[M.D. Holloway]

So, here is the content of the flyer they emailed me today:

Parents and Guardians,
Please attend a parent preview presentation for 180 Degrees, an abstinence program for middle school students.

180 Degrees is an abstinence education program that presents the startling reality of the consequences of premarital sex and the benefits of healthy relationships. The presentation will include: staggering statistics, how to set physical boundaries, and how to make a decision towards sexual abstinence until marriage. This is NOT your typical sex education class…this is an interactive discussion that allows you to ask all the questions you never felt you could ask. (This is YOUR TIME.) You know a lot has changed…and you may just learn something that you never knew! This presentation is created to turn our thinking about sex around a whole 180 degrees. It’s harder than ever to make good choices, but YOU can stand for purity and SAVE sex for marriage, but first you have to… GET THE FACTS!


And here is the outline:

180 Degrees Outline: Building Relationships
• When should you start dating?
• Why do people date?
o What are the costs of being in a relationship in middle or high school?
o What are the benefits of being in a relationship in middle or high school?
 Does one outweigh the other?
 There is no need to feel pressured into relationships in middle school.
• Only date “marriage material”.
o What would your perfect husband or wife be like?
o You should never compromise your standards.
• Don’t put yourself in tempting situations
o What are some tempting situations we can avoid?
 Alone with boyfriend/girlfriend
 Talking on the phone late at night
 Having conversations about sex (i.e. sexting: texting about sex and/or sending inappropriate pictures)
 Hiding relationships from your parents
• Drugs and alcohol are risky.
o These impair our judgment and can lead to bad decisions.
• How far is too far? You SHOULD set boundaries when you are in a relationship.
o 9 Steps of Intimacy
 Hugging
 Holding hands
 Closed mouth kissing
 Open mouth kissing
 Touching over clothes
 Anytime clothes come off
 Touching private parts
 Oral sex – anytime someone’s mouth touches someone else’s private parts.
 Sexual intercourse
o How far do your parents want you to go?
 Talk with them about this subject.
o Abstinence is not just about sexual intercourse but saying no to ANY sexual activity including touching private parts and oral sex. And no one should pressure you to do these activities.
o Legal ramifications of teen sexual activities and sexting, sending and distributing inappropriate pictures.
• The Sex Test – What are some possible consequences of having sex before marriage?
o What is abstinence?
 Waiting on sexual activity until marriage.
o What does STD stand for?
 Sexually Transmitted Diseases
o How many STDs are there?
 Approx. 27
o Some STDs are viruses (T or F)
 True
o 1 out of every 10 young adults get and STD (T or F)
 False – 1 in 4
o What is the most common STD?
 HPV
o 1 in 10 girls get pregnant? (T or F)
 False – roughly 1 in 4 sexually active teen girls
o You can get all STDs from oral sex? (T or F)
 False – you can get 26 out of 27 STDs from oral sex.
o You can get an STD from skin to genital skin touching? (T or F)
 True – only 3 of them
o You can tell who has an STD from just looking at them? (T or F)
 False
o You can get an STD from someone without symptoms? (T or F)
 True
o Condoms protect 99.9% from pregnancy and STDs. (T or F)
 False – They do offer some protection but abstinence is 100% effective.
• Sex is not a negative activity but simply one that should be valued enough to wait until marriage. That will give you the greatest chance to have happy and healthy relationships – which is our goal for you!

For even more information, please visit our website at 180 Degrees.


I question not only the 'facts' stated above but also that this program is a school based program. Sex Ed in schools has been a topic of controversy for many years now. I remember sex ed as being a joke.

So, I ask the PP brain trust:
1) these stats accurate?
2) should a school be promoting such a program? Granted maybe they want to provide parents with info in order to make better parenting choices but they don't think parents know this stuff?
3) should there be a counter-program that is the antithesis of such a program to provide balance? (I bet it would sell out!)

the whole thing sorta smacks of the religious right and maybe this should be in PARF...