Richard Nadler

About the author: Richard Nadler is the editor of KC Jones, a monthly conservative opinion journal.

The sexual revolution among teens ended in the 1990s. The number of teens having sex declined, as did the rates of teen pregnancy, birth, and abortion. In addition, teen approval of premarital sex also fell. The credit for these declining numbers goes to programs that teach teens how to resist sexual pressure and to parental disapproval of teen sex. When teens were taught contraceptive use in school-based sex education programs, teen sex increased, as did the rates of teen pregnancy, birth, and abortion.

For sex educators, the '90s were a decade of unrequited love. Academic research discredited their nostrums, and abstinence programs started to receive a respectful hearing. Then came the most crushing blow of all: Sexual activity among...