Should Sex Education Be Legal?

In our society today, there are many different views and opinions about sex education in schools, and sex education in general. Some say that this topic should be more openly discussed, while others prefer to avoid the topic, or just say abstinence is the most effective. Sex education pertains to the explanation of everything related to sexual orientation, reproduction, development, and abstinence.

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.

The role of educating students about the importance of healthy sexual relationships has fallen hard and fast on public schools. School aged boys and girls are not receiving information from their parents on what decisions they should make in regards to sex. Parents are finding this topic of conversation too taboo to breach and as a result, students are getting what little information they are receiving from school. Less then half of school aged adolescents talk to their parents about sex and abstinence (Smith, 2005).

Human nature has shaped and developed many different social norms in our society, however, they also create many social problems when conflicting views come under scrutinization. Sexual education in America has been problematic since the late 1900’s because there is simply a lack of it. Sexual education has transformed over a hundred years, abated by the effect of religious upbringings and conservative outlooks. However, as evolved as it is today, it is still a national issue because of the ongoing struggle of comprehensive sexual education against abstinence, and in the midst of the two, students are still not being exposed to proper sexual health.

A subject that is talked about a lot in today’s society is whether or not kids should receive sex education in public schools. With rates of teen pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases on the rise, it is essential that school aged adolescents receive appropriate sex education courses. Though many parents across the nation believe that it is crucial to curriculum, how much they should be taught and what exactly should be taught is up for dispute. Articles such as “Abstinence and Abstinence-only Education: A Review of U.S. policies and Programs” written by John Santelli, Mary A. Ott, Maureen Lyon, Jennifer Rogers, Daniel Summers and Rebecca Schleifer and “The Impact of Abstinence and Comprehensive