This is much more than a debate between conservatives and progressives over sex education. This specific program being touted by the Republicans stems from a constitutionally dubious concept. Faith based initiatives are warmly embraced by the same citizens who draw back in horror at similar secular initiatives. Next, Republicans claim to be good stewards of our fiscal well being, but are willing to pour good money down the toilet with programs like this one for which there is no evidence to support efficacy. There is so much more.

By the way, the same people who brought us conclusive evidence of WMDs in Iraq must have had a hand in that report of a 60% drop in teen sexual activity in Fauquier County. Anyone who believes that report is simply not qulified to hold any office.

All about tubes, tubes, everywhere you look

LOL

She really has the accent down.

A true southerner pronounces God as two syllables.

According to the prestigious Guttmacher Institute, two new reports from Ghana and Burkina Faso "show that comprehensive sex education plays an essential role in protecting young people from unintended pregnancy and HIV."  You can get links to the reports there, www.guttmacher.org, or read Protecting the Next Generation in Ghana at http://www.guttmache...  (There's also one on Burkina Faso, but it is all in French.)

Well, we know that here.  (There were some pathetic comments on this issue on NLS recently by the usual knee jerk right wingers.)

Comprehensive sex ed is the preferred teaching method among professionals.

Despite years of evaluation in this area, there is no evidence to date that abstinence-only education delays teen sexual activity. Moreover, recent research shows that abstinence-only strategies may deter contraceptive use among sexually active teens, increasing their risk of unintended pregnancy and STIs.

http://www.guttmache...

  Unfortunately, the actions of the Bush Maladministration have resulted in a decrease in comprehensive sex-ed and an increase in abstinence-only sex ed.  http://www.guttmache... 

Evidence shows that comprehensive sex education programs that provide information about both abstinence and contraception can help delay the onset of sexual activity among teens, reduce their number of sexual partners and increase contraceptive use when they become sexually active. These findings were underscored in "Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior," issued by former Surgeon General David Satcher in June 2001.

Wikipedia has a nice section on this issue, including links to the most recent studies.  http://en.wikipedia....

Here's what a recent article (July 2007) in the British Medical Journal concluded:

Results

The search identified 13 trials enrolling about 15 940 US youths. All outcomes were self reported. Compared with various controls, no programme affected incidence of unprotected vaginal sex, number of partners, condom use, or sexual initiation. One trial observed adverse effects at short term follow-up (sexually transmitted infections, frequency of sex) and long term follow-up (sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy) compared with usual care, but findings were offset by trials with non-significant results. Another trial observed a protective effect on incidence of vaginal sex compared with usual care, but this was limited to short term follow-up and countered by trials with non-significant findings. Heterogeneity prevented meta-analysis.

Conclusion

Programmes that exclusively encourage abstinence from sex do not seem to affect the risk of HIV infection in high income countries, as measured by self reported biological and behavioural outcomes.

http://www.bmj.com/c...

I thought the Post coverage of this story was abysmal.  They're following the usual tactic of "on the one hand" "on the other hand" when the other hand is basically the flat earth society.  A well prepared reporter would have challenged the Virginia right wing pols with data and conclusions such as those cited above.  But they're too l-a-z-y.

where is the boy's Priscilla? Surely, surely you don't mean abstinence only as the only sex education is provided just for the young ladies? Have you no comparable video of similar prurient content for the young gentlemen? Why, Pris herself admitted that boys have animal urges. Uncontrollable animal urges.