Sample Action Kits Myths and Facts About Sexuality Education Thirty Things You Can Do to Show Support for Sexuality Education Responding to Arguments Against Comprehensive Sexuality Education Working with School Boards to Ensure Comprehensive Sexuality Education Public Speaking Tips ---------- Sample Action Kits Myths and Facts About Sexuality Education Myth #1: Sexuality education leads to increased rates of sexual behavior in adolescents. Source: This misinformation has been promulgated by Far Right organizations, including Focus on the Family, which runs an advertisement entitled "In Defense of a Little Virginity." FACT #1: A World Health Organization literature review concluded that there is "no support for the contention that sex education encourages sexual experimentation or increased activity. If any effect is observed, almost without exception, it is in the direction of postponed initiation of sexual intercourse and/or effective use of contraceptives." (1) Successful programs include Reducing the Risk, Postponing Sexual Involvement, and a program by Schinke and Gilchrest based on social learning theory. These programs have illustrated the ability of sexuality education to promote abstinence as well as effective contraceptive usage. (2) Myth #2: Comprehensive sexuality education programs lead to earlier onset of sexual intercourse. Source: This assertion is sometimes a misinterpretation of data gleaned from a 1986 Louis Harris and Associates poll entitled "American Teens Speak." FACT #2: The Louis Harris poll asked teens between the ages of 12 and 17 whether or not they had participated in any type of sexuality education and whether or not they had ever had intercourse. The poll shows no causal relationship between having been taught sexuality education and having sexual intercourse. The distortion of the poll's findings arises because the authors of the poll did not control for age. Older teens are both more likely to have had sexuality education and to have had intercourse. A World Health Organization literature review concluded that there is "no support for the contention that sex education encourages sexual experimentation or increased activity. If any effect is observed, almost without exception, it is in the direction of postponed initiation of sexual intercourse and/or effective use of contraceptives." (3) Myth #3: Abstinence-only programs such as Sex Respect and those published by Teen-Aid, Inc. have lowered pregnancy rates in the areas in which they have been implemented. Source: Many promoters of Sex Respect and Teen-Aid, Inc. have used this myth to entice communities into purchasing their programs. FACT #3: In reality, the evaluation studies of abstinence-only based programs have been poor quality, utilizing inadequate methodology and data analysis practices. Because of these methodological faults, there is no reliable evidence that abstinent-only programs have had an impact on students' knowledge, attitudes and behavior. (4) Teen-Aid, Inc. claims that implementing its program has lowered pregnancy rates in San Marcos, California. However, San Diego County, of which San Marcos is a part, does not tabulate pregnancy data. The so-called "miracle at San Marcos" was loosely based on reports by students to a school counselor, not on scientific research. In fact, the birth rate for school-age mothers in the city, which is actually smaller than the school district, was 34, notably higher than the 20 total pregnancies reported by the school district. (5) Myth #4: The federal government has spent close to $3 billion dollars on family planning since 1970, but pregnancy rates have steadily increased during this period. Thus, family planning has failed. Source: This myth is often used by abstinence-only programs to justify providing no information about contraception to teens. This misinterpretation of the data also appears in the Focus on the Family advertisement "In Defense of A Little Virginity." FACT #4: The pregnancy rate among sexually active teens has actually decreased 19% over the past 20 years. (6) For every one dollar bill spent on family planning, more than four dollars has been saved. The $3 billion federal dollars spent since 1970 includes all federally funded family planning programs, not just sexuality education programs. It is actually estimated that family planning programs have saved taxpayers close to $12 billion dollars. (7) Myth #5: Condoms don't work. Source: This argument often appears in abstinence-only, fear-based programs. FACT #5: When used consistently and correctly, condoms provide protection from both unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV infection. With correct and consistent condom use, the failure rate for condoms is about 2% (8), but there have been reports as low as 0%. (9) It is estimated that 2 to 5% of condoms tear during use, but the majority of the breakage is due to user failure. (10) People need realistic information about condom effectiveness in order to make decisions about protecting themselves from unwanted pregnancy and STDs. Telling students that condoms fail without also discussing the protection they offer when used properly, may lead students to forego condom use during