Toto
January 7, 2005, 09:25 PM
Critics charge abstinence only program gives false and dangerous information (http://www.abqjournal.com/education/283597education01-06-05.htm)
Best Choice has been in 25 Albuquerque middle and high schools giving its free "abstinence-only" workshops for the past four years. According to the group's literature, its main mission is to encourage teens to "choose abstinence as the only 100 percent effective way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and emotional scars from premarital sex."
Best Choice's main sponsor is Care Net of Albuquerque, which was founded by evangelical Christians. But Best Choice officials say speakers don't bring up religion in schools.
This year, thanks to a Bush administration initiative on abstinence-only education, Best Choice received $536,000 in federal grants to provide abstinence-only education throughout the metropolitan area. It also got $75,000 from the state.
Best Choice is allowed to speak in Albuquerque schools under APS' "controversial issues" policy, which allows outside speakers to expose students to diverse opinions.
. . .
Lynn Pedraza of APS Health/Mental Health Services said the district now requires teachers who use Best Choice to interrupt speakers when they talk about condom use and to provide more information about contraception.
Magruder said no one from APS has contacted his group about that change.
. . .
Amenson added that Best Choice has to promote "abstinence only" under the guidelines of its federal grants. "We must teach abstinence only— not the contraceptive way of life," Amenson said.
Best Choice has been in 25 Albuquerque middle and high schools giving its free "abstinence-only" workshops for the past four years. According to the group's literature, its main mission is to encourage teens to "choose abstinence as the only 100 percent effective way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and emotional scars from premarital sex."
Best Choice's main sponsor is Care Net of Albuquerque, which was founded by evangelical Christians. But Best Choice officials say speakers don't bring up religion in schools.
This year, thanks to a Bush administration initiative on abstinence-only education, Best Choice received $536,000 in federal grants to provide abstinence-only education throughout the metropolitan area. It also got $75,000 from the state.
Best Choice is allowed to speak in Albuquerque schools under APS' "controversial issues" policy, which allows outside speakers to expose students to diverse opinions.
. . .
Lynn Pedraza of APS Health/Mental Health Services said the district now requires teachers who use Best Choice to interrupt speakers when they talk about condom use and to provide more information about contraception.
Magruder said no one from APS has contacted his group about that change.
. . .
Amenson added that Best Choice has to promote "abstinence only" under the guidelines of its federal grants. "We must teach abstinence only— not the contraceptive way of life," Amenson said.