Texas educators react to abstinence-only study

(AP) — An abstinence-only study that allowed students to explore the drawbacks of having sex at early as age 12 has attracted praise from some Texas educators.

Texas law requires an emphasis on abstinence when it comes to sex education in public schools.

Details of the new study are in this month's issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

David Wiley, president of the American School Health Association, is a Texas State University professor who did a 2009 study that was critical of most sex education programs in Texas.

Wiley says the new research in the Philadelphia area offered eight hour-long sessions, safe-sex classes, classes using both approaches, and classes in general health behavior.

Wiley says it proves "when you do it the right way, using medically accurate information, you get better results."

On the Net:

www.archpediatrics.com

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Information from: The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com