Maybe It's Time for Abstinence

Kay S. Hymowitz

Opponents of President Bush's proposal to boost spending on abstinence education by 33 percent to $135 million, as a way to fight teen pregnancy make two familiar arguments. First, they charge, nothing in the research proves that abstinence ed does anything to get kids to postpone sexual activity. Second, they say, the kind of enlightened policy that European governments pursue--more sex ed and family planning clinics, and easy access to contraception--is a proven success in making kids more sexually responsible when they do choose to have sex.

Well, a study just published in the British Journal of Health Economics suggests that you'd better draw a big question mark after Number Two...The study found no evidence that family planning helps reduce pregnancy among young teens and some hints that it might do the opposite.

For the complete article go to the City Journal website.