Success of abstinence ed
Success of abstinence ed
12:01 AM CDT on Sunday, September 14, 2008
Re: “Let’s use Palin’s case to look at sex education,” by Steve Blow, last Sunday Metro.
Mr. Blow blew it. Abstinence-only is not law – unfortunately. Texas law says that abstinence must be stressed, and parents have a right to opt out.
It was mostly parent activists like me who fought for this law after teen pregnancies and births doubled from 1980 to 1990, when the condom crowd capitalized on the AIDS scare to reign supreme.
Parents, teachers and school nurses responded with abstinence, and, by 1995, persuaded the legislature to promote abstinence. Not surprisingly, the return to abstinence coincided with falling teen pregnancies, births and abortions.
Despite our growing Latino population, the demographic with the highest rate of teen pregnancies by far, Texas rates have dropped from a high in 1991 of 76.8 per 1,000 to 59.9.
Margaret Blythe, the doctor Mr. Blow cites, exposed her hostility toward abstinence at those same congressional hearings. Rep. Virginia Foxx asked, “If provided evidence that abstinence education programs are as effective or more effective than comprehensive sex education, would you support optional federal funding?” Blythe answered no, putting her out of step with 80 percent of parents, who believe abstinence is best.
Abstinence is perhaps the most successful school program ever – keep the funds coming.
Kyleen Wright, president,
Texans for Life Coalition, Mansfield
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