Pediatricians Denounce Abstinence-Only Ed (AP). AP - A leading group of pediatricians says teenagers need access to birth control and emergency contraception, not the abstinence-only approach to sex education favored by religious groups and President Bush. [Yahoo! News: Top Stories]
It is not likely that scientists, like the Acadamy of Pediatrics are likely to be listened to by either this administration or the religious zealots who are directing it, but long after they are a distant memory, I hope we do not look back on this recomendation and slap our heads and say "If we had only paid attention when..."
One interesting point in here is, of course, the wording. The AAP says "Teaching abstinence but not birth control (or disesase control btw) makes it more likely that once [my emphasis] teenagers initiate sexual activity...." Please note that there is not indication that the AAP has any mythical beliefs that the abstinence will keep teenagers from having sex, unlike the President and the Roman Catholic Church, which still see sex as a sin, as echoed by the assistant secretary for children and families at HHS who further feels that the acadamy's recomendations "confuse prevention and intervention."
Huh? Confuse? No, I think they are pretty clear. If you teach them how to prevent having babies, then there is less chance of then actually having babies. Man, as an animal (and I mean it in the best terms) is capable of procreating at the age of 13 and generally capable through the age of 50 (give or take, your milage may very). And that is once a month rather than once a year like most animals. Resistance is futile people, so since it is going to happen, regardless of will power (and the Christian repugnance of sex in general) it is better to protect, than to be sorry later.
7:03:39 AM 
|
|
