The suggestion that sex education encourages middle school students to have sex is wrong, says a New Brunswick psychology professor.

"Researchers have been asking that question for many years, and it's just not true," said Sandra Byers, who teaches at the University of New Brunswick. "Knowledge does not make children go out and have sex, unless that's something they're doing already."

Earlier this week, about 120 parents met at a church near Fredericton and vowed to fight for changes to the program because they believe it is too explicit.

"Erection, vaginal secretion, ejaculation, masturbation ... these are children in Grade 6," said Mary Thurott, executive director of Christian Action Federation on Monday.

Thurott says a proper sex education course would be geared to students' level of understanding and stress the idea of saving sex for marriage.

Byers said the group is giving a false impression of the course. She said the information is presented in a clear and sensitive way.

Byers is one of the authors of a study into what parents want their children to learn in sexual education programs in New Brunswick schools. She said the vast majority support giving children comprehensive information about sex.

The kids already pick up false or incomplete information in the schoolyard, or on television, she said.

New Brunswick Minister of Education Madeline Dubé said parents need more information about the sex education program before they reject it. The course does talk about abstinence as the "best option," she said.

Statistics Canada released figures last week that showed teen pregnancies in New Brunswick fell by one-third between 1991 and 2001. Some experts say that's because of better sex education.