Posted on 05/13/2005 8:40:19 AM PDT by Phantom Lord
Abstinence speaker pushed religion in school, dad charges
An irate father is demanding that Bozeman High School present students with a rebuttal to what he called "extremely biased religious dogma" delivered by an assembly speaker who warned teens against the dangers of drugs, drinking and premarital sex.
Tom Wells, a Bozeman attorney and father of a ninth-grader, told the School Board on Monday night that he was appalled by the "thinly veiled ministry" and "misinformation" presented the week before by speaker Tina Marie Holewinski.
Holewinski, 27, of Hollywood, Calif., a full-time speaker with an organization called True Lies, defended her talk Tuesday as full of "hard-core facts" that could save teenagers' lives.
She denied that she interjected any of her religious beliefs in the talk, and added she'd been flooded with e-mail messages from grateful teens.
Principal Godfrey Saunders said Holewinski had presented the messages school officials are most concerned about each spring, with prom and graduation approaching -- Don't drink, drink and drive, don't use drugs.
But, Saunders said, she had gone beyond what they were expecting to present her own views about abstinence.
Saunders said he had spoken to students through the school intercom the next morning to say that what Holewinski discussed about condoms and birth control pills isn't what is taught in the school's sex-ed curriculum, though it also emphasizes abstinence.
"She went off-message," Superintendent Mike Redburn said. "We share (Wells') concerns."
Wells demanded the school give equal time to rebut the "misinformation" his son heard: that condoms lead to cancer, that birth control pills are only 20 percent effective, that sexually transmitted diseases are spread by skin contact alone, that third-trimester fetuses can be aborted, that video games lead to homicide, that human papilloma virus can be transferred through condoms and that teens can achieve "second virginity" through abstinence.
Holewinski responded that she spoke mainly against against drugs, drinking and driving, and debunked "the media's" glamorization of sex, alcohol, drugs and violence.
She maintained it's true that there are cancer-causing agents in latex condoms; that 80 percent of teenage girls who seek abortions are already on birth-control pills; and that human papilloma virus is small enough to pass through condoms. She said she does promote the idea of second virginity.
The school paid Holewinski paid $1,500 for her talk and expenses.
Pat Strauss, assistant principal, said much of Holewinski's talk did cover what they'd asked for, but then all of a sudden she'd throw in zingers, like condoms have 15 different carcinogens, or that birth control pills cause cervical cancer or sterility.
The reaction from the 1,800 students was split 50/50, he said. Some teachers said the talk prompted some lively discussions.
"We tried to do something good for our kids -- be safe, get everybody through graduation," Strauss said. "That's what's most disappointing."
A cursory review of Internet sites on just one of Holewinski's disputed topics turned up numerous sites asserting condoms are linked to cancer; however, the pro-condom Planned Parenthood site contends that abstinence-only supporters have put out a number of myths about condoms over the years.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site doesn't discuss any condom-cancer link. It does say, "a condom could save your life" by greatly reducing the chances of getting sexually transmitted diseases, especially AIDS. It adds, "sex with condoms isn't totally 'safe sex,' but it is 'less risky' sex."
I see your point, Michael. I'm just bothered by the redefinition of the word "virginity." It means "not having had sex." So refraining from sex after having done it doesn't "re-virgin" a person, and neither does surgically remanufacturing a hymen.
(Okay, I'll crawl back in my dictionary now. Thank you for your patience!)
One must have a firm grounding in biblical morality to practice abstinence? Self control, yes. But biblical morality?
Ignorance is bliss...
Of course, you are right. I was just teasing you with the latest development in the plastic surgery field.
And a recent study indicated that the use of birth control pills *in itself* leads to higher rates of cervical cancer. The study controlled for age, number of sex partners, condom use, and other factors, and found that women using birth control pills are more likely to contract the virus (Human Papilloma) and more likely to develop cancer after infection than women who do not use pills.
I know :-).
Perhaps. But we also have stable, happy marriages, no out-of-wedlock pregnancies, and a 0% STD rate. You, of course, provide no actual data to support your position; you simply engage in ad hominem name-calling.
When you grow up, and realize that it's your daughter who could come home pregnant, her health ruined by an STD, or just heartbroken because she's now a notch on some jerk's bedpost ... then you'll understand.
Yeah, like me from 13 to 17 and half. But it wasn't because I wasn't trying.
Apparently Tom is concerned that his son's access to coochy and a bong may be deterred.
If Tom is so hot and heavy for his son to experience the joys of STDs couldn't he sex and drug him up off school property?
>>It's just that almost every single study ever conducted shows that people have an awfully hard time following the command to refrain from sex.<<
Frankly, you are wrong, but I'd love to see these "studies" you purport (remember, if they're from mtv.com, they're probably not the most legit).
Of course it's difficult - nothing worth doing is ever easy.
