Talk:Abstinence
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Thanks guys! --Sysop-TK /MyTalk 21:32, 30 May 2007 (EDT)
Several Proposed Changes
These three sentences need some more though: A study funded by the Administration of liberal President Bill Clinton through Mathematica Policy Research found that "the programs had no effect on the sexual abstinence of youth." But this study reached this liberal conclusion by omitting abstinence education during the pivotal high schools.
Liberals oppose abstinence policies and Planned Parenthood, a powerful liberal organization, profits from teenage sexual activity. Yet the facts are undisputed: abstinent teens do not get infected with STDs or become pregnant from having sex.
In the first one, liberal should be removed. It's redundant to mention Clinton's ideology as it should be common knowledge. In the second sentence, the word liberal also needs to be scrubbed. A conclusion cannot be "liberal." It's just a conclusion. Furthermore, the information is not corroborated by the source, which is cryptic and biased. In the final sentence, Planned Parenthood doesn't need an appositive; that's why it has a link to its own article. I'd dispute that it "profits" from teenage sexual activity, because that's some very gray area right there. Finally, the facts are not undisputed - recent studies have shown that "abstinent" teens are not any more likely than their peers to actually abstain from sexual activity. Then, they're left unprepared and lacking the knowledge to practice safe sex witch promulgates STD's and teen pregnancies. That doesn't need to be said in the article, but the article needs to reflect this aspect of reality in some way.
I would propose changing those sentences to read in this way: A study funded by the administration of President Bill Clinton through Mathematica Policy Research found that "[abstinence-only] programs had no effect on the sexual abstinence of youth." However, this study has been criticized for not being comprehensive and for perhaps selectively using data from its sample-set.
Abstinence-only Education is typically supported by Conservatives. Left-leaning politicians and organizations, such as Planned Parenthood (one of the most powerful groups campaigning for comprehensive sex education) tend to contest the efficacy of the programs. Conservatives tend to adopt the stance that abstinence is the only sure-fire way to prevent the transmission of STD's and teenage pregnancy, while liberals tend to favor comprehensive sex education to achieve these ends. ΨtrykeЯ eh?> 20:55, 11 August 2007 (EDT)
- I'd discuss them with Ed first. Learn together 02:30, 12 August 2007 (EDT)
- Stryker, you change them on RW if you want, but do not attempt, once again, to obfuscate Liberal deceit by removing the word "Liberal" by saying it is redundant! A conclusion based upon Liberal deceit such as you wish to obscure from this wiki, is indeed a Liberal biased "conclusion". --şŷŝôρ-₮KṢρёаќǃ 03:55, 12 August 2007 (EDT)
Studies of the effectiveness of abstinence education programs have yielded differing conclusions. A 2004 study by the Heritage Foundation found that virginity pledges significantly reduce premarital sex without putting backsliders at risk.[2] A study funded by the Administration of liberal President Bill Clinton through Mathematica Policy Research found that "the programs had no effect on the sexual abstinence of youth."[3] But this study reached this liberal conclusion by omitting abstinence education during the pivotal high schools.[4]
Problem with Grammar and Accuracy
It drives me nuts when I can't edit for grammar! This sentence: But this study reached this liberal conclusion by omitting abstinence education during the pivotal high schools. clearly needs editing. However, in doing the research to do so (reading the references) I found that the paragraph doesn't accurately reflect the references. While Family Research Council is right that the study didn't cover the high school years, the study authors raise essentially the same point. A better way to put it would be something like:
- A study by Mathematica Policy Research, funded by President Bill Clinton's administration, of four abstinence education programs funded under Title V Section 510 "had no effect on the sexual abstinence of youth."[1] The authors point out that "Most Title V, Section 510 abstinence education programs are implemented in upper elementary and middle schools and most are completed before youth enter high school", and note that "the findings provide no information on the effects programs might have if they were implemented in high school or began at earlier ages but continued through high school." The Family Research Council added that "one logical conclusion is that to achieve the greatest effectiveness, programs must be intensive and long-term, so that the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to reject sex before marriage are constantly reinforced--particularly in the pivotal high school years."[2]--Hsmom 08:09, 18 September 2007 (EDT)
