Educated About Sex
There’s a girl in high school right now. She is young, excited, and ready for what high school has to offer for her. She is young, inexperienced, and clueless to the world around her. As a Freshman at a new school, she has a lot of questions that need to be answered. Two weeks into her Freshman year, she is being pressured into sex and knows nothing about it or the consequences of unprotected sex. Teen pregnancy is a high risk in America. As a nation, our teens were ranked highest in sexual transmitted diseases and being completely uneducated about the consequences. This is why public schools are in need of sex education all around the country, First, in America, teen pregnancy is a huge problem across the country. The statics for teen pregnancy across America are larger than any other country in the world. In 2014, a total of 249,078 babies were
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This option is Abstinence and it will reduce both teen pregnancy and STD’s all together. Abstinence is the encouragement to not have sex till marriage or until you are absolutely ready and informed. Abstinence in high schools will not only save millions of lives but will reduce the percentage of babies being born by teenagers around the age of 15-19. Young women around the world will be more focused on school and less on raising their newborns.
There are many other reasons why sex education in high schools are so important. It will lower teen pregnancy ratings in an obvious way. There will also be a huge drop in teens without STD’s. It will encourage abstinence and saving yourself until you are absolutely ready. It may not save every teenager but it will inform them of their options and of the consequences of unprotected. Therefore, Sex Education should be a class in every young adult’s life. There will always be a girl who is clueless of the consequences and will need the class to make her decision smarter and
In 2005, nearly half of all high school students have had sexual intercourse. Plainly stating that abstinence programs do not work (USA Today). Abstinence programs were beneficial many years ago, but since they are ineffective in delaying teen pregnancy, then teen pregnancy rate has increased. Abstinence programs teach the “no sex until marriage” clause, but they don’t teach teens about birth control and the consequences of having sex at before they’ve matured. Although many studies argue that abstinence programs are educational and beneficial, other studies will show that they don’t delay teen sex, they don’t prevent the spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), and are a waste of taxpayers’
Sex education is very important and it should be taught to everyone at an appropriate level during their school to make them aware of everything. At a certain age teenager, will start having sextual relationship and we cannot do anything to stop them so it is better we teach them all the pro and cons of sex. Some teens do not know much at the beginning and then they end up regretting the choices they have made. I think not only in high schools but we should continue to learn about sex education all the time because the more we learn about a topic the
Does “abstinence-only” programs mean abstinence-only lives for teenagers receiving this type of sexual education? There are those who fully support abstinence-only sex education while others deny its ability and believe it only under educates teenagers. From the latter, the author claims that abstinence only programs are not effective. He presents evidence to suggest this is valid, including that high school students need medically accurate information on how to decrease their risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy because they are sexually active. Though the underlying issue has merit and the argument is sound and is valid because of logical
There is nothing wrong with encouraging teens to abstain from having sex. But we know, beyond any doubt, that teaching abstinence alone is not a good way to curb teen pregnancy or the spread of sexually transmitted disease. In fact, kids who are taught abstinence alone are less likely to use contraceptives when they do have sex, as many of them inevitably will.
Many studies have shown that programs that focus on abstinence rather than contraceptive use are successful in reducing teen sexual activity”(Kim). She goes on to explain that abstinence is the best possible choice. Also that early sexual activity during teen years can have a risk of causing a contraction of a sexually transmitted disease, damage psychological constitution, lower academic achievement and cause unwanted teen pregnancy. All of these side effects are completely avoidable. The definition of “abstinence” is “Abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage as expected standard for all school age children (Kim). It is emphasized as a healthy lifestyle and is explained by its effect on social, psychological, and health aspects. She cites that “Studies have shown that abstinent teens report, on average better psychological well being and higher educational attainment than those who are sexually active. She makes sure to repeat the claim that early sexual encounters can cause early irreparable psychological damage. A 2010 study in medical journal archives of pediatrics concludes that a abstinence only education reduced sexual initiation in the group of African-American adolescents. Two years later one third of the participants had initiated in sexual activity. “By
Teenagers are notorious for being curious. Not every teenager has, but there are many who have tried drugs and alcohol despite all of the school’s and parent’s warnings. Why is sex any different? A study in 2015 reported that 41% of high school students have had sexual intercourse (Child Trends Data Bank). That number isn’t extremely concerning but what is the legitimate likelihood that all of those students were honest? Schools such as MCPS teach about contraceptives, but stress abstinence more than anything. By withdrawing information such as a minor’s rights when it comes to abortion or contraception, students could ruin their entire future. Everyone has made mistakes and has regrets, but withdrawing information from students in the hopes that they practice abstinence is not worth a student’s future. School systems should be teaching students their rights when it comes to sex.
