Re: "Abstinence-based sex education should be encouraged" (Gazette, Wednesday, June 24).
I have some sympathy for letter writer Kenneth Skully. He cited a meta study that showed that Abstinence and Virginity Pledge oriented sex-ed yielded more positive results than “general” sex-ed and I appreciate this logical approach to the issue.
Unfortunately, what Mr. Skully has unwittingly done is underscore the need to keep religiously zealous groups out of teaching sex-ed in public schools.
The study cited is by lead analyst Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation – A U.S. based, right-wing, Conservative Christian lobby group. And under peer review Rector’s study was torn to shreds and Rector absolutely discredited.
The Heritage Foundation, just like the PCC (Pregnancy Care Centre) and their “Wait! Let's Talk Sex” program have demonstrated that they are completely prepared to be deceitful in achieving their aim of foisting their out-dated, religious based views of sexuality on our children via our public schools.
Anti-choice, anti-contraception, anti-sex before marriage, anti-same sex marriage groups have absolutely no place anywhere near our children in our schools, let alone teaching them a healthy approach to sex-ed.
The PCC, The Heritage Foundation and similar groups will try to present a moderate, reasonable, “rounded” approach to the public and the school system – but spend any time on their website, their associate group websites or their church websites and the fact that this is an evangelical moral crusade via an abstinence-based program becomes very clear.
Sex education needs to be science and fact based, without religious motivations making sex “dirty,” “slut shaming” and turning kids away from contraception. The PCC needs to be removed from all “Approved Vendor” lists of every school authority.
Once again, I ask educators and parents to do their homework and ensure that our children get the best and most effective information they can from the most appropriate people to deliver it.
Luke Fevin, St. Albert
