Anyone know anything about "Abstinence the Better Choice?"

The program is being taught in my 8th grade daughter's health class starting next week. From the buzz words in the description I am suspicious, but can't find any information (other than self-promotion) about it. It describes itself as encouraging "family-centered education about abstinence from pre-marital sex, tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs," and enabling my child "to make positive, healthy, abstinent choices."

I agree that, for teenagers, abstinence is a good choice with respect to sex, alcohol, and other drugs. Unfortunately, given coercion inherent in teaching choice making while announcing in advance what the good choice is, I am concerned about what other "good" choices might be "encouraged" - particularly since the folks who are most vocal about promoting family (held) values doesn't generally value my family (which includes two moms).

board meeting to hear the AIDS educator give his presentation to the school board, and to see his materials. I wanted to be sure my kids had the facts, but in a way that avoided scare tactics.

We also had an option here to look at any of the curriculum materials about human sexuality. I did not do that. I know the health teachers here, and I have confidence in them.

I agree that sexual abstinence is the right choice for teenagers. I always told my kids that I did not think high school kids were emotionally ready for that kind of choice. But I told them to come to me for birth control if they needed it.

The main reason I educated myself about what my kids were learning is that we live in a very conservative town. I did not want any crap shoved down their throats that was contrary to what we believe. One of my kids is gay, too.

You have the right to know what your kids are being taught. Go find out. You should have the right to pull your kid out of the class if you are uncomfortable with it.

They have had two previous value neutral human sexuality classes, both of which they had advance parent meetings about.

This is an outside group they are bringing in, the advertising for which uses buzz words that are often associated with an agenda that makes me uncomfortable. I was hoping someone here has had some experience with them and could either confirm or dispel my concerns, since I got the (non)permission slip tonight for a class that starts Monday. That doesn't leave much time for research.

Find out who approved it, what they do and what they say. Ask to look at their materials. It is not too late to do that.

Or if it is "abstinence only" education.

Abstinence only education is no education at all. It gives kids a moral browbeating, teaches them that sexuality outside of marriage is something to be ashamed of, and willfully neglects to teach them anything about birth control or disease prevention.

These "abstinence only" folks are the most delusional bunch of yahoos ever to disgrace public service.

Of course, you can thank ol' Georgie and his band of merry bible thumpers for this debacle

Their tactics will, undoubtedly lead to more out of wedlock births and substance abuse, in the absence of their reliance of pr oven scientific and statistical evidence that their methods are whacked.

Welcome to Bushzarro World.

It's the sorted of abstinence only education that is promoted by the Bush Administration.

http://www.religionwriters.com/public/tips/031802/031802cx.shtml

That's the kind of information I was looking for - specific information about what flavor of "choice" making program this one was. I had strong suspicions, but hadn't yet found anything specific about this program.

because that usually means "conservative Christian's ideas of what proper family and family-values are"-centered

(which is always so funny because it seems it's mostly the conservatives who have a problem with infidelity and closet sexual encoutners, out of wedlock children, divorce, and raising criminal children)

"Family centered" usually means a lot of young girls with be at the center of rather large (and unwanted) families that proper birth-control education could have prevented.

because a woman should savde herself for her husband (not her boyfriend, CERTAINLY not her girlfriend!) because sex is so special, so sacred, so important to our American God, that her man deserves a virgin on his wedding night, and whenever else he demands sex, as is his right. And she betetr not enjoy it, either; but she better get pregnant, or she'll make a mockery of the marriage.

Mostly because while fewer had sex (the majority still broke the pledge), as a result of the pledge they were less likely to use a condom, etc.

I have no concern at all about programs which teach good choice making (the process), and which discuss, as a part of that process, the negative consequences of making the choice to have sex as a teenager.

My concern is that this particular program is not teaching how to make good choices, but about which choice is the only "acceptable" choice. That's far to simplistic, and leaves kids who make what is generally a poor choice (to engage in sexual activity as a teenager) with no way of improving that choice (by choosing to delay sexual activity, to use birth control, to talk to your parents about your choice, etc.)

George Sr. and Babs had made the choice for abstinence :)