Sex Education : Teaching Sexual Education

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

Teens are using the internet and the media to learn about sex, if they are not getting the information from credible sources at school. The perpetuation of sexual objectification in the media can influence young adults, especially young girls. Half naked women are all over magazines, internet and television. This images along with shows such as Teen Mom, can add to the confusion and curiosity about sexual behavior. If these young students are bombarded with all of these over sexualized ideas in the media, but only are told to abstain from sex, it can cause many issues for the students. One side of society tells these students that sex is a positive act, while abstinence only programs tell them that sex is bad and to avoid

America’s youth has always been, and will always be sexually active. Students need to be taught about sexual risks such as STI’s and unplanned pregnancies as well as how to counter those risks by correctly using condoms and birth control. Teenagers aged 15-19 who received comprehensive sex education had pregnancy rates 50% lower than teenagers who received abstinence only education (Kohler, et al. 348). By dispelling rumors and providing up to date information, society is arming its youth with the ability to make the safer and healthier choices. Also, teaching safe sex at school does not mean different moral values cannot be instilled at home or in places of worship. Parents and religious leaders can still encourage teenagers to practice abstinence only. Sexual education should be a dual effort between parents and teachers. If society does not ensure its youth has a comprehensive sexual education, then it is setting them up for

The first argument made by those who are against schools teaching sexual education to their children state that the school has no right to teach their children about sex. Those parents argue that they can educate their child themselves about the dangers of sex. Parents fear what the schools are teaching their child, and fear that they will become “more accepting of sexual behavior” (Lenth). Another fear is that the classes will make students believe that all teens have sex, peer pressuring them into having

As the SIECUS studies have shown, and from the information gathered from the Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health Study Sex College tour, students leave comprehensive sex education classes and workshops with more knowledge, better resources and with less shame about their desires. Despite my obvious biases towards comprehensive sex education I truly believe that the current system is creating the exact issues that pro-abstinence groups are trying to prevent. Due to their use of shame and scare tactics, teens are avoiding communication with sexual/romantic partners, not turning to adults in times of need, unknowingly contracting STIs and infecting others and feeling all-around ashamed of the sexual desires. This is a system that turns an eye away from preventative measures like birth control and condoms, as well as demonizes people who become pregnant and vilifies those who have abortions. But most importantly it makes people scared to explore what they want sexually, even more afraid to ask for what they desire and completely unable to respond to issues where their consent was given. These are all issues that can be avoided if children in kindergarten through twelfth grade were provided the information they needed to understand their bodies and more importantly how to use them, and take care of them. Our culture expects people to automatically know what to do, how to protect ourselves and be our own sexual advocates, but cringes at the idea of actually teaching those skills. Nothing will change until we decide that people who are asking the questions are old enough and prepared to actually hear the

In the United States of America, sex education is taught in two main ways: comprehensively and abstinence-based. Abstinence-only sex education focuses primarily on abstinence as a means of avoiding STDs, STIs, and unplanned pregnancies. On the other hand, comprehensive sex education programs focus on informing students about the choices available to them in regards to sexual health; these programs also provide education that includes information on both contraceptives and abstinence. In this paper, I will argue that all American public schools should implement holistic, comprehensive sex education programs and dismantle abstinence-based programs as quickly as possible.

Talking about sex conjures up all kinds of taboos, misinformation and uncomfortably feelings. This seems to a common occurrence no matter who is talking. This is why this topic sparks heated debates as well as reactions that run the gamete. Thus this topic has been taboo no matter the country or the culture. Some people in the United States have tried throughout history to approach this subject with civility and objectivity. This is when we see the influence of public policy. In the United States educating people of the consequences and perils of the ignorance of the proper or healthy approach to sex has been a constant struggle. I find this issue extremely important because of the many consequences ignorance fosters. It is my belief that all young children should have comprehensive sex education classes. It saves lives, prevents unwanted pregnancies, and helps prevent the spread of STI’s.

