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In a quarterly newsletter of The Center for the Fourth and Fifth R's led by Dr. Thomas Lickona, a feature article appeared called "Peers Teaching Abstinence." The article presented the PEERS Project, headed by Eve Jackson in Indianapolis. The following is excerpted from the article:

Is it realistic to expect young people to abstain from sexual activity until marriage? The Dec. 9, 2002, issue of Newsweek featured a cover story, "The New Virginity" with interviews of teens who had decided to save sex for marriage. The CDC's 2001 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System reported that among high school students, virgins are now in the majority for the first time in 25 years.

One possible reason for this shift is the growth of abstinence programs that teach the age-old concept of saving sex for marriage.

One outstanding program, the PEERS Project, has spread to school districts in six states including Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kansas, New York and Washington.

In the PEERS program, each grade learns a different concept related to sexuality. Sixth-graders are taught about the meaning of friendship and how to guard themselves against the messages expressed in song lyrics and television shows. Seventh-graders learn about the dangers of STDs and the emotional repercussions of premarital sex. Eighth-graders focus on the difference between love and infatuation, the responsibilities of parenthood and why a father is so important in a child's life.

Freshmen and sophomores learn what love really is, as well as how to recommit to chastity if they've made mistakes in the past.

There are two versions of the PEERS program: Peers Educating Peers (secular) and A Promise To Keep (faith-based).

Adults wrote the PEERS curriculum, but students teach it. They make it a credible lifestyle, showing that cool and popular people have made the choice to remain abstinent. They make it a credible lifestyle.

Research finds that promoting youth development through active engagement enables adolescents to internalize positive values, make good choices and build healthy relationships.

Educators and parents who want to learn more about the PEERS Project can contact the organization at www.peersproject.org.