Sex education has been a hot topic in the government and schools for years: do we teach abstinence-only, which includes inaccurate scientific information and scare tactics, or comprehensive sex education, which discusses condoms and, *gasp*, sex. The Bush Administration has been promoting abstinence-only education from the start, despite a study done by the Mathematica Policy Research group in April 2007 showing that participants of abstinence-only programs started having sex and had the same number of partners as non-participants. According to an Associated Press article released today, more states are dropping funding for abstinence-only education, and it’s sending a message.

The funding in questioning comes from Title V, which was started as part of the 1996 Welfare Reform Law. It consists of an eight point definition that must be followed strictly in order to receive federal funding.

1. has as its exclusive purpose teaching the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity
2. teaches abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage as the expected standard for all school-age children
3. teaches that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems
4. teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in the context of marriage is the expected standard of sexual activity
5. teaches that sexual activity outside of the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects
6. teaches that bearing children out-of wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child’s parents, and society
7. teaches young people how to reject sexual advances and how alcohol and drug use increase vulnerability to sexual advances
8. teaches the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity

~Section 501(b) of Title V of the Social Security Act, P.L. 104-193 

This program (one of three abstinence-only programs) has $50 million budgeted for this year, with $21 million already distributed. In order for states to participate, states must match every $4 of government money with $3. There can be no religious affiliation to the program. However, the biggest problem is, due to the lack of oversight, there is plenty of scientific inaccuracy. Think of the craziest stories you’ve heard about sex that are blatantly wrong—it’s probably being taught in some abstinence-only class. 

States are forfeiting the funding for abstinence-only programs because they are too strict, and they are not providing students with proper information about sex. Currently, only 28 states remain in the program: Alabama, Arizona (leaving October 1), Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa (leaving October 1), Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire,  North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.  This is quite a jump over the past year.

So what now? Since 2002, Title V has been renewed 19 times, ranging from three to six months (though three times, it was just for a few days). Now that barely over half of the states are still part of the program, will funding be slashed? And is there a greater possibility for laws promoting comprehensive sex education programs, such as the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, passing? I really hope so.

~世界の革命