Tuesday, April 19, 2005
War Against Abstinence
We here at the CRC have long felt that this battle we are waging in Montgomery County is but a small glimpse of what is really going on with sex education, systematically, thanks in no small part to the sex education and homosexual advocacy groups across the country.
In today's Washington Times there is a very interesting commentary from Robert Rector, senior research fellow in domestic policy studies at the Heritage Foundation entitled The War Against Abstinence. In it, Mr. Rector sites a Zogby poll:
" Clearly, it's in society's interest to discourage teen sex. Teens themselves realize this: According to a Zogby poll, more than 90 percent of teens say society should teach kids to abstain from sex until they have, at least, finished high school. Parents want a stronger message: Almost 9 in 10 want schools to teach youth to abstain from sex until they're married or in an adult relationship that is close to marriage. "
More than 90 percent of TEENS say society should teach kids to abstain from sex until they have at least finished high school! This reminds me of what I learned long ago in my own parenting journey. Kids want and need limits. As toddlers they quickly get out of control if they sense that your attention is elsewhere or you have no set rituals and expectations. My own child at age 10 told me that she WANTS me to tell her it is time for bed -- that when she asks if she can stay up a little bit later on a school night, she really KNOWS she needs to be in bed -- for her own good. She gets disappointed when I give in too often! In fact, she WANTS me to tell her "no, it's bedtime now". It makes kids feel safe when we are clear about what we expect and have confidence in them that they can (with our help) abide by our expectations.
It makes me wonder then, why all this fuss about the CRC and our fight against the new curriculum? Why do our opponents fight us so hard and so fiercely? The vehemence they show in their blogs speaks VOLUMES about the fact that they have bought into the world view that there is no right and wrong -- no black or white -- only gray. Its called moral relativism and its all about there being only your own reality and that infamous gray area where society (parents, church, community) need not tread. You decide whats right for you and I'll decide for myself, thank you very much. (More about that later.)
Getting back to abstinence education, Mr. Rector goes on to talk about Sen. Max Baucus (Democrat-MT), who will be introducing legislation soon that would abolish funds for federal abstinence education programs. Abstinence education funding is already a very small percentage of government spending on comprehensive sex education programs. The push behind all of this are two groups that we are already familiar with here in Montgomery County -- Advocates for Youth (their resources play a big role in the new curriculum) and SEICUS (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States):
"SIECUS has a history of promoting the far boundaries of sexual permissiveness. One article published in its SIECUS Reports periodical actually encouraged society to overturn the "taboo" against sex among 9-year-olds. The article also asked readers to consider if society should arrange for "services of prostitutes for older teenage children who are not in a position to seek out sexual partners themselves." "
"Advocates for Youth is a close ally of SIECUS. Both groups vigorously oppose abstinence education and promote something they call "comprehensive sex ed." Not surprisingly, a review of "comprehensive" programs reveals they trample on parental and social values. Far from encouraging young people to wait until they're older before having sex, their message is that it's OK for teens to have sex so long as they use condoms. Only 7 percent of parents approve of that message. "
It's almost laughable how our opponents bang their heads against the wall trying to defend these groups and the new curriculum. They literally scream back with all their might anytime someone expresses concern or unhappiness with the curriculum, its accompanying resources and the BOE. But it is really indefensible to support the State (our elected Board of Education and Dr. Weast) in their efforts to usurp our roles as the first and most important teachers of our children. They think they know better, and cannot understand why in the world we would have a problem with their shoving this new curriculum down the throats of our children.
I encourage you to take a moment to read the commentary-- and think about the fact that what is happening here in Montgomery County is just one of the many first steps toward a world in which there are no boundaries, no right and wrong.
After all, everything and anything goes in this new world, right?