SD308 Board Needs to Look at Scientific Data in Abstinence Plus Vote

Open Letter to the District 308 School Board,

I am writing in support of the Abstinence Plus health education curriculum recommended by Dr. Carla Johnson as last weeks’ Board meeting. The presentation given to you by Dr. Johnson and the Kinetic Wellness Department Staff was full of compelling information that should make approval of her recommendation straightforward.

They clearly articulated the overwhelming public support, the leadership of surrounding Districts, and the burdensome restrictions placed upon our educators by the current outmoded policy. The new curriculum would continue to focus on abstinence, but will be enhanced with age-appropriate, medically accurate information.

You can be sure that these enhancements are more effective because, in addition to the supporting information presented last week by Dr. Johnson, the vast majority of the scientific and medical communities would agree with her recommendation.

The various curriculums and strategies used to educate children in the area of sexual health and well-being have been subject to years of critical research and analysis. There is a vast supply of data, and it is surprisingly decisive; abstinence-only education curriculums nearly always fail to achieve the goals they were intended to address.

To be fair, a few studies that have shown these programs had some positive effect on behavior. However, in each case, the study has been small, the effect on behavior low, and the results have never been replicated in a large, more robust study.

However, an alternative approach, Abstinence Plus (Comprehensive) Health Education, is far more

effective at achieving these goals. Multiple rigorous evaluations using large experimental designs have shown measurable results, both in terms of increasing abstinence and improving other sexual behaviors, such as contraceptive use. The Abstinence Plus approach has proven efficacy – in over 48 studies to date - at reducing teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

In summary, the science tells us, with certainty, that Abstinence Plus curriculums have a proven ability to delay first sex and increases use of contraceptives when teens decide to engage in sexual activity.

The fact that we even have health education for teens is questionable to some of you. That is unfortunate, but unrelated to the issue before you. The recommendation is simple; the District should replace an old and ineffective curriculum with a more up to date and effective curriculum.

To vote for retaining a poor curriculum, based on a grievance with Illinois Learning Standards and the recommendations of our Administrators, would be to neglect one of your key duties, which is to approve curriculums that align with the goals and policies of our District and meet State and local requirements.

I encourage each of you to seek out and read through the plentiful scientific literature on this topic.

I humbly suggest that you start with the three sources included, all of which review the current science;

• http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/pubs/EA2007SUM_FINAL.pdf
• http://www.abstinenceplus.info/resources_articles.php
• http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-ATSRH.html

You should also consider that the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association, the Society for Adolescent Medicine, among many, many others. All support a comprehensive approach to sexual health education, similar to that which Dr. Johnson has recommended to you.

I applaud Dr. Johnson, and the Kinetic Wellness Department Staff, who were willing to acknowledge that we need an adjustment to the existing curriculum, and eagerly worked to find a solution that was in the best interest of our children.

Further, I am optimistic that the collective wisdom of our expert educators and Administrators, the profound community support, and broad consensus among scientists and adolescent medical experts, will provide you with the confidence to support Dr. Johnson’s recommendation.

Please approve the request to implement an Abstinence Plus curriculum.

Rob Reed, Plainfield