Comprehensive Sex Education Essay

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’

Clemmitt (2010) states that currently the most effective approach to prevent teenage pregnancy is evidence-based sex education programs. The primary debate about the best method of preventing teenage pregnancy is between abstinence-only courses and comprehensive sex education. The author says that after operating comprehensive sex education, the Obama approach, many communities and county areas have drastically reduced the rate of teenage pregnancy. Studies and statistics suggested that abstinence-only courses have not contributed to reduce teenage pregnancy rates. The author points out that the abstinence-only courses also include sexually transmitted diseases classes and discussions of unhealthy relationship and making decisions, and abstinence

I think that schools should teach comprehensive sex education. Abstinence-only programs appear to lack logical reason, are not

The opposing program to abstinence only programs is the comprehensive sex education program. This program does not focus on abstinence only, but teaches the students about contraceptives and how to be safe when involving themselves in sexual activities.

The question of sexuality education is never whether or not it should be taught. If schools and parents don’t teach young people about sex, the hypersexualized modern media will. Research shows that the younger a child is exposed to sexual media, the younger they will become sexually active and the more reckless they will be when they do (Ross), and that children are indeed being exposed to sexual messages at younger and younger ages. The Guttmacher Institute, a sexual and reproductive health organization, reports that forty-four percent of teen girls and forty-nine percent of boys report having had sex (“American”), but other studies and estimates run as high as seventy percent. Moreover, while American culture becomes increasingly aware and accepting of the “sex positivity” movement, which seeks to promote and embrace healthy sexuality with few constraints beyond consent and safety, it also struggles to address issues like LGBTQ rights and deeply-embedded rape culture. Sex, while a very private act, is a very public issue. These conflicting conversations very much affect American teenagers. A close look at sex education programs is now more prudent than ever. A 1996 federal act allocated $50 million for programs that promote abstinence until marriage as the only way to prevent unwanted pregnancy and STDs. Programs outside federal funding teach abstinence as one option among many. Abstinence-only education has been shown largely ineffective in reducing teen sexual activity,

Comprehensive sex education programs get support from parents. “Polls show that parents overwhelmingly favor the comprehensive approach” (Rosenberg 67-71). More than 80% of Americans “support teaching comprehensive” and “believe teens should be taught about birth control and preventing pregnancy” (“Comprehensive”). Some people believe that “sex education should be let up to them [parents] to teach” (“California”), but mostly there is an overwhelming amount of support from parents who want comprehensive sex education for their children. With this kind of support, organizations like Advocates for Youth or American Sexual Health Association can help America’s youth understand and make wise choices about their sexual health.

In 2002, Pamela K. Kohler, R.N. conducted a nationwide study regarding teens aged fifteen-nineteen years old, and the effects of the types of sex education that they received. She published a medical journal that found that those who were in programs that failed to provide accurate information such as abstinence-only programs, or who were not enrolled in a sex education course at all, reported higher teen pregnancy rates than those who had attended comprehensive sex education classes (Kohler 1). Kohler’s 2002 research also showed that teens who had completed a comprehensive sex education course were 60% less likely to be a teen parent (3). After publishing her journal, Kohler stated, "There was no evidence to suggest that abstinence-only education

The first position on this topic is Abstinence-only until marriage sex education should be taught in public schools. According to the heritage foundation, “teens who abstain from sex have improved life outcomes” (“Sex Education and Abstinence”). Safe sex can never be guaranteed to be 100% effective. Safe sex only merely reduces the risks while abstinence completely eliminates the risk (Garth 112). Modern sex education techniques are too bold and in turn, desensitize adolescents, encouraging promiscuous behavior. According to researchers Marsiglio and Mott, comprehensive sex education is associated with a rise in sexual activity in teenagers (Richard 22).