intercourse. It is important that individuals understand that using a condom provides 10,000 times more protection from STDs, including HIV, than not using one during sexual intercourse. (11) Myth #6: School boards that adopt fear-based, abstinence-only programs will avoid controversy since conservative parents will be satisfied with the programs. Source: This argument often appears in abstinence-only, fear-based program promotion. FACT #6: School boards that adopt fear-based education programs may indeed invite controversy. Three major lawsuits have been brought against school boards that voted to adopt fear-based programs. The lawsuits, in Duvall County, FL, Hemet, CA and Shreveport, LA, were against local school boards that adopted Sex Respect and programs published by Teen-Aid, Inc. The lawsuits charge that the programs violate state statutes concerning health, sexuality and/or AIDS education. School boards that adopt such programs may be violating their state mandates for sexuality and family life education and may open themselves up to litigation. In many communities, opponents to sexuality education are actually interested in electing candidates to local offices and implementing a much larger agenda in the public schools. After launching an attack on sexuality education, the opposition may turn to other controversial issues such as school prayer, creationism, and school vouchers. Resources 1. Grunseit, A. and Kippax, S. "Effects of Sex Education on Young Peoples Sexual Behavior." National Center for HIV Social Research, Macquarie University, as commissioned by the Youth and General Public Unity, Office of Intervention Development and Support, Global Programme on AIDS, World Health Organization, p. 10. 2. Kirby, et al., "School-Based Programs to Reduce Sexual Risk Behaviors: A Review of Effectiveness." Public Health Reports (1994) 109(3): 339-360. 3. Grunseit and Kippax. "Effects of Sex Education on Young Peoples Sexual Behavior," p. 10. 4. Bartels, et al. "Federally Funded Abstinence-Only Sex Education Programs: A Meta-Evaluation." Presented at the Fifth Biennial Meetings of the Society for Research on Adolescence, San Diego, CA. February 11, 1994. 5. Division of Maternal and Child Health, Department of Health Services for County of San Diego. Natality Statistics for 1984-1987. 6. The Alan Guttmacher Institute. Sex and America's Teenagers. (1994) New York: The Alan Guttmacher Institute. 7. Darroch, J. and Singh, S. "Public Sector Savings Resulting from Expenditures for Contraceptive Services." Family Planning Perspectives (1990) 22(1): 6-15. 8. Trussel, J. and Kost, K. "Contraceptive Failure Rate in the United States: A Critical Review of the Literature." Studies of Family Planning (1987) 18:5; Trussel, J. et al., "Contraceptive Failure in the United States: An Update." Studies of Family Planning (1990) 21(1): Table 1. 9. DeVincenzi, I. "A Longitudinal Study of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission by Heterosexual Partners." The New England Journal of Medicine (1994) 331(6): 341-346. 10. "How Reliable are Condoms?" Consumer Reports, May 1995. 11. Ronald Carey et al., "The Effectiveness of Latex Condoms: A Barrier of HIV-Sized Particles Under Condition of Simulated Use." Sexually Transmitted Diseases (July-August 1992). copyright © 1995, SIECUS ---------- Sample Action Kits Thirty Things You Can Do to Show Support for Sexuality Education 1. Create a community group that supports sexuality education in schools. Develop an easily recognizable logo and put it on meeting announcements, educational flyers, etc. 2. Send letters to the editor of the local paper expressing support for comprehensive programs. 3. Write Opinion-Editorial (op-ed) pieces for the local paper. 4. Have parents, community members, and students sign a statement of support or a petition for comprehensive programs. 5. Write letters to the school board and the curriculum review committee expressing your position on sexuality education. 6. Create an on-line bulletin board to use as a forum for expressing support for comprehensive sexuality education, or contribute your opinions to an existing bulletin board on educational or community issues. 7. Organize a student rally at which students can express their need for comprehensive sexuality education. The rally could be entitled "Teens for Sexuality Education." 8. Invite speakers who support comprehensive programs to speak at community group meetings. 9. Place flyers on public bulletin boards urging parents to get involved in supporting effective programs. 10. Call in to radio or TV programs that discuss the issue of sexuality education in schools. 11. Contact local family planning and advocacy organizations to find out what efforts they are making to support sexuality education in schools. 12. Hold a meeting at your home for friends to urge them to get involved with the issue. 13. Have a group buy an ad in the local paper expressing support for comprehensive programs. 14. Attend school board meetings to testify on behalf of accurate, age-appropriate programs. 