Sex Ed Poll: Parents Say 'Yes' to Character and Abstinence Education
Zogby International Survey
CNSNews.com Information Services
February 14, 2003

(Editor's Note: The following is a Feb. 13 press release issued by the Coalition for Adolescent Sexual Health, concentrating on a poll regarding parental views on sex education)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- According to a landmark poll released today, parents soundly reject the "safe sex" approach to sex education and strongly support character-based, abstinence-centered programs. The Coalition for Adolescent Sexual Health released the results of the Zogby International survey on Capitol Hill Thursday sending a strong message to Congress in support of the $135 million in federal funding President Bush has requested in support of abstinence education programs. The results are posted on-line at www.whatparentsthink.com.

Genevieve Wood, Vice President of Communications at Family Research Council said, "What parents really want is for their children to be taught an abstinence-centered education. By an almost five to one margin, parents approve or strongly approve of character-based, abstinence sex education."

Major Findings:
73.5% of parents approve or strongly approve of abstinence-centered sex education.
61.1% of parents disapprove or strongly disapprove of "comprehensive" or "safe sex" education.
75.3% of parents disapprove or strongly disapprove of the sex education curriculum promoted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"There is no group more important to stemming the tide of sexually transmitted diseases and out of wedlock pregnancies among our nation's youth than parents," Wood said.

"Parents play a major role in whether or not their teen will choose to have sex. Study after study shows that when teenagers perceive that their parents strongly disapprove of them having sex, they are more likely to delay sexual activity.

"Interestingly enough, the majority of American teenagers also believe that teens should be given a strong message from society to abstain from sex until at least after high school.

"According to the poll results being released today, their parents couldn't agree more. Unfortunately, most of the sex education programs taught in our nation's schools, do little to help parents communicate that message to their children."