Russell W. Gough

In the following viewpoint, Russell W. Gough asserts that both sides of the sex education debate cite studies and statistics to support the effectiveness of abstinence-only or comprehensive sex education programs. However, Gough contends, the research available on the different sex education programs is too tentative and preliminary to offer any firm conclusions on the effectiveness of any particular program. 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.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What two points are to be emphasized by the new federally mandated abstinence-only sex education programs, according to the author"

2. What evidence does Gough present to support his claim that both sides of the sex education debate...