15. Wear buttons declaring "Just Say Know," or "Ignorance Kills," or "Ask me about Comprehensive Sex Ed." 16. Designate a certain colored ribbon to show support for comprehensive sexuality education. Publicize the ribbon color to be worn at schools, community centers, etc. 17. Set up tables in visible, highly populated areas such as shopping centers and ask supporters of comprehensive sexuality education to sign petitions, sign up to volunteer, and to take literature to distribute throughout the community. 18. Develop a bumper sticker supporting comprehensive sexuality education. 19. Ask religious leaders who support comprehensive sexuality education to raise the issue of sexuality education during services or to provide space and support for an educational session for the congregation. 20. Hold a sexuality education forum for parents and their children. Use the forum to educate the group about sexuality and to organize for supporting comprehensive sexuality education in the schools. 21. Approach local experts in the fields of mental health and counseling to write articles and speak at public forums about the possible dangers of a fear-based approach to sexuality education. 22. Run flyers or utilize space in the local paper to publicize a "Stat of the Day" or "Quote of the Week" illustrating the need for comprehensive sexuality education or the limitations of the fear-based approach. 23. Hold a gathering of like-minded people to generate letters to the editor, flyers for distribution and op-ed pieces. This will help motivate people to take action and keep anyone from feeling isolated in this endeavor. 24. Hold a children's fair, carnival or arts event to raise money to defray the costs of community organizing. This can both generate needed funds and show that the supporters of comprehensive sexuality education do so because they care about children and youth. 25. Develop a mailing list from PTA directories, school directories, voter registration lists, etc. Get the word out about meetings, events and issues on a timely basis. 26. Include senior citizens through contacting senior centers, clubs, etc. Individuals may be willing to speak to the lack of comprehensive sexuality education available during their school years and to advocate for today's children and youth. 27. Coordinate an effort to elicit letters from parents requesting comprehensive sexuality programs. These letters can go to school board members, legislators, principals, teachers, etc. 28. Approach teachers' unions to lend support to comprehensive programs and to support the teachers currently assigned to Family Life Education classes. 29. Turn to national organizations for technical assistance, suggestions, materials, and other help. 30. Inform pre-school parents about controversies over sexuality education in the district. These parents may be willing to get involved to ensure sexuality education for their children in the future. copyright © 1995, SIECUS ---------- Sample Action Kits Responding to Arguments Against Comprehensive Sexuality Education Although the specifics of any given controversy over sexuality education are unique, the same arguments tend to surface again and again. In this fact sheet, common arguments used by opponents of comprehensive sexuality education are listed in italics and strong responses you can use to defuse these arguments are listed in bold. 1. Comprehensive sex education hasn't worked. Comprehensive sexuality education hasn't been tried. Only 5% of students receive sexuality education during every year of school. 2. Discussing abstinence and contraception sends a mixed message. Studies show that programs that discuss abstinence and contraception are very effective in helping young people to postpone having intercourse. Even young people who wait until they are married to have intercourse need information about contraception. 3. Condoms fail up to 20% of the time. Using a condom is 10,000 times safer than not using a condom at all. High failure rates are due to people using condoms incorrectly or inconsistently. That is why including condom instruction in sexuality education is so important. 4. The average condom failure rate is 10% when measured for pregnancy. However, a woman can only get pregnant a few days a month. Thus, the failure rate for STDs is probably as high as 40%. Fortunately, many studies have shown that condoms are extremely effective in preventing the transmission of STDs, including HIV. In fact, a major global study on partners in which one person had HIV and the other did not showed that among those couples who used condoms every time they had intercourse, none of the uninfected partners became infected. 5. Teaching children about sexuality before the age of 12 interferes with the latency period and disturbs children's natural modesty. Modern psychologists agree that human beings are sexual from birth until death and that no latency period exists. Children are naturally curious about issues related to sexuality and need accurate, age-appropriate information. 6. Evaluations of abstinence-only programs show they help in reducing pregnancy. Actually, there is no published evaluation of an abstinence-only program that shows these programs help young people to change their behavior. Programs that have helped to postpone intercourse include information about contraception and exercises that help young people build the skills they need to maintain abstinence. 