Reuters is reporting that a recent study of abstinence-only sex education programs in Texas high schools has little or any effect on discouraging teenage sex. In fact, the results of this study noted that teenage sex actually increased after students completed these abstinence-only classes:

Abstinence-only sex education programs, a major plank in President Bush’s education plan, have had no impact on teenagers’ behavior in his home state of Texas, according to a new study. . . “We didn’t see any strong indications that these programs were having an impact in the direction desired,” said Dr. Buzz Pruitt, who directed the study. . . The federal government is expected to spend about $130 million to fund programs advocating abstinence in 2005, despite a lack of evidence that they work, Pruitt said.

“The jury is still out, but most of what we’ve discovered shows there’s no evidence the large amount of money spent is having an effect,” he said. Abstinence-only programs, which have sprouted up in schools across the nation, cannot offer information about birth control and must promote the social and health benefits of abstaining from sex. . . “These programs seem to be much more concerned about politics than kids, and we need to get over that,” he said. . . Other programs that focus on the social norms and expectations appear to be more successful, he said.

Another example of your tax dollars supporting moralistic, self-righteous conservative politics rather than sound scientific and medical programs.