Posted on 05/10/2007 7:43:21 PM PDT by Coleus
An overwhelming number of parents want their kids to practice abstinence until marriage and support abstinence education programs that drive that point home. Though six states have announced their intent to refuse federal funding for abstinence-only education, a new Zogby poll shows they are out of touch with Americans. The poll found that 83% of parents want their children to save sex until marriage and a majority of families believe that programs should reinforce the abstinence message when broaching sex ed in the classroom. "Despite left-wing pressure to abandon abstinence-only education, a survey of over 1,000 parents found overwhelming support for the programs," Family Research Council president Tony Perkins told LifeNews.com on Monday.
"When the differences between comprehensive and abstinence education were explained, moms and dads supported abstinence by a two-to-one margin," he added. Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education Association, also commented on the poll. "There’s so much misinformation out there about what abstinence education is," she told CitizenLink. "We were convinced that once parents understood the real content of abstinence education, they would overwhelmingly support abstinence.” Perkins said he wasn't surprised to see the poll found that two-thirds of parents thing the abstinence message is wrongly compromised when presented alongside a safe sex theme.
Once they understand what abstinence education actually teaches, 6 out of 10 parents would rather their child receive abstinence education vs. comprehensive sex education. Only 3 out of 10 prefer comprehensive, Zogby showed. He said that FRC is planning to meet with Capitol Hill members and staff on May 22 for Abstinence Day to stress the importance of helping teenagers and young people wait. Perkins also said the poll is yet another reason why Congress should be persuaded to reauthorize funding for Title V abstinence education this June. He pointed out that California Rep. Henry Waxman and others have openly attacked abstinence programs and made clear their intentions of redirecting that money to groups like Planned Parenthood. However, he said that FRC's vice president for government affairs, Tom McClusky, who was just named by The Hill newspaper as one of "The Greatest in Helping the Grassroots Grow," will spearhead an effort against that.
"As Tom says, his voice would carry very little weight on the Hill without yours," Perkins concluded. "Urge your congressmen to uphold the wishes of parents across America who believe in abstinence education as the way to promote healthy and happy futures for kids." The poll, commissioned by NAEA, was conducted through a telephone survey of parents of children age 10-16 by Zogby International. The target sample was 1,002 interviews with parents from across the United States, representing a variety of demographics and is has a 3.2 percent margin of error.
Related web sites:
Family Research Council - http://www.frc.org
NAEA - http://www.abstinenceassociation.org
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Just like they did...
Oh, puleeze! Back during the Dark Ages we had to take Sex Ed. I lived through it. I wasn’t corupted. I didn’t have 3 babies before getting out of high school or marriage. I’d like to know how many of those parents preaching abstinence could lead by example. While I’d love mine to keep zippers closed, I also accept the fact that it’s likely not going to happen. Parents and teachers can talk til they’re blue in the face and it’s not going to stop a hormone charged teen. I’m trying to fight the battles I have a reasonable chance in winning.
In the dark ages of the 40’s and 50’s when I was in school, health was the subject, not sex education. I didn’t hear of a lot of kids getting pregnant and there were few abortions, I’m sure. Of course, sex wasn’t plastered all over the magazines we read or on television or in the movies then either.
Why depend on the government? Why not teach their children abstinence themselves?
Scum leftists would rather your kids learn about condoms, abortions, gay lifestyles etc....can't have that right wing abstinence dogma indoctrination taught via public school education.
I hate liberalism and it's twisted perversions.
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Well, you know the saying, practice makes perfect.
Abstinence bump to the top.
It works.
Some of us don’t have a defeatist attitude.
Now it is necessary with teen pregnancies and STD rates. Free sex has been tearing at society, and has contributed a good deal to the destruction of the family. America set down a bad road teaching kids sleeping around was ok as long as they used protection. It’s time to reverse. Kids know what birth control is and how to obtain it if they wish to have sex.
I wonder which six states. I'm going to guess New York, Massachusetts, and California to name a few. It's certainly none of the Bible Belt states.
My son is currently in an abstinence-only program in GA for seventh grade. I am really pleased with the curriculum and with the fact that they delayed it until now. There will be NO discussion of homosexuality, and if any inappropriate question is asked, the student is told to discuss it with his parents.
That’s great. I don’t have kids, but I attended Catholic schools. I didn’t have to worry about comprehensive sex ed much except in sophmore health. The teacher taught contraception some, but she kept noting the Church was opposed to it. Homosexuality was never brought up.
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