By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – When they say sex sells, they usually aren't kidding.
Everywhere we look we see sex used to promote any type of product.
While sex seems to be everywhere, and it seems 'everyone is doing it,' it's important to understand that a lot of people are not.
That is the message brought to Ring Lardner Middle School by Mike Long, a pioneer of the abstinence education movement.
Long paid a visit Wednesday morning to talk with students about the importance of postponing sexual involvement.
His message correlates with the goals and objectives of Ring Lardner's Postponing Sexual Involvement (PSI) classes, which are organized by Lakeland Regional Health System.
"Having Mike Long here provided a tremendous opportunity to reinforce what we are currently teaching in our PSI classes. His message was right on," Ring Lardner Principal Doug Langmeyer said.
The goals of Ring Lardner's PSI classes are to help adolescents understand the pressures in today's society that can influence sexual behavior; understand their rights in sexual relationships; and teaching assertive responses when asked to engage in risky behavior.
"He did more than just lecture students. He talked to them in a way that forced them to reflect on how today's culture influences their behavior. He really understands the pressures that teenagers today face," Langmeyer said.
Long, who lives in North Carolina with his family, was in town attending a benefit for the Pregnancy Care Center of Niles Tuesday evening.
Long has spoken at thousands of fundraising banquets, parent and teen conferences, community programs, school assemblies and youth rallies nationwide. He has also appeared on many radio and television news shows and he has produced many successful television specials for various cable networks including CNN, ABC, NBC, TNN and MTV.