7. This curriculum defines homosexuality. In this state, you are not allowed to promote homosexuality. Young people want and need information related to sexual orientation. This curriculum simply offers young people information and opportunities to discuss issues related to sexuality including sexual orientation. 8. Schools are spending so much time teaching about health that kids don't even know how to read and write. Sexuality education programs offer students opportunities to develop their skills in reading and writing on a subject in which they are extremely interested. Also, students who are healthy and able to make responsible decisions related to their own health are better able to focus on school. 9. Abstinence until marriage will lead to a strong marriage. There is no research to support that assertion. Most people engage in intercourse prior to marriage. Whether any marriage succeeds or fails will depend upon many factors, but premarital intercourse has not been shown to influence the outcome. 10. Premarital intercourse leads to a host of problems including inability to concentrate in school and a lack of interest in family, friends and other social activities. There is no evidence that supports this statement. More than 8 in 10 Americans have premarital intercourse, the vast majority without negative outcomes. 11. Teens must be taught that adoption is the best choice for an adolescent woman who becomes pregnant. Teens must learn about all of their options for dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Adoption may be the best choice for some teens but it is clearly not the decision for all teens. 12. Even if condoms are a good method for adults, teens are notoriously poor users of condoms. Actually, condom use at first intercourse doubled among teens during the 1980s and teens are almost as good at identifying the steps necessary for correct condom use as adults are. 13. Abstinence-only campaigns are clearly working--there is now a virginity trend. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, sexual activity among teens has levelled off during the past few years, but there is no evidence of a decline. 14. People who want comprehensive sexuality education are saying, in effect, that young people are going to have sex anyway, so we might as well tell them how to make it a little safer. All young people, including those who wait until marriage to become sexually active, have a right to and a need for accurate, up-to-date information about sexuality. 15. Teaching young people that they can have safer sex encourages promiscuity. According to a major global study published by the World Health Organization, programs that teach young people about contraception and safer sex do not lead to earlier onset or higher frequency of intercourse. In fact, programs that teach about both abstinence and safer sex can help young people to postpone having intercourse. 16. Young children do not need to know the words "penis" and "vagina." If they are taught these words it will lead to more interest in masturbation. Some children masturbate and others do not regardless of their knowledge of correct terminology. Children need to learn the correct names of all their body parts so that they can communicate their questions and concerns. 17. Teaching that abstinence is the expected standard and leaving out any mention of contraception will set a strong ethical guideline for young people. The programs that have been most effective in helping young people to abstain discuss both abstinence and contraception. This is why providing comprehensive sexuality education to young people is so important. 18. Parents have the right to determine what their children are taught. Absolutely. And most parents want the schools to provide sexuality education. Parents do not have the right to determine what other people's children are taught, but they should have the right to opt their own children out of classes. 19. Comprehensive sexuality education is the agenda of groups like Planned Parenthood, SIECUS and the ACLU. These groups seek to impose their values on the public schools. More than 90 national, mainstream organizations including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association support a comprehensive approach to sexuality education. 20. The two parent family is clearly superior to other types of family structures. Teaching this in school is appropriate and helps young people to understand the ideal. By the year 2000, the number of step-families is expected to surpass the number of nuclear families. Students should not be made to feel ashamed about their family structure. All families should be given respect in school programs and at school functions. 21. Even mainstream publications like "The Atlantic Monthly" are now stating that comprehensive sex education has failed. The article being referred to is riddled with inaccuracies and bias. Only 5% of students receive comprehensive sexuality education in this country. What has not been tried, can not be judged. 22. Courses in comprehensive sexuality education teach young people how to do it. Comprehensive sexuality education gives information about a broad variety of topics and teaches young people the skills they need to make responsible decisions. 