Should schools only teach abstinence or is comprehensive sex education safer for teens? Many find that teaching abstinence is the only way to ensure students safety when it comes to sexual behavior. But, “A review of 35 school-based sex education programs found that abstinence based programs had no significant effect on delaying sexual debut, while some comprehensive programs were effective in reducing certain sexual risk behaviors” (Kirby and Coyle). Along with research showing the ineffectiveness of abstinence programs, “Critics of abstinence-only education claim that it violates human rights by withholding potentially life-saving information from people about other means to protect themselves from HIV, such as condom use” (Plos one). Comprehensive
If you have lived through the experience of being a teenager in the United States then you have probably been subjected to a sex education course at some point in your life. I, like the majority, attended an abstinence-only program in high school and most of what I remember from that experience is being uncomfortable. In fact, the clearest memories I have of the program taught at my school, or Worth the Wait, is of a video of a woman who creates a pancake in the shape of a vagina for her daughter and a montage of dozens of girls saying “No!” to emphasize what my response should be to sex. But, now that I am an adult woman and am close to the age where I might start thinking about motherhood I can see why these abstinence-only programs
Programs that encourage abstinence have become a vital part of school systems in the US. These programs are usually referred to as abstinence-only or value-based programs while other programs are called as safer-sex, comprehensive, secular or abstinence-plus programs which on the contrary promote the usage of effective contraception. Although abstinence-only and safer-sex programs disagree with one another, their core values and stand on the aims of sex education is to help teens develop problem-solving skills and the skill of good decision-making. They believe that adolescents will be better prepared to “act responsibly in the heat of the moment” (Silva). Most programs that have been currently implemented in the US have seen a delay in the initiation of sex among teens which proves to be a positive and desirable outcome (Silva).
Should sex education be allowed in high schools? This has been a controversial issue nationwide for over a decade. The American culture is immensely sexually oriented. Sex can be seen through the media and with the younger generation being heavily influenced by technology; they cannot avoid it. In light of this, many of the youth today lack information on sex which highlights the problem. Some people believe that sex education only diminishes one’s rectitude because they feel that sex education encourages the students to partake in sexual intercourse. Although sex education degrades the virtues of children by informing students how to use birth control and condoms, it is imperative in high schools because it prevents sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancy, accommodates in case of parents’ absence, and gives children the idea of morality.
Sex education should start at a young age in order to assure sexually healthy adults. The United States ranks first among developed nations in rates of both teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. In an effort to reduce these rates, the U.S. government has funded abstinence-only sex education programs for more than a decade (Stager-Hall, 2011). Although this type of education is beneficial, it is not realistic to societies needs. Data shows that abstinence based education is ineffective in preventing teenage pregnancy and is possibly causing high teenage pregnancy rates in the U.S. (Stager-Hall, 2011). According to governing.com, sex education in U.S. schools are failing. The article discusses how sex education can be an uncomfortable experience and how as a country we are horrible at teaching it. “A December report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that less than half of U.S. high schools and only one-fifth of middle schools are meeting the CDC's recommendations for
Sex education helps people gain information, skills and motivation to make healthy decisions about sex and sexuality, but also helps teach about the abstinence as the best method for avoiding sexual transmitted disease and unintended pregnancy. (What is sex education?). Research has identified highly effective sex education and HIV prevention programs that affect multiple behaviors or achieve positive health impacts. Behavioral outcomes have included delaying initiation of sex as well as reducing the frequency of sex, the number of new partners, and the incidence of unprotected sex. The most successful programs aimed at the reducing teen pregnancy are those targeting younger adolescents who are not yet seually experienced. (Sex Education can help prevent teen pregnancy.).
Today's teens are exposed to sexual content and behavior regularly that affect their behavior. Many schools teach abstinence as a full proof way to stop the promiscuous behavior and potential diseases. Despite these teachings, teens don’t care and practice unprotected sex anyway and risk getting sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancies. By providing teens with free condoms on campus these risks will greatly decrease. For this to happen school administrations and parents must stop being so gullible and realize teens are having sex. If teens are positively informed about the use of condoms, given confidentiality agreements by a staff member and trusted to make positive decisions teens will be more comfortable engaging in sexual activities. The time has come for change schools need to implement policies now to help teens and stop avoiding real issues that are affecting them.
In the past, sex education in school has never been a topic to talk about. With the rising rates in teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted disease cases, it has now become a full controversial topic, that many people have different opinions on. Many high school students do not recall ever learning much about safe sex or sexually transmitted diseases. Talking about these topics does make a teenager and their parents uncomfortable but, they are conversations that need to happen in order for a teenager to make conscious decisions. A sex education course is needed in all high school so that an individual can make well educated choices, so they can reduce their risks of potentially negative outcomes related to sex.
Would you rather have public schools teach sexual education classes, or teach abstinence education classes? Pregnancy rates in America are slowly decreasing, but are still extremely high. According to K. F. Stanger-Hall (2011), Pregnancy rates in America are more than double the rates of other countries with 72.2% per 1000 girls between the ages of 15-19 becoming pregnant. The best way to lower teen pregnancy is to teach about prevention in schools with sex education or abstinence classes. Teenagers need to learn about sex so that they will be prepared for life situations, know how to use contraception, and refrain from going through pregnancy before the teen is ready for a child. Sexual Education is more effective and is a better option to teach about.