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June 5, 2006
Well, maybe the
word embraces is too strong to describe Kaiser Network's
publication of a summary of the recent Washington Times article
on sex education.
Then again,
embraces abstinence pretty well sums up the impact of Kaiser’s
summary
posted on their Daily Women’s Health Policy Listing, reporting
positively on
the Times article that “examines ‘holistic’ approaches to
preventing teen pregnancy.”
Perhaps I’m
wrestling with the language a bit because I doubt Kaiser realizes that
it has its arms locked around abstinence education in a big ol’ “I
Love You, Man” kind of bear hug.
This is a very
big deal for those familiar with Kaiser Network’s traditional
editorial bias opposing abstinence education in favor of programs
willing to promise teens condoms will provide saf-er-er-er sex.
Hence, we take the liberty of saying that Kaiser, a major national
health network, perhaps unintentionally, now embraces abstinence
education. They do. They really do!
The Times
story reported on two “holistic” approaches to preventing teen
pregnancy in the U.S.
Based on information from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen
Pregnancy, these “holistic” approaches finally acknowledge that it is
not enough to focus on “managing the health risks of sex.”
The big news for
Kaiser is that these “holistic” approaches include “relationship
skills” in their sex-education programs. “Teens hear about biology
and body parts,” Kaiser quotes, but they are also learning the
importance of “how to achieve responsible and respectful
relationships.” Psychologist Michael Carrera advises Times
readers “that the best way to prevent teen pregnancy is to ‘move from
fragmentation…to wholeness.’”
The bigger news
for Kaiser should be that this is not new news. This is the
foundation and core of the many quality abstinence curricula developed
over the past 15 years, since founders of abstinence education
declared that the “body parts” approach to sex education was
inadequate at the least…and irresponsible at the worst.
Of course, those
attacking abstinence education have been fundamentally opposed to
abstinence programs for precisely this reason…that they teach teens
the importance of “how to achieve responsible and respectful
relationships.”
Hopefully,
Kaiser is also taking note of mounting evidence demonstrating the need
to teach young people about healthy relationships in the context of
healthy marriages. A recent Gallup poll finds that nearly all U.S.
adults – 91% - either have been married or plan to get married one
day.
Meanwhile, a
survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention involved more
than 12,000 men and women and investigated their attitudes about
marriage. Survey results released in May show that men (66%), even
more than women (51%), agreed that “it is better to get married than
go through life single.” Moreover, men (76%) and women (72%) agreed
that “it is more important for a man to spend a lot of time with his
family than be successful at his career.”
This is good
news for the children of married parents. The CDC survey also found
that among fathers in their first marriage, 90% live with their kids.
They are involved with their kids…from feeding to bathing to helping
with homework and taking them to activities. Other major research
consistently proves that children living with their biological fathers
are less likely to engage in risky behaviors…including teen sex.
Commitment to
marriage and families is also good news for married men. On June 1,
UPI reported on a study in Denmark that found “the death rate among
divorced men in their 40s is twice as high as it is for other men in
the same age group. Alcohol and suicide accounted for many of the
deaths, and one-fourth were caused by heart disease. “Rikke Lund, a
senior researcher who was in charge of the study, said that given the
findings, Denmark should do more to keep marriages together.”
Well, Kaiser,
the good news for all of us is that abstinence education has and
continues to bring all of this medical and relational information
together into a “holistic” message of wellness for adolescents. One
curricula cited in the Times article, “Love U2” has been on the
Arizona approved list for years for use in abstinence programs.
Marlene Pearson,
founder of the LoveU2 Program, also teaches social science in
Wisconsin. She finds teens eager to hear more about love, intimacy,
and ethical consequences of sex. She tells the Times, teens
already know “a messed-up love life can certainly mess up other parts
of your life.”
Adults, says
Pearson, need to tell teens there’s a “simple formula” that can help
them fulfill their goals in love. This “sequence for success” is to
“graduate from high school (at least), don’t have a baby until you are
married, and don’t marry during the teen years.”
Well, Kaiser,
it’s encouraging to find you sharing this important message about
“holistic” approaches to sex education with those interested in health
care. Fortunately, you will be reassured that this is what the many
nationally recognized abstinence curricula and programs in existence
today are all about…the holistic message…healthy body, healthy mind,
healthy spirit.
It’s taken a
long time for this to happen. But, whether they realize it or not,
Kaiser Network has finally embraced abstinence education. Yahoo!
Copyright © 2006 Jane Jimenez
FOR MORE ABOUT HOLISTIC SEX EDUCATION
Read Last Week's Column
May 29, 2006
Why Condoms Will Not Save Us
See Archives
for past editorials.
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