Please call the governor today and ask him to veto line 4513-9084 in the budget. Line 4513-9084 provides money for abstinence education in public schools.
Office Phone- 617.725.4005
Please share widely!
Reality-based commentary on politics.
So it’s a good reminder out there if you want to voice your concerns to the Governor.
<
p>
That being said, why not teach abstinence in public schools? The problem is “abstinence only” education, that doesn’t work and is just plain stupid. But I don’t think we should exclude the discussion about abstinence. That would be wrong as well.
What money is necessary to support the inclusion of the concept of abstinence (as part of a curriculum) in a comprehensive health education program? Answer: none. No materials are required, no specialized training, no nothing.
<
p>
I’d love to see the detail on that line item, too. Sounds fishy.
700,000 to secure additional federal grant dollars, seems like a lot of money though.
$700k to incorporate abstinence into a comprehensive program is ludicrous. I’m going to go out on a strong limb and infer that the $700K is for abstinence-only education.
<
p>
I’m calling and writing an email.
Absolutely nobody is talking about that. A veto ensures that comprehensive sex ed, including abstinence, can be taught.
and it’s now posted. It’s abstinence only. So it needs to be killed.
I’m agaisnt abstinence only, but do you have a source for this? I’d like to see for myself rather than just take someone’s word.
http://www.mass.gov/…
<
p>
<
p>No mention as to whether it’s abstinence only. I can’t see how any reasonable person could object to promoting abstinence, as long is it isn’t to the exclusion of safe-sex education.
That’s kind of freaky. There is a difference between abstinence education and abstinence only education… you know that right?
<
p>
Also, it should be noted that this is an appropriation that’s associated with a federal grant program that is administered by DPH… Milo, do you know that this is abstenence only grant funding (and possible match, part etc.) from the federal government or are you just jumping at the word “abstinence?” Also, a veto would clearly eliminate the $712,241 appropriation… how much money in federal funding would we lose if it’s vetoed? What would that mean for sex ed funding if this money is not abstinence only funding? Where does the money currently go? What would this mean for our schools?
<
p>
If you’ve already done your homework can you lay it out? If you need to learn more about this can you do so and source it?
<
p>
Sounds like someone just searched the budget for the word “abstinence” and went all crazy without info.
…This “abstinence education” reminds me of Nancy Reagan’s “just say no” campaign regarding drugs (subsequently extended to pre-marital sex and other issues).
<
p>
OK, just say “no.” Where does “education” come into it? And why is government apparently spending money on it?
<
p>
Just say “no”. What more needs be said?
Now if you think this is crazy check out the dept of education budget for “Program accountability”
The entire Dept of Education is nothing but political patronage.
<
p>
Want to help educate our children ask the Governor to abolish the department of education other than a MCAS board.
<
p>
We would save millions of tax dollars that are earmarked for political hacks, who are otherwise little challenged to complete a good day?s work.
<
p>
This year for the first time we had ?districts? in need of correction??.now that is some good sounding phraseology, especially when it comes to toughing up our education.
<
p>
Reality of this new ?determination? by the dept of Education during the entire 2006-2007 school year amounted to a hill of beans. The accountably people failed to meet with these districts, when pushed for an answer; they had none, and finally did what they called a desk review of the curriculum.
<
p>
Now that certainly takes millions to conduct a desk review which if you are as perplexed as I was means they call the Superintendent of the districts on the phone as asked what was accomplished to change the curriculum?
<
p>
Take It from me I live in one of those districts, the only thing we gained from the department of education was a line of Bull?T
<
p>
NO doubt they will continue to spend millions on a whole lot of nothing.
<
p>
I had thought Patrick was our guy but as of yet I have not seen any meaningfu changes, just the same old day, hidden in a new way!
…had the best quote about Nancy’s “Just Say No” program:
<
p>
<
p>
Similarly, abstinence-only as a method of birth control or disease prevention is doomed from the get-go. We are hard-wired to want to engage in sex, and the words of an abstinence-only program are no match for millions of years of evolution.
Isn’t a veto pretty much a done deal. I’m pretty sure Patrick said he was against the federal grant already.
<
p>
There is apparently some research going on with the various programs to evaluate effectiveness. Seems a shame to shut down Federal funding because you ‘know’ the program doesn’t work.
<
p>
I don’t know why researchers are wasting their time evaluating the programs:
<
p>
CDC/U of Texas study in progress
<
p>
study finding no significant change in long term behavior
<
p>
Summary of 11 evaluations Mixed results.
<
p>
So, because the program known as Healthy Futures may not work, or may work, but since we’re not sure, let’s reject the money. Very progressive.