Should 'Abstinence-Only' Sex-Ed be Taught in Public Schools?

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First it is necessary to clear up the misnomer of "abstinence -- only" education. There is no such thing; programs teaching abstinence until marriage teach many important life skills. The following list is a sample of what is in one of the first and most complete abstinence programs for public schools.

The Teen-Aid curriculum is a skill based approach to abstinence education. The following set of relationship skills are taught in the middle or senior high programs, personal reflection, goal setting, life planning, knowledge about self (emotionally, physically, socially and intellectually), fetal development information, ways to show caring in the family and community, friendship making and keeping, avoiding gossip, non verbal communications, different models of communication, group problem solving, brainstorming, assertiveness skills, refusal techniques, conflict resolution, sexual harassment avoidance, decision making, avoiding dangerous situation, reporting sexual abuse, identifying media and peer pressure, communication with parents, setting boundaries for physical intimacy, practicing behavior change habits across risk factors and daily living situations.

After reading this list, can you honestly say that this abstinence program is teaching only abstinence?

Most abstinence until marriage programs are taught to students under the age of legal consent for sexual activity. Rarely are students over the age of 15 included in programs discussing sexuality, much less teaching abstinence.

Opponents of abstinence, often cite that abstinence materials are not age-appropriate, but age appropriateness must consider more than exposure to sexualized materials. Age appropriateness must recognize the level of brain development for understanding consequences and the minimum of understanding must be the legality of a behavior, which is not taught in comprehensive programs. For students to make informed decisions they must also understand the personal emotional, societal and financial consequences of sexual activity and childbearing. Children under the age of 18 do not have the capacity to independently support a child. Thankfully, the overwhelming majority of out-of-wedlock pregnancies occur among teens aged 18 to 24. (Yes, 18, 19 and up until the 20th birthday are counted in the teen pregnancy statistics even the married one.) However, the fathers are often five to 20 years older than the young pregnant teen mothers. Will equipping these under age teens with contraception assist them in avoiding predatory behavior when those dispensing contraception refuse, as Planned Parenthood has, to report the age of the father in what are obviously statutory rape cases.