Resources
Many additional organizations promote the benefits of marriage, using a variety of approaches. Here are just a few…
Campaign For Our Children
link: http://www.cfoc.org
CDC Marriage & Divorce Statistics
link: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/mardiv.htm
Center for Law and Social Policy
link: http://www.clasp.org
Child Trends
link: http://www.childtrends.org
How Marriage Works
link: http://www.howmarriageworks.com
Institute for American Values
link: http://www.americanvalues.org
Family Dynamics
link: http://www.familydynamics.net/benefitsofhealthymarriages.htm
Family Research Council
link: http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=IF03J02
The Heritage Foundation
link: http://www.heritage.org/Research/Family/HL-804.cfm
Marriage Savers
link: www.marriagesavers.org
National Council on Family Relations
link: http://www.ncfr.org
National Marriage Project
link: http://www.marriage.rutgers.edu
U.S. Census
link: http://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families
link: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage
Lesson Plan
Campaign For Our Children has developed a Lesson Plan that is available for $20 by emailing Donna Sawers at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or calling her at 410-576-9015.
Why Marriage Works Brochure (PDF Format)
The History of Marriage
Stephanie Coontz teaches history at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., and is the author of Marriage, a History: From Obedience to Intimacy, or How Love Conquered Marriage.
Download the Great Expectations Article in PDF Format
Teenage Childbearing and Marriage
Teenage Childbearing and Marriage Document
Overheard on the Web
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
—Alan, age 10
No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with.
—Kristen, age 10
WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
—Camille, age 10
No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married.
—Freddie, age 6 (very wise for his age)
HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
—Derrick, age 8
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don’t want any more kids.
—Lori, age 8
WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
—Lynnette, age 8 (isn’t she a treasure?)
On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
—Martin, age 10
WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?
I’d run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
—Craig, age 9
WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they’re rich.
—Pam, age 7
The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn’t want to mess with that.
—Curt, age 7
The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It’s the right thing to do.
—Howard, age 8
IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
I don’t know which is better, but I’ll tell you one thing. I’m never going to have sex with my wife. I don’t want to be all grossed out.
—Theodore, age 8
It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
—Anita, age 9 (bless you child)
HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN’T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn’t there?
—Kelvin, age 8
HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.
—Ricky, age 10
