Sex Education Is A Process Of Building A Strong Foundation For Sexual Health

Human sexuality can be fascinating, complex, contradictory, and sometimes frustrating. Sexuality is interwoven into every aspect of being human; therefore, having knowledge about sex is as essential as having education about human anatomy. However, it is highly recommended to pay close attention when sex education is delivered to youths. (Donatelle 171)

Sexual education in schools has become a highly controversial topic over the past few years. Some people believe students should be taught abstinence-only education, while others believe students need the full on “sex talk”. While the sex education controversy may seem silly, it is very important that students receive the most efficient education possible. When it comes to education parents want their children to receive the most effective kind. This is also very true in terms of sex education. Sex education is very debatable right now as to whether students should be taught abstinence-only education or comprehensive sex education.

In 1913, sex education became a topic that was found to be an important education tool. Since then, this form of education has been a hot and debatable topic among many Americans. The original reason for sex education classes was to reduce problems such as sexually transmitted illnesses and prostitution. In recent years, abstinence has become the focus of sex education curriculum. Abstinence means refraining from sex completely. Although, it is the only one-hundred percent way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies, abstinence-only instruction should not be the only form of sex education taught. Our youth need to know about all aspects of sex. This intails how to protect them if they choose to become sexually

The education aspect of sex education is of course the main focus. A good sex program will tell students all the risks associated with intercourse as a teen. It also will go over the risks of developing a sexually transmitted disease and communicate the negative element teenage pregnancy can have on a life. Abstinence programs might take a moral approach and talk about how sex should be saved until marriage as a sacred act. Ideally, this education would result in fewer instances of sexually transmitted diseases and a decrease in the number of teen pregnancies within the group of kids who went through the sex ed program. Ideally, this would be the case, but it doesn’t seem to be reality.

Sex education should be implemented at an early age beginning at the middle school level. A discussion of contraception, the risks of diseases, the risk of becoming an unwed teen parent and the disadvantages of not having an education will help decrease the number of teen pregnancies with future generations. Parents should not feel threatened of having their children learning about sex in class. Parents should feel empowered; it will allow their children opportunities to feel they are able to discuss future topics of sex at home to help promote

is an integral part of each person’s identity, sex education is essential. Therefore, it is

Sex education, most commonly known as family life, is any information about sex and sexual relationships taught to maturing young people as a part of a school’s curriculum. Currently, there is a constant political and ideological debate in the United States over the merits of abstinence-only and comprehensive sex education programs in the teaching of our youth. Abstinence only sex education has been the primary sex education taught in the United States. Although different in their approach, the overall goal is to help them build a foundation to be able to make healthy informed decisions as they mature into adults. The objectives of sex education programs are to help adolescents develop a positive view of sexuality, body image and make responsible decisions in relationships (Knowles, 2012). Ultimately, any sex education should be a partnership between parents, guardians and school personnel. However, in recent years, a large amount of information about sexuality is acquired through friends, music, books and the media instead of from their parents. For some individuals,

Since the first sex education video, "Human Growth" was shown in public schools in the 1940's, sex education in school has remained a controversial subject (Bellafante 9.1). In the present however, it is no longer disputed whether or not sex-ed should be taught, but what should be taught in a sex education program. Conservatives and Liberals both agree that sex education in public schools is important but, their views on what should be taught differ dramatically. Despite the various monikers to describe different sex education programs and curricula, there are really only two types: abstinence-until-marriage and comprehensive (Sex Education Programs: Definitions & Point-by-Point

Healthy sexual development begins at birth. It is a holistic process that involves the emotional, cognitive, behavioral and physical experiences. The physical development aspect has played a pivotal role in sex education discussion. As such, the discussion of sex education in this forum will focus on the emotional, cognitive and behavioural sexual development and the responsibility parents and teachers have in educating themselves to assist adolescents through this development.

Comprehensive sex education is the most realistic way of teaching sex education today. While remaining abstinent is the only way to be one-hundred percent sure one will not have an unwanted pregnancy or contract a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD), it is unrealistic in today’s society. Teenagers, as well as adults, are engaging in premarital sexual activity. STDs can be a serious or life-threatening disease. Effective comprehensive sex education should contain information detailing sexual development and reproduction, methods of birth control, STDs and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), abortion, and the different religious and cultural views on sex and sexual diversity. With this information,

Sexual education should begin at home. Parents and guardians ought to be the primary instructors of sex education for their children. Daily, parents should

The reason parents are fearful of the sex talk is because they cannot or do not want to picture their child having sex, even though it is a possibility, and the child will feel embarrassed to have their parents talk to them about sex. Because of these feelings, the talk repeatedly becomes delayed, and it either does not happen at all or it happens too late after their child has already had sex. “In the latest study on parent-child talks about sex and sexuality, researchers found that more than forty percent of adolescents had had intercourse before talking to their parents about safe sex, birth control or sexually transmitted diseases” (Park).

In the old days, regarding sex education, parents had different reasons as to why they wanted to avoid talking to their children about sex education. Reasons being, some parents did not want to corrupt the minds of their children. They did not want their child to be open-minded into the varieties of sexual intercourse of experiencing this act with their friends or random people at school or any other places. They think it 's just not the right time, their kids are not ready, or they are too young to learn about sex. They tend to hide the term “sex” in front of their kids because of that particular reason and some parents may

Social trends, public health interest, politics, and various polemics have always affected the essence and teaching of sex education in the United States in different ways. Various sexual education methods exits, however comprehensive and abstinence-only programs are the most commonly know in public schools. Although many schools in the United States prefer to give an abstinence-only lecture, the results shown proof that these programs are ineffective because it simply does not fit the reality we live in, comprehensive sex education works better, and they do not offer honest nor accurate information about human sexuality.

“There is a large gap between what teachers think should be taught and what they teach when it comes to birth control, abortion and sexual orientation.” (Sex Education) There is also a big difference in what teenagers already know and what they need to know. Kaiser reported that two in five students want more factual information on birth control, how to use it and where to get it from, also how to handle the pressure of having sex. Kaiser also reported that a significant percentage of students say that these topics are not covered in their most recent sexuality education course, or that they are not covered in depth. Of the seventh through twelfth graders that were asked, approximately half of them say they need more information about what to do in the event of rape, sexual assault, how to get tested for HIV or STDs, factual information on HIV and STDs and also how to talk with their sexual partner about birth control and STDs. (Sex Education) Sex education in schools is the process of teaching teenagers information about sex and helping them form their own attitude and belief on sex. The purpose of teaching teenagers about sex early is to help them gain control and make wise decisions about their sexual behavior; being stern on the subject gives teens the confidence and competence they need to act on these choices. (Sex Education That Works) High school students want more information about sexual and reproductive health issues than what they are receiving in school. There