Each year, U.S. teens experience as many as 850,000 pregnancies, and youth under age 25 experience about 9.1 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs). By age 18, 70 percent of U.S. females and 62 percent of U.S. males have initiated vaginal sex (Klein, 2005). Comprehensive/realistic sex education needs to be instilled in schools because it is effective at assisting young people to make healthy decisions about sex and to adopt healthy sexual behaviors and habits. Comprehensive/realistic sex education has a monumental effect on today’s youth, resulting in a rabid drop in teen pregnancies, teen abortion rates, and sexually transmitted infections between teens. Unlike abstinence until marriage programs that have not been shown to help

When it comes to teen education, there’s one topic that just can’t be missed. Sex education—whether or not teenagers should be educated about it, and if so, how? Sex has become a more commonly discussed topic in the United States—regardless of age. Representations of it have become easily accessible on the television and in social media. Knowing this, public schools should adjust their sex education programs to properly educate children on the danger of it, how to make sex-related decisions, and where they can go for help. However, the method of teaching these things to adolescents is widely controversial both in the United States and around the world. As an issue that affects the future generation, it’s highly important to debate the sex education which adolescents will receive.

As a very natural part of our everyday lives and existence as humans, it is perplexing how so many Americans are undereducated about human reproductive systems and sex organs, their structures and functions, and the various effects and consequences of human sexuality. The responsibility of properly educating young people about human sexuality is in the hands of parents and schools. Educational programs in U. S. schools today, such as Abstinence Only and Abstinence Plus programs, may not provide adequate information to teach young people how to make knowledgable decisions in real-life situations about sex. Comprehensive Sexuality Education programs have been shown to be much more effective at preventing teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STI 's; SEICUS). As it is an extremely broad topic, “Sexuality education is a life-long process of acquiring information and forming attitudes, beliefs, and values” (SEICUS). However, the acquisition of fundamental knowledge, credible information, and appropriate health resources can help in this life-long process and minimize unwanted or negative effects.

Researchers studied the National Survey of Family Growth to determine the impact of sexuality education on youth sexual risk-taking for young people ages fifteen through nineteen, and found that teens who received comprehensive sex education were fifty percent less likely to experience pregnancy than those who received abstinence-only

There is a lot of controversy over teaching comprehensive sex education among people, some people believe that teaching comprehensive sex education causes rates of teen pregnancy and STI/Aids rates to go up. Just like we keep up with teaching the youth Math and Science, we also need to keep them up to date on issues like Sex Education. This is important so the youth can be aware of these things like STIs when they are adults and know how to protect themselves, and possibly others .“There is no evidence that teaching kids to use condoms causes a spike in sexual activity”(“Comprehensive”). In past surveys ninety percent of Americans over the age of eighteen felt sex education was very important to include in public school curriculum.Comprehensive Sex education has been proven statistically to be better than teaching abstinence only education. The population council declared that Abstinence only programs are ineffective at preventing teen pregnancy and STI’s.

No matter what information is distorted, teens will still have sex. “By the exact age of 20 years, 77% of individuals had had, sex and 75% had had sex before marriage,” (Lawrence 3). That fact proves that these teens could have been misled about the true facts of sex. They need straight facts about their bodies and how to have safer sex. Even with abstinence pledges, teens are still having sex. “Researchers found that over sixty percent had broken their vow to remain abstinent until marriage,” (Alford 4). The teens that pledged were less likely to get tested for sexually transmitted infections or to use a form of contraception than the non-pledgers. While the pledgers abstained for longer, they were more likely to engage in oral or anal sex (Alford 4). These teens were taking risks not obtaining contraception and engaging in anal or oral sex. While these forms of sex can help protect against pregnancy, they will not protect against any sexually transmitted diseases. Also abstinence, like other birth control methods, is only effective if it is used correctly and consistently. If a teen

Recently, there has been a great deal of controversy about abstinence education in schools. Proponents of this type of sex education insist that it is the only way to reduce the teen pregnancy rate and that including information about birth control will 'confuse' the pro-abstinence message. As a teen, I beg to differ with this simplistic characterization of how teens make decisions.