Georgia: Abstinence Education Not Enough, Say Parents

This year, the sex-education program Choosing the Best is being introduced in DeKalb County's eighth-grade health classes. The program teaches students they should abstain from sex until marriage. But during a recent presentation, concerned parents of Shamrock Middle School students challenged Bruce Cook, CEO of Choosing the Best, about the program. They said it should include more information about preventing pregnancy and disease. The audience of about 50 parents included doctors, scientists and researchers with specialties in infectious diseases who work at nearby Emory University, its hospital system and CDC.

The program highlights the failure rate of condoms; critics say its negative approach to contraception and disease prevention may discourage sexually active teens from protecting themselves. Cook responded that teens need consistent, firm abstinence messages.

"We have tried fear-based programs in the past," said Tanya Cassingham, an Emory AIDS research coordinator. She questioned why the district chose a program that is not peer-reviewed by the scientific community; this process would affirm that the information presented is widely held to be fact, not opinion. Cook said the materials are medically accurate.

DeKalb officials said Choosing the Best represents only new supplementary material, not a change in philosophy. Teachers may opt to use as much or little of it as they wish. The materials and teacher training were provided free of charge.

Choosing the Best is receiving $2.4 million over three years to serve eight Georgia districts. The federal funds were awarded directly to the company and do not pass through the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Cook said.

Lynn Cherry Grant, a member of the school board, expressed concern about the "conservative agenda" behind Choosing the Best.

Back to other news for January 31, 2005