Funding for abstinence-only programs expires soon. The Democratic Congress is surely set to eliminate that funding in a solemn bow to the purveyors of teen sex in Hollywood who finance their campaigns. Borrowing tinsel town screenwriters, the Dems have fashioned a special-effects blockbuster on this issue and positioned themselves as the hero.

They couldn’t do it without the Media’s tacit support. To regurgitate their fiction without adequate disclaimer is deceitful. We see the Act 1, Scene 1, in today’s headlines (from Google News –334 citations):

"Study: Abstinence doesn't delay sex" – USAToday

Have you ever read a stupider headline? This from the newspaper with the largest circulation in the country? How does "not having sex" (abstinence) not "delay sex"?

"’Just say no to sex' message fails, study says" Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Kids Don't Learn From Abstinence Education" – Wired News

"Study: Abstinence Classes Don't Stop Sex" – ABC News

"ACLU Calls on Congress to Stop Funding Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs"

"Abstinence education does not reduce sexual activity in teens" – Food Consumer

In fairness, there were a few sources that gave a balanced view including:

"US sex-abstinence classes queried - US students attending sexual abstinence classes are no more likely to abstain from sex than those who do not, according to a new study"- BBC

"Study Casts Doubt on Abstinence-Only Programs" – Washington Post

Even a conservative site provided a more balanced headline:

"Study Claims Abstinence Classes Don't Work" – Christian Science Reporter

What would the average, naďve American reading these headlines believe about this issue? I expect they would say that abstinence programs are utter failures. Is that true? Absolutely not. So where is the disconnect between this study and reality? And why is the media giving this study such huge airplay while virtually ignoring opposing studies?

1. There are thousands of abstinence-only programs underway in the US.
2. Examples of success are plentiful.
3. It is a relatively new education strategy and early concepts have adapted based on early results.
4. Out of thousands of programs, this study used results from only 4.
5. Those 4 programs were among the very first implemented, the students in the study came from those first classes.

It proved that the education provided in those 4 early programs did not have the desired results.

None except that those 4 programs weren’t successful. This study provides no insight into how well other programs, using different methodologies, in different socio-economic groups would work.

Somewhat, but you didn’t read any of those admissions in the stories with the biased headlines. It acknowledged that the programs themselves could be flawed, and not the abstinence-only message. It cited the early age of the instructions some of whom were as young as 11 years old. It cited that there was no follow-up instruction – the students completed one course at no others.

Obviously, a larger sample is basic. Abstinence-only programs are not identical. Studying these 4 is simply not an indicator of how well other programs work.

Rather than a politically-misguided attempt to smear thousands of different programs for the failures of 4, a better study would have compared the performance of each of the major methodologies using at least a few example programs practicing each methodology. For instance, in just these 4 programs if one was hugely successful, two had no success, and one adverse effects, the consolidated results would provide the exact results this study announced. However, wouldn’t we want to know about that hugely successful methodology?

An honest, balanced media would. The articles from the Washington Post and Christian Science Reporter did. Those with the biased headlines did not.

Take your head out of your backside and use common sense. Those of you with children, consider: Is the typical child less likely to have sex if he/she receives abstinence education? How anyone could claim "no," I can’t imagine. Is that child more likely to have sex because of abstinence education? Who could claim "yes"? Certainly, there are children for whom abstinence education will have no effect. Certainly, there are children who will be affected positively by the education.

Recognize when political factions are trying to manipulate you. Read the entire article, don’t rely on the headlines. Be skeptical. I know of no major media outlet that does not introduce bias into every article. Assume the article you read has omitted facts that do not support their agenda – you will be right almost every time.

	Web useless-knowledge.com