Abstaining from abstinence
The CSM has an article about the results of a study on the benefits of the 176 million dollars spent on ‘abstinence only’ sex education each year.
I am slightly, but not much, surprised that it has had no effect at all on important indicators of sexual behaviour. I certainly didn’t think that it was a good use of money and didn’t expect that it would produce great results because young people, you know, like having sex with each other. If the quoted official has a case to make that the study was not rigorous, then fair enough; otherwise, the experiment should end.
Heck, old people like having sex with each other too!
And they’d probably like having sex with young people, too, were it an option.
Comment by Talarohk — 4/24/2007 @ 6:12 pm
To be slightly less stupid that I was before:
I found the part of the article where it was stated that the administration had no plans to change funding priorities in light of the study very revealing.
I heard an interesting discussion in which it was suggested that abstinence until marriage is a much more realistic option when people are typically getting married at or before 18 years old. When that was the norm, waiting might not be too much to ask. On the other hand, the discussion pointed out that if people are not marrying until mid-to-late twenties, they might be a lot less willing to wait.
Interestingly, the discussion was in support of encouraging earlier marriages.
Comment by Talarohk — 4/24/2007 @ 6:20 pm
I like the idea of a Vascmitzva myself. Would have simplified my life significantly, not to mention how it would have made me happy and rich beyond my wildest dreams.
Comment by Yank Crank — 4/24/2007 @ 6:47 pm