Group Blasts Abstinence Message In Schools

(CNSNews.com) - Many schools have adopted an abstinence message as a way to discourage teenagers from engaging in sexual activity, and the Alan Guttmacher Institute isn't happy about it.

"Looking at the evolution of federal, state and local policy, it is clear that abstinence promotion has truly taken hold as a matter of education policy in the United States," said Rachel Gold, deputy director for policy analysis for Planned Parenthood's sister organization, the Guttmacher Institute.

"While this focus on abstinence, in policy and practice, may be the political fashion of the day," said Gold, "recent studies have found that it is far out of step with what parents and teachers believe should be taught and, according to the U.S. surgeon general, is not in line with the weight of the best scientific evidence now available."

According to the Guttmacher Institute, 16 states give local school districts total discretion over whether to teach the topics of abstinence and contraception and how to treat these topics if taught. The remaining 34 states require that abstinence be covered, and 25 of them require that it be stressed. Only 19 states require that contraception be covered at all.

Utah has the most stringent state policy, according to the Guttmacher report, requiring that districts stress abstinence while prohibiting "the advocacy or encouragement of the use of contraceptive methods or devices" and forbidding teachers from responding to student questions in ways that conflict with an abstinence message.

The institute called on state lawmakers to provide greater guidance to teens through sex education policy.

Although nine in ten teachers believe that students should be taught about contraception, according to the institute, one in four say they are instructed not to teach the subject.

Others, however, oppose the idea of teaching about contraceptives and other topics in public schools.

"We wish that Alan Guttmacher Institute and state and federal legislatures would ... let parents be involved in their child's moral education," said Wendy Wright, spokesperson for Concerned Women for America.

"Legislators and schools should see their role as third, [second being] the church and faith-based institutions," said Wright. "The only role that education should have is [teaching] biology. They should not be getting involved in promoting sexual activity among young people."

The Guttmacher Institute also touted the results of an on-going federal survey of adolescent health behavior, the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health ("Add Health") conducted in the mid to late 1990s.

After reviewing federal data, the Guttmacher Institute concludes that what influences teens to become sexually active is different from what influences some to engage in other risky behavior, like drugs or violent crime, suggesting that sexual activity should not be considered a risky behavior.

"They are completely in a fantasy world," said Wright, "because obviously teen sexual activity leads to many types of problems, like sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancies, as well as all the emotional problems young people have when they have bonded to another person in the most intimate way."

"Sexual activity itself is risky behavior," said Wright. "It not only is a cause, it's a symptom of problems that the kids are having. One reason teenagers would be involved in sexual activity is because of other problems that they're having. They're seeking affirmation and affection."

Heather Cirmo, spokesperson for the Family Research Council, agreed.

"The ADD Health Study demonstrates very clearly that parents wield the most influence over their children's behavior choices," said Cirmo.

"Safe sex is a myth that our society has been promoting for way too long at the expense of our young people's emotional and physical health," she added.

"Our nation will experience a decrease in sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS transmission, out-of-wedlock pregnancy and emotional problems when we stop tossing out condoms and start promulgating sound health policy that stresses saving sex for marriage," Cirmo concluded. "When will AGI recognize this?"

** "Although nine in ten teachers believe that students should be taught about contraception, according to the institute, one in four say they are instructed not to teach the subject." **

I wonder which 10 teachers they surveyed - I doubt that 90 percent of all teachers believe this.

From PLANNED PARENTHOOD SEX CLASS ---- AT A CHURCH! [Free Republic]:

"According to a current Planned Parenthood brochure, "What children should know and when they should know it,"... The nine to thirteen age group should be informed, according to PP, about what abortion is (not from the baby's point of view of course) and that sex acts can be separate from reproductive acts. Planned Parenthhood also desires that children in this age group should be able to name types of contraceptives, and where to obtain them..."

Here's an example of the kinds of contraception planned parenthood wants kids to have - from The Massachusetts News Fistgate Archive article Fistgate II Teaches More Sexual Activity for Young ‘Homosexuals’ - Held in same building as last year, but this year included more students and sex kit By Ed Oliver, The Massachusetts News, March 26, 2001

Photo: This kit for fisting that was distributed by Planned Parenthood at Fistgate II can also be used for homosexual oral sex.

