ENDEAVOUR FORUM NEWSLETTER No. 114, APRIL 2004

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Leslee Unruh, President and Founder of the Abstinence Clearinghouse, in a news release Janury 28, 2004, welcomed  results from the Zogby Poll that   parents overwhelmingly  support abstinence education.   "The abstinence until marriage community has always supported parents  as the primary sex educators of their children.  Parents want to be involved in the most sensitive subjects of their children's lives." 

The new poll also showed mums and dads strongly oppose condom-based sex education. The vast majority of American parents want their children's sex education classes to emphasize abstinence until marriage. The survey, conducted by Zogby International for Focus on the Family, also found that parents strongly oppose the values and messages of comprehensive sex education, a training model that assumes teens will become sexually active and, therefore, must be given easy access to condoms. 

In fact, a significant majority of those surveyed believe that sexual behavior is likely to lead to psychological, emotional and physical problems for teens. "This poll illustrates that the people most concerned about the health and emotional well-being of America's children -- their parents -- recognize that abstinence is the only surefire way to protect their children," said Linda Klepacki, manager of the abstinence department at Focus on the Family. "As hard as the comprehensive sex-education lobby has tried to sell its 'safe-sex' message, it's clear parents aren't buying it."

Linda Klepacki announced the poll results at a Washington, D.C., news conference on January 28,   an event also attended by Dr. Wade Horn, assistant secretary for children and  families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.    

“It is gratifying to learn that parents agree with the President that the primary  message we should give our children when it comes to sexual behavior is  abstinence until marriage,” Dr. Horn said.  The survey of 1,008 parents of children under 17 featured in-depth questions about  the respondents' views of teenage sexual behavior, the messages contained in sex  education curricula and sexual activity as it pertains to human relationships. Among  its highlights were: 

Sixty-eight percent of parents want schools to teach teens that individuals who  remain abstinent until marriage have the best chances of marital stability and  happiness. “Abstinence programs,"  Linda Klepacki said, "support this theme while  comprehensive sex ed classes seldom mention marriage and do not criticize casual sex."

Ninety-one percent want their children to be taught that sex should be linked to the type of love and commitment found in marriage. “Abstinence programs are built  upon this message while comprehensive programs present sex as a physical  process,"   Linda Klepacki explained.  "The highest aim for comprehensive programs is  the avoidance of STDs and unwanted pregnancy.  Abstinence programs aim teens  toward an enriched life”.  

More than 56 percent said that information about contraception should either not be  taught as a subject or taught in a class separate from abstinence, such as a health or biology class. Only 39.9 percent thought that abstinence and contraception should be combined in  a single class. But even on that matter, only 2 percent thought that sex education should focus on teaching teens how to use condoms. "That is a shocking number," Linda  Klepacki said, "because the vast proportion of government programs in the past had  as their goal getting more teens to use more condoms. It is clear that the public  health establishment has been out of step with the will of America’s parents. Only  with the current administration has funding been dedicated to abstinence.” 

The Heritage Foundation confirmed that conclusion in an analysis of the Zogby  report released at the January 28, 2004   news conference. The report noted that $4.50 was spent  on comprehensive sex education for every $1 spent on abstinence education. 

Senator Sam Brownback also participated in the press conference. Brownback  said: “As we work to reauthorize abstinence education in Congress this year, and in light of President Bush’s increased focus on the issue, we should take a good look  at the data presented today. It is clear from this study that most parents want their  children to be taught in different ways and that includes increased attention to  abstinence education.” 

The Family Research Council and Concerned Women for America also took part in the news conference.More information is available at www.citizenlink.org. Polling results are available at whatparentsthink.com

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