Proponents of sex education classes that focus on encouraging teenagers to remain virgins until marriage are hoping...Yeah, well that's sort of been the problem all along hasn't it?
"We're optimistic," said Valerie Huber of the National Abstinence Education Association, which is lobbying to maintain funding for the programs. "Nothing is certain, but we're hopeful."Oh we beg to differ, Ms. Huber. Since your programs have been enacted, one thing is certain:
Teen pregnancies rose in the United States for the first time since 1991, the National Institutes of Health reported. The report comes after a spate of high-profile teen pregnancies: that of 17-year-old TV star Jamie Lynn Spears, who recently gave birth to a daughter, as well as the pregnancies of numerous students at Gloucester High School in Massachusetts.Bristol Palin anyone? Anyone? Levi?
As part of Obama's first budget, Congress approved a request for more than $110 million for a new "teenage pregnancy prevention" initiative that would only fund programs that have been "proven effective through rigorous evaluation," which would effectively eliminate abstinence programs.Now don't go getting all sciency and stuff there Mr. President fancy guy who can read and write and stuff. Besides, we've got our own science book. It's called the bible. Right Ms. Huber?
Huber and other defenders disputed that studies had shown abstinence programs were ineffective. They argued that research had shown the programs were superior to comprehensive efforts when administered in the schools. "It's disingenuous to use data from a clinic-based setting and say it will be effective in school-based setting," she said.Darn straight. Everybody knows the kids that come to clinics aren't the same kids that go to school.
Vernita Griffith, who runs the Youth Awake abstinence program in Raleigh, N.C., said her group is among those hoping their funding will continue. It is in the second year of what was supposed to be almost $500,000 in annual funding for five years to encourage teens to remain abstinent."How the heck am I going to get another job in an economy like this," Griffith said.
She has a point. Not much demand for professional scolds these days.
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