Russell W. Gough

About the author: Russell W. Gough is a professor of philosophy and ethics at Pepperdine University and the author of Character Is Destiny: The Value of Personal Ethics in Everyday Life.

Both abstinence-only programs and comprehensive sex-education programs cite studies and statistics to support their claims that their programs reduce teen sexual activity and pregnancy. However, insufficient evidence exists to prove that one method of sex education is conclusively superior to the other. Both sides of the debate have also presented misleading or inaccurate research results. It is also important to determine how researchers define "effective." Finally, values play an important role in sex education and cannot be separated from the research.

Clashes over school-based sex-education programs have erupted like volcanoes...