So, recently it was brought to my attention that becoming certified to teach abstinence-only education in high schools may not be a very rigorous process, and that nearly anybody could do it.  This seems to me to be very dangerous.  Yes, the concepts are fairly basic, but I doubt that everyone is qualified to answer students' questions about sex, STD's, and healthy relationships without some proper research and training. 

However, if you go to the Abstinence Clearinghouse website, and you scroll down to the bottom, for the low, low price of $50 dollars you can take a test "advised on" or written by "A group of 40 professionals in fields such as child psychology and developmental education."  My my my...over forty unnamed professionals and an online test which you can retake for $25 if you don't pass the first time.  They are obviously being very careful who they let advise our students on sexuality...I hope you can sense the sarcasm. 

This is ridiculous!! And the money goes to the Absinence Clearinghouse in South Dakota which will go to help create abstinence-only programs throughout the nation.  Apparently they have "experts" that can help you obtain CBAE funding for your programs in your state...and you can pick up some purity rings on their online store BUT NO CONDOMS. 

Now, I would much prefer an educator that has not only taken an online test, but has completed a full training from a reputable national sex education service, such as Planned Parenthood.  According to Melissa Meyer, the Director of Educaton & Training at Planned Parenthood's Southwest Ohio Region, the minimum training required to be a comprehensive sex educator would be 221 hours and teaching under observation until deemed fit to teach classes.  This seems only fair if you are to be put in charge of students' sexual safety.  I think we need to point out here that High School Sexuality Education may be the only formal sex education that these students receive in their life.  That's a pretty hefty task.  And if they don't get proper or science-based education, it could affect their decisions down the line, decisions that could change their life forever.  

So, the question is, do we owe it to our youth to give them a quality education on sex and sexuality provided by a well-trained educator OR should we entrust anyone with 50 bucks and a computer with the important task of telling our youth not to have sex until marriage?  I think it's more a question of whether you value and respect young people.  Do you think that they deserve the right to know the scientific truth about sex and STD's, or do you think that they should just figure it out for themselves?  

My opinion is obviously that we deserve respect and that we have a right to a properly educated instructor who will tell us the scientific truth about sex, sexual health, contraception, and STD's.  Therefore, we should be careful who we let teach sex education.  But what do you think?  Should we continue to let people certified by Abstinence Clearinghouse teach our youth?  Maybe we should write a letter with our opinions to our state legislators.