Why Johnny Can’t Abstain

Sex education is much in the news. Many states and localities are considering proposals to implement or expand sex-education curricula. Polls suggest that a substantial majority of the American people favor sex education in the schools. I too tend to support the idea of sex education in schools, as a great improvement on the sex curriculum available on the street and on television.

For several years now, though, I have been looking at the actual form sex education assumes in the classroom. Having surveyed samples of the literature available to the schools, I must say this: I have my doubts.

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William J. Bennett

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Sex education is much in the news. Many states and localities are considering proposals to implement or expand sex-education curricula. Polls suggest that a substantial majority of the American people favor sex education in the schools. I too tend to support the idea of sex education in schools, as a great improvement on the sex curriculum available on the street and on television.

For several years now, though, I have been looking at the actual form sex education assumes in the classroom. Having surveyed samples of the literature available to the schools, I must say this: I have my doubts.