“In 2013, a total of 273,105 babies were born to women aged 15-19 years.” (CDC). As these numbers are shocking to many Americans, schools still have not taken the initiative to teach efficient sex education. Although some teenagers are receiving sex education, most are not being taught it in a successful way. Sex education can be explained in two different procedures: comprehensive or abstinence only. The difference between the two is that comprehensive sex education teaches abstinence as a secondary choice, and teens that decide not to wait should be informed on how to use birth control when participating in sexual activity. Comprehensive sex education is a method that should be required in all schools and is the most effective way to keep

In the early 1960’s the controversial issue of sex education started to become a more prevalent conversation among educators and parents alike when the Food and Drug Administration approved the sale of oral contraceptives(Szustek, 2009). Though the topic was previously being discussed as early as mid to late 19th century, it was not deemed completely necessary or an appropriate topic for school aged children prior to this point. In the United States more than 750,000 girls between the ages of 15-19 experience unexpected pregnancies annually and another 19 million of all newly reported Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) cases are young adults between the ages of 15-25(Boonstra, 2013). The argument of whether or not sex education should be taught to students is moot since according to a recent survey by National Public Radio about 93% of adults believe sex education is needed (Anonymous, 2004). The more pressing issue is the content in which is to be presented to students. There are conflicting groups that argue the validity of the methods used to convey the importance of the apparently sensitive subject; one side of the divide are the supporters of abstinence only education which presents a very singular approach and on the other is those that believe in the importance of comprehensive sex education which explores a variety methods of sexual safety.

Since comprehensive sex education has little funding but a plethora of support, it could be alleviated through advocates spreading awareness through the community through social media and communication to enlighten individuals on the topic. Therefore, developing a potential curriculum could become possible for local school boards to approve. Many supporters of comprehensive sex education believe that it should start from kindergarten until 12th grade. By doing so, instructors can use behavioral goals and age-appropriate language that is understandable and coherent for the respective age group. Also, there is a large amount of time to cover the necessary topics on sexuality, reproduction, sexual organs since this curriculum would occur for nearly thirteen years of the student’s life. As mentioned earlier, the state and school board direct the type

Understanding the issues that come with sexual education in the classroom is the first step in being a comprehensive sex education advocate. To this day, we see classrooms in middle and high schools preaching about abstinence, shaming children and not being able to give proper, thorough, and informative resources and guidelines on how to approach healthy, body-positive, accessible information about sexual activity. The ideal image abstinence curriculum advocates are hoping for is all adolescents will not have sex prior to marriage, that there will be no STI’s flowing from person A to B, and that the risk of unplanned teen pregnancies will just disappear. The realistic comprehensive approach to sex education states that we are aware that no matter how many ‘do not have sex’ programs we fund and promote, there will always be the handful or more of the population who won’t follow through.

In life, high school especially, sexual education is very important and can truly impact a person’s life. Improper education on sex can lead to many life-changing mistakes. These blunders can be avoided with proper knowledge. Although students should be encouraged to remain abstinent, they should still be taught about contraception and practicing safe sex. With proper sexual education, abstinence rates will increase and the numbers of teenage parents will decrease.

People say that sex education teaches the students about how sexual intercourse is done but the truth is sex education lets the students know about the consequences and the truth about sex. One may likely suffer emotional or mental depression which may lead to suicide. Students are also informed that it is only for unity and procreation of married couples who are committed to each other. They are also informed that they will know the true purpose of sex when they grow up as adults. Appropriate sex education in schools has a great impact on preventing sexual problems in adulthood. Also, it teaches students on what is right and what is wrong.

uring our last class, we learned about four different activism project ideas. Of the four, two focused on sexual education of young adults, one on sexual violence on college campuses, and the last about increasing abortion access. All four projects were feminist in that they all had components of increasing women’s equality. Both sexual education programs as well as the project on sexual violence prevention would work to benefit women socially. The Abortion Access program covers all three grounds of feminism: the program would advocate for the social, political, and economic equality of women.

If schools had sex education classes and made them mandatory then they would actually learn about sex and sexuality like they are suppose to. “Sex education teaches them about their bodies, informs them of the risks of having sex, and teaches them about safe sex” (Blick). Learning about sex in school would be less uncomfortable for the student, because it would feel like a normal class they have to take, instead of a one on one talk with their parents, who makes it worse than it is since they do not know how to talk about it. Letting the school teach about sex and sexuality would take the pressure off of the parents, and they wouldn’t have to struggle thinking of something to tell their child. Sex education in school would be a sure way to be certain that students learn about everything they need to know.