>>I also have a difficult time with adults, who are pas their prime, lecturing others on how they need to refrain from their natural urges.<<
Oh ys, of course, the utter FOLLY of adults who have experience in such matters! Who are WE to impart learned experience and knowledge upon the ininitiated, uninformed, and profoundly ignorant youth!?
Murder is a natural urge. Selfishness is a natural urge. Anger, hostility, ego, pride - these are all natural urges - should we condone and support rampant over-use of those as well? Why not? They're all-natural urges! Why warn children of the dangers of over-eating and sloth - they're natural urges too!
He didn't use any of the keywords to trigger a Campion's Law violation, yet :-). I think we need a "Campion's Law" graphic ... maybe a picture of that lovely Pakistani actress, with a text that says, "You are in violation of Campion's Law! The Taliban is here to romp and stomp you!"
And we need a ping list.
>>One must have a firm grounding in biblical morality to practice abstinence?<<
It's not a necessity, but it certainly helps. IMO, you can't take morality out of the picture. To the saved Christian, all manner of self-control comes from Biblical morality - knowing what sin is, and doing whatever it takes to avoid it.
If you're using health and self-esteem reasons for promoting abstinance, and they're working, I say 'great job'!
Huh, and here I thought the article I read was concerning a parent having his child lied to about safe-sex practices.
YES YES, abstaining from sex is the safest of all, understood and given, but you don't give out misinformation on preventative measures to possibly sexual active teens.
LOL ... [grin]
Tina Marie Holewinski
http://tinaholewinski.tripod.com/Index.htm
Well, maybe the girls (I assume) you were trying with had been brought up to believe abstinence was the best policy!
"Totally unrealistic"?
I suppose expecting two 'hot & bothered' teens to stop for 'protection', 100% of the time is the height of reality.
Life is about choices, about controlling impulses. One aspect of maturity is the ability to make right choices and to control the impulse to take what I want when I want it.
Observe the speed limit the the school zone, no matter how late I am for class. Learn to apply the brakes before the car is 50 feet from the kindergarteners crossing the intersection. Don't drive on glare ice, if you get the analogy.
I was a 23 year old virgin when I married a wonderful 22 year old virgin woman. For the past 34+ years we have made the CHOICE to remain faithful to each other. This required stifling the IMPULSE to do something that may have seemed very desirable at the moment. This included 2 to 3 years apart while I was on duty overseas, some of it on shore patrol in Olongapo City, the Philippines.
Are you saying that we should teach teenagers (or adults) that if the emotion or desire is strong enough then they are not responsible for their actions?
"Just do it?”
Does this apply to verbal abuse, racial epithets? How about physical violence, shoplifting, ‘borrowing’ a car for a joy ride? Are Mohammed Atta, Richard Speck and Eric Rudolph justified because they really, really wanted to do it?
Get real.
Tina's PHOTO PAGE
Bio:
She's a 100% Polish, 100% blond farm girl - Gone Hollywood! Tina went from baling hay and milking cows to working as an actress/emcee in the big city. While attaining her BA in film and TV broadcasting, from California State University - Los Angeles, she started working in feature films and television shows. During this time, Tina realized - first hand - how the media twists the truth. Her involvement as a contestant in the preliminary Miss America pageant sparked her interest in educating society on what today's media is calling "harmless entertainment". As a National Speakers Association member, she frequently shares the truth with her fellow cast and crew members, models, actors, and especially with the youth and parents across America.
Tina has experience as an actress, narrator, spokes model, host, reporter, author, and emcee. She was a National Trainer for Aral Cosmetics, the emcee for Limited Too's "Passion for Fashion" national tour, a reporter for the TV Guide Awards and the Wings Celebrity Classics, and an award presenter at the Crystal and Lucy Awards for Women In Film. You might have seen her on "Young and the Restless", "Lizzie McGuire", the ABC special "Domino Day", "Constantine", and "Little Black Book", just to name a few. In addition, she was recently a guest on Si TV's "Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner ", where she exemplified the importance of protecting the sanctity of marriage. Tina has also opened for the bands Poverty, Apologetix, and Skillet and was a contributing writer in the book, "Fifty". After seven years of Hollywood experience, Tina is taking the truth to the streets of America to spread her message on how the media is killing this generation.
When Tina's not speaking, you'll find her mowing down some steak and baked potato, traveling, drumming, scuba diving, doing photography, cooking (look for the smoke) and reading a book on how to find the love of her life. Tina loves life and yearns to inspire the young minds of America! She will EXPOSE, EDUCATE and ENLIGHTEN! The True Lies presentation, will open your eyes, ears and heart and will challenge you to live to your fullest potential!
http://www.truelies.org/holewinski_tina.htm
Went to her site. I find it interesting that she spoke out about violent video games, yet she promotes Nintendo Gameboy at trade shows.
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