23. If fear convinces young people that sex is a bad idea then I'm all for it. Fear-based health education has never worked: Early smoking campaigns that emphasized that cigarettes can kill did not reduce the number of smokers. Effective education is based on accurate information and helping people learn strategies for changing their behavior. 24. Once young people go past kissing, they will quickly succumb to their desire to have intercourse. Young people must be taught that they are in control of their sexuality. There is never a point at which they have to "go all the way." Young people must be taught to set boundaries and enforce those boundaries with their partners. 25. Young men use love to get sex. Young women use sex to get love. Gender stereotyping can be very harmful to young people. All young people need to learn about having relationships that are honest, caring and committed. 26. Contraceptive education has been offered for the last 20 years and yet the rate of pregnancy and STDs has gone up dramatically. Comprehensive sexuality education has yet to be widely implemented. The high rates of pregnancy and STDs are alarming but the few programs that have been implemented can not be expected to change statistics nationwide. In fact, pregnancy rates among sexually active teens have actually declined 19% during the past 20 years. Education about and access to contraception are part of the reason for this decline. 27. Kids in early elementary school don't need information about sex. In every subject, children are given a foundation in the subject in the early school years that is expanded upon in later years. The same approach must be used in sexuality education if it is to be effective. copyright © 1995, SIECUS ---------- Sample Action Kits Working with School Boards to Ensure Comprehensive Sexuality Education Background: In most communities, local school boards have final say over the sexuality education curriculum to be used in the school district. School board members may not be familiar with issues related to sexuality education and may view debate over this topic as a contest between special interest groups. Other school board members may be invested in voting a certain way because of the manner in which the debate over sexuality education has been framed in the press or by people who have called, visited, or written to them. Perhaps the most important fact to consider when trying to convince school board members to support a comprehensive approach is that these people serve in an elected office and require the support of the community to continue in their position. If you are able to mobilize support for the issue of comprehensive sexuality education, you are much more likely to ensure accurate, effective education. Tips for Influencing School Board Members: 1. Organize school board candidate forums well before elections. Prepare questions for the candidates that include their positions on health education and sexuality and HIV/AIDS education. Consider asking questions related to outcome-based education, voucher initiatives, moments of silence, and self-esteem courses as well. Publicize candidates' answers to questions as widely as possible. 2. Once school board members are elected, hold an informal meeting with each member. Invite one other person to join you when you meet with a school board member and try to emphasize common ground in these meetings. If you are a parent with children in the district, be sure to let the school board member know. Use this meeting to gain an understanding of the board member's views on education. Is this person concerned with test scores? Pregnancy prevention? Getting back to the "three R's"? 3. Follow up on the informal meeting by sending an information packet tailored to the school board member's concerns. While it might seem difficult to convince a "back to basics" school board member about the importance of sexuality education, your follow-up letter can mention that sexual health problems often get in the way of academic achievement. Sexuality education classes engage young people and help them to develop reading and writing skills while learning about themselves and the world around them. 4. Attend school board meetings. Work with a team of people to make sure that someone is available to attend each meeting. These meetings are often sparsely attended and showing up before a controversy occurs will give you more credibility and understanding of the school board. 5. Encourage community members to call, write, FAX or e-mail their school board members. Even a few calls or letters can make a big difference at the local level. 6. Continue to tailor arguments to each school board member based on their individual perspective and set of concerns. The board member who is concerned about budget might vote against implementing a fear-based program because of the cost of changing programs. This school board member needs to hear that the new program is expensive, and that funds have already been spent to secure the current program, which is well liked by parents, students, and teachers. 