The AP reports that students who took part in sexual abstinence programs were just as likely to have sex as those who did not. These results are based on a study ordered by Congress.
Also, those who attended one of the four abstinence classes that were reviewed reported having similar numbers of sexual partners as those who did not attend the classes. And they first had sex at about the same age as other students -- 14.9 years, according to Mathematica Policy Research Inc.
The federal government now spends about $176 million annually on abstinence-until-marriage education. Critics have repeatedly said they don't believe the programs are working, and the study will give them reinforcement.
Congress identified Mathematica, a survey group to study the issue. They did a follow up survey in late 2005 and early 2006, after students in different cities had been exposed to abstinence programs. Mathematica found that about half of the abstinence students and about half from the control group reported that they remained abstinent.
So do we really need to waste our money
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