National Coalition for Abstinence Education

The National Coalition for Abstinence Education (NCAE) is an alliance of sixty organizations dedicated to insuring the implementation of the Title V Abstinence Education Program, which was authorized by Congress in 1997. In the following viewpoint, the NCAE contends that schoolchildren should learn that abstinence from nonmarital sexual activity is the societal norm. Educators should teach that abstinence before marriage is the only sure way to avoid unwanted pregnancy, STDs, and various emotional problems related to premature sexual activity. Comprehensive sex education programs, on the other hand, teach that abstinence is simply one among several optional methods to avoid pregnancy and STDs. Such programs should be avoided, maintains the NCAE, because they give students mixed messages about appropriate sexual behavior.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to the NCAE, what eight...