7. Testify before the school board when issues of sexuality education are being considered. Be sure to coordinate your testimony with a group of people to ensure that your key messages will be repeated throughout the meeting. Be respectful toward the board and toward community members who oppose comprehensive sexuality education. The strongest arguments are reasonable but include some emotional appeal and passion. When possible, speak from your perspective as a parent or grandparent rather than only as a professional. 8. Use consistent, well thought-out messages. Groups or individuals advocating for comprehensive sexuality education need to construct three or four key messages to repeat in school board meetings and other public forums. Messages should be short, positive, and convincing. 9. Help identify supporters of comprehensive sexuality education to run for school board seats. Consider running yourself. Assist in voter registration and in get-out-the-vote efforts. (Remember that although you may not be able to do this as part of your job, you can always assist on your own time.) 10. VOTE! School board elections attract low voter turnout. Remind your friends and colleagues to vote. copyright © 1995, SIECUS ---------- Sample Action Kits Public Speaking Tips When controversy over sexuality education arises, proponents of accurate, effective programs must be ready to defend their views in meetings and with the media. When defending your position, attention must be paid to both the content and the delivery of the response. Here are some suggestions for making your presentation effective: * Carefully evaluate your role in the meeting, debate, or radio/television program. Are you there as a public health expert to discuss studies and data? If so, use personal references and emotional pleas sparingly (but don't avoid them altogether, especially in a community meeting). If you are speaking as a parent, teacher or school nurse, emphasize your concern for children and use statistics and jargon sparingly. * Evaluate your audience and the opportunities you will have to make additional points. If you are appearing on radio or television or testifying in a live forum, you may not get a chance to clarify your position. Therefore, avoid posing questions in response to statements or opening up tangential issues. * Practice analogies ahead of time. People often get confused when stating analogies, which makes them appear unintelligent. Practice your lines with family and friends before you speak in public. * Stay away from "I think," "I feel" statements except when speaking as a parent or offering commentary about an anecdote you have described. Using "I" tends to sound wishy-washy in a public forum. For example: "I think there are studies that show the opposite" is not as convincing as "The literature clearly shows that sexuality education does not hasten the onset of intercourse." * Anecdotes stay with audiences longer than dry data. Whenever possible, illustrate statistics with a vivid image or story. * Develop three key messages ahead of time. This will help ensure that you communicate your strongest, most important points and that you are not at a loss for words when asked open-ended questions. * Getting your points across should be your first priority. As the performance of skilled politicians demonstrates, you need not directly answer the question posed to you. While avoiding the appearance of evasiveness, you can use every question as an opportunity to communicate your key messages. * When asked "do you have anything else to add," always say something even if you have made all of your points. You can always restate one of your three key messages. * Practice using body language that communicates confidence and conviction. Speak clearly, slowly and loudly. If you get nervous when speaking, develop some techniques for calming yourself and practice what you will say beforehand. * If you are doing a call-in radio show, ask family, friends, and supporters to phone in and ask questions that will allow you to get your main messages across. * In a public meeting, be sure to observe the time limit and to coordinate your testimony with other people so that everyone reiterates common themes and raises the same key points. * Do not demonize or alienate any segment of the community. Whenever possible, be gracious and acknowledge that everyone involved in the issue wants what is best for the young people in the community. Focus your arguments on the issues, not the personalities or affiliations of the people involved. * Make conscious decisions about how to present yourself. This includes what you wear, how assertive you are, and who you sit with at the meeting. * Emotions can help your presentation to be more powerful--you haven't ruined your argument if you get upset. If possible, however, describe the way you are feeling to the audience, rather than trying to talk over your feelings. Once you are feeling composed, return to your reasoned argument. * Keep your role in perspective. Although your voice is critical to the debate, the fate of the sexuality education program does not rest in your hands alone. Do your part and trust that others will also rise to the occasion. copyright © 1995, SIECU