is not celebrated in Mexico, it's mainly a promotion by U.S. beer companies to increase sales. If the average parent knew how much valuable classroom time was spent in political indoctrination, feel-good pop pyschology and social experimentation they would form an angry mob and hang the educrats responsible.

    Instead of wasting that money on the so-called sex-ed progame, it should have spent on school vouchers.
    Dancing is wonderful training for girls, it's the first way you learn to guess what a man is going to do before he does it. ~Christopher Morley, Kitty Foyle

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    Default Re: Abstinence Programs Distort Truth

    very true - it isnt limited to conservative using the school system to further a political cause but they and their agenda is the most damaging to the sytem and children. IMO

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    Default Re: Abstinence Programs Distort Truth

    Dude.

    They said twenty-four chromosomes. That is one hell of a typo.

    Man, I know some conservatives, or at least I thought I did. They've certainly never tried to argue against birth control or disease prevention. There should be another category for those people. Anti-sex? Catholic? This has nothing to do with a political viewpoint and everything to do with imposing religion-based education on the public.

    And I'm seriously offended by that circa-1950 comment about what satisfies men and women. Both genders should be.

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    Default Re: Abstinence Programs Distort Truth

    So what if I am not Catholic. Seems like my educational rights are being violated.

    My message is : GET A PARTICULAR RELIGION (OR ITS DOCTRINE) OUT OF GOVT. IT VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT!!
    I loved going to strip clubs; I actually made some friends there. Now things are different for the clubs and for me. As a result I am not as happy.

    Customers are not entitled to grope, disrespect, or rob strippers. This is their job, not their hobby, and they all need income. Clubs are not just some erotic show for guys to view while drinking.

    NOTE: anything I post here, outside of a direct quote, is my opinion only, which I am entitled to. Take it for what you estimate it is worth.

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    Default Re: Abstinence Programs Distort Truth

    why should it cost that much to say DON'T

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    Default Re: Abstinence Programs Distort Truth

    Quote Originally Posted by Tigerlilly
    the plain and simple truth is that this heavily funded program doesnt even have the facts correct and it even goes so far as to promote the crazy and dangerous idea that condoms are not needed.

    Ofcourse many of the fundy and/or conservative/repub idiots still support it as we can clearly see right here in this thread.
    Holy shit we agree on something.

    Well - kinda. I'm a conservative - a fiscal conservative.

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    Default Re: Abstinence Programs Distort Truth

    Quote Originally Posted by dancedc
    why should it cost that much to say DON'T
    LOL!!!

    My mom always said "Keep all your feet on the floor" whenever I had a girl in my room.

    I commenced explaining to her all kinds of things that could be done with both feet on the floor.

    Ah... my poor mom...

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