** "The institute called on state lawmakers to provide greater guidance to teens through sex education policy... "We wish that Alan Guttmacher Institute and state and federal legislatures would ... let parents be involved in their child's moral education," said Wendy Wright, spokesperson for Concerned Women for America..." **

The Gutt(er)macher Institute, and their cohorts GLSEN, PFLAG, et al have no business influencing sex education policy, or any other education policy for that matter. Their goal is to remove any input from parents:

"Kids Smart" is billed by Planned Parenthood as a collaborative effort among churches, non-profit organizations and social service providers to create a safe, open and entertaining opportunity for our children to learn the basics about their bodies and ask questions of trained professionals in an age appropiate surroundings. Parents are invited to attend a 'Parent's Smart' orientation on Friday evening, where presenters will summarize the program. However, according to the flyer:

"PARENTS ARE ASKED NOT TO ATTEND THE SATURDAY CONFERENCE WITH THEIR CHILDREN FOR SECURITY REASONS."

From the Parents' Rights Coalition's Some of the Horror Stories from Massachusetts Schools page:

"Manomet, MA: An eight-grade health class passed out material which one boy said was against his parents' beliefs. He was told by the instructor, "If you have any trouble with your parents, tell me and I'll handle them."

"Needham, MA: Even with the Parents' Rights Law in place, parents were not notified when the "Gay/Straight Alliance' at Needham hosted an assembly for the entire student body.

At the assembly, a high school student described her first lesbian kiss, and extolled the "virtues" lesbianism.

Parents were not notified that this assembly was going on, students were not [informed that they were] allowed to refuse to attend, and following the assembly, each homeroom moderator was asked to continue the discussion when the students returned to homeroom.

Later, the Faculty Advisor to the Gay/Straight Alliance publicly stated that parents' desires to exempt their children from the assembly next year would not be honored, as the "assembly did not teach any moral or religious beliefs … By introducing students to the topic of homosexuality, we hope that they will be prepared to react appropriately [to the homosexuals they meet]" - Needham TAB, February 17, 2000, p.8)"

From the Fistgate II article:

"There was a heightened sense of security with many Tufts campus police being highly visible in order to stop parents from seeing what occurred at the conference.

Although Tufts University was able to claim ignorance about the event last year, they obviously became complicit this year when they welcomed the conference back and provided the security muscle to keep the strategy sessions and indoctrination of the children running smoothly...

Security Was High

Conference Coordinators Adam Glick and McCray stated that the press wasn’t allowed into the workshops when they and the campus police forced this reporter to leave. When asked why, they said it makes the participants uncomfortable. When asked what is was that would make the participants uncomfortable, they did not answer...

The description of the workshop about “Last Year’s Setback” said in part, “Over the past year, one of the nation’s most successful safe schools programs for GLBT youth has been beset by attacks from reactionary forces both inside and outside the public education bureaucracy.” It continued that “backsliding” is now evident in areas such as parent notification policy, teacher certification standards, students rights regulations, and HIV/AIDS parameters. The workshop aimed to explore strategic responses to such “challenges.”

'Parents' No Longer Recognized By Schools - Daycare Centers Are Closely Monitored, By Tom Duggan, The Massachusetts News:

"One of the presenters said her main goals were to promote diversity and to prevent gay bias in public schools. She said that the workshops were a blueprint of strategies to get around the curriculum of conservative administrators and parents who are "against us." These strategies included a long discussion on what to do when faced with "those conservative parents and teachers who advocate hate and homophobia to their children." She stressed the need for intervention by the schools when parents were not adequately teaching their children how "not to hate."..."

Some resources on Planned ~~Parent~~ Abortionhood:

Behind the Mask - A Hard Look at the Real Agenda of Planned Parenthood by Glenn T. Stanton (Published by Focus on the Family):

"Planned Parenthood: The Ultimate Masquerade: Read this eye-opening report and get the real story on one of the most radical, destructive social forces in our nation. Behind the Mask exposes Planned Parenthood's horrifying agenda and what's really going on in this federally funded agency with an annual budget of $450 million and a work force of 22,000 people."

Grand Illusions: The Legacy of Planned Parenthood by George Grant (Published by Holly Hall Publications):

"Grand Illusions: The Legacy of Planned Parenthood is an in-depth exposé stripping away the silver lining and revealing the rot within this powerful organization. As both sides continue their debate, now is better than ever to take a godly stand and make a difference in the direction society is heading!"

Planned Parenthood Legacy I-III by George Grant (CD of Broadcast, Published by Focus on the Family):

"Exposing the Shameful History of Planned Parenthood: Dr. George Grant joins Dr. Dobson for an in-depth discussion of Planned Parenthood's racist roots, systematic suppression of facts about abortion and false image as a "healthcare provider" for women. He exposes the real agenda of "pro-choice" activists and tells Christians what they can do to take a stand."

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