Should abstinence-only sex education be taught in primary and secondary school health curricula?

Public Deposited
Analytics

The William Pitt Debating Union presents a public debate ; speakers Margaret Meeker M.D. ; Darinka Maldonado ; Brenda Green ; Allison Hahn ; questioners Erika Herald ; Candice Ferguson ; host Gordon Mitchell. Index to video clips 01 Introduction – Gordon Mitchell 02 First Affirmative Constructive – Darinka Maldonado 03 First Negative Constructive – Allison Hahn 04 Second Affirmative Constructive – Margaret Meeker M.D. 05 Second Negative Constructive – Brenda Green 06 Audience Questions 07 Affirmative Rebuttal – Maldonado and Meeker 08 Negative Rebuttal – Hahn and Green 09 Audience Questions

Institution: University of Pittsburgh

Title
  • Should abstinence-only sex education be taught in primary and secondary school health curricula?
Date modified
  • 12/19/2025
Creator
Abstract
  • Abstinence-only education programs have been gaining in popularity since passage of the 1996 Welfare Reform Act, which allocated $50 million annually over the course of five years for programs that promote abstinence and do not discuss contraception. While the Bush administration accelerated this trend by dramatically increasing federal funding for abstinence-only education programs, many critics, including organizations such as the American Medical Association, argue that such programs do not work and should be shelved in favor of “comprehensive” sex education curricula that emphasize safer sex practices and contraception. The public debate over which form of sex education should be taught in American schools affects nearly everyone and touches on a wide array of issues including the “epidemic” of sexually-transmitted disease afflicting American teens, effectiveness of various programs, cultural aspects of sexuality, and the role of religion in public life. To explore these issues in a deliberative and pedagogical setting, the University of Pittsburgh’s William Pitt Debating Union hosted a debate on abstinence-only sex education. Each side in the debate features a prominent expert in the field paired with an accomplished student intercollegiate debater. A panel of questioners include Erika Herald, Miss America 2003. The debate is moderated by Dr. Gordon R. Mitchell, Associate Professor of Communication and Director of Debate at the University of Pittsburgh.
Administrative Note
Date created
Identifier
Keyword
Language
Resource type
Rights statement

MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Hahn, Allison, and Mitchell, Gordon. Should Abstinence-only Sex Education Be Taught In Primary and Secondary School Health Curricula?. . 2009. d-scholarship.pitt.edu/concern/generic_works/ec986b38-e4da-4ad4-8412-5757119a8a32.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

H. Allison, & M. Gordon. (2009). Should abstinence-only sex education be taught in primary and secondary school health curricula?. https://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/concern/generic_works/ec986b38-e4da-4ad4-8412-5757119a8a32

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Hahn, Allison, and Mitchell, Gordon. Should Abstinence-Only Sex Education Be Taught In Primary and Secondary School Health Curricula?. 2009. https://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/concern/generic_works/ec986b38-e4da-4ad4-8412-5757119a8a32.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Thumbnail Title Date Uploaded Visibility Actions
2780_debate_01_gordon_intro_Lg.mov 2780_debate_01_gordon_intro_Lg.mov 2025-10-28 Public Download
2780_debate_02_Aff_Constructive.mov 2780_debate_02_Aff_Constructive.mov 2025-10-28 Public Download
2780_Debate_03_Negative_Constructive.mov 2780_Debate_03_Negative_Constructive.mov 2025-10-28 Public Download
2780_debate_04_Aff_2nd_Constructive.mov 2780_debate_04_Aff_2nd_Constructive.mov 2025-10-28 Public Download
2780_debate_05_Negative_Constructive.mov 2780_debate_05_Negative_Constructive.mov 2025-10-28 Public Download
2780_debate_06_audience_questions.mov 2780_debate_06_audience_questions.mov 2025-10-28 Public Download
2780_debate_07_Aff_Rebuttal.mov 2780_debate_07_Aff_Rebuttal.mov 2025-10-28 Public Download
2780_debate_08_Neg_Rebuttal.avi 2780_debate_08_Neg_Rebuttal.avi 2025-10-28 Public Download
2780_debate_09_final_public_questions.mov 2780_debate_09_final_public_questions.mov 2025-10-28 Public Download