That seems like a simple enough question. I use to think it was open and shut. Abstinence meant to Abstain. As in Dont do it. And while many people have an issue when it is the only form of Birth control taught, very few have a problem with it being taught as A method of Birth control.
Well, that is, except if you live in Maryland! For it seems that Maryland has another view of Abstinence. They are currently teaching 3 forms of abstinence:
No intercourse, withdrawal (ejaculation outside of the body) and rhythm (no intercourse during ovulation).
Now, when my parents and aunts and Uncles practiced the third method, they did not proclaim they were abstaining from sex! (Of course I did not really discuss it with them at the time, only later when I was an adult). But according to the Montgomery County Schools, yep! There are 3 forms of abstinence!
Needless to say, some parents are up in arms over it! So the School system is 'rethinking' their teachings. Rethinking? This is one case where the baby better go out with the bath water! On the one hand, you have the only 100% guaranteed method of Birth Control (it has only failed once in the history of mankind). On the other, you have 2 of the most unreliable methods of birth control there is!
How could anyone, outside of an idiot, call all 3 abstinence? This is just plain stupid! And it just makes normal, sane, rational people question educators even the more for their intelligence level!
If you are going to teach Birth control, call it what it is and teach it! Dont mislabel something so you can sneak it in under the radar screen! You are lying to a bunch of very impressionable children who will then go to the local tree house (or shed) and say "My teacher says this is OK". Yea, is that teacher then going to pay for the consequences of their stupidity? Doubtful! They are not smart enough to even understand their own stupidity!
You got to wonder if the teachers in that District have an IQ test. Over a certain level and you are not qualified to teach!