Save It for Me: Abstinence Education in America

The definition of "abstinence education" was developed by political and religious conservatives, spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation, and first introduced by U.S. Sen. Lauch Faircloth (R-NC) and U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA). As quoted from the block grant application, the guidelines contain eight points:

Abstinence education is an educational or motivational program which:

• has as its exclusive purpose teaching the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity;
• teaches abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage as the expected standard for all school-age children;
• 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;
• teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in the context of marriage is the expected standard of human sexual activity;
• teaches that sexual activity outside of the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects;
• teaches that bearing children out-of-wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child's parents, and society;
• teaches young people how to reject sexual advances and how alcohol and drug use increase vulnerability to sexual advances;
• teaches the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity.

In Texas, the Bureau of Women and Children of the Texas Dept. of Health (TDH) will administer $4.9 million in grant funds for abstinence-only education for each of the next five years. The state must come up with almost $3.7 million in matching funds to activate the federal program, but so far, the Texas Legislature hasn't appropriated any money, says Jackie McDonald, program coordinator for TDH. Local funds and in-kind contributions of volunteer hours, classroom space, and the like, will have to be used instead.

This legislation is narrowly written, and is designed to exclude "comprehensive" sex education. So the funds must be kept separate from any family planning education funds, says McDonald. The use of contraceptives cannot be taught at the same time as abstinence; if contraceptives are mentioned at all, they must be discussed in terms of their failure rates. Other than that, what does constitute an abstinence-only curriculum? "This is what we're trying to come to grips with now," says McDonald.

TDH is in the process of sending out over 4,000 requests for information throughout the state, to garner public input about how the grant funds should be used, and to determine how much local funding may be available. Applications are due July 15; federal funds will be disbursed October 1.

To link to the federal legislation on marriage and teenage pregnancies, go to the politics section of the Chronicle's webpage at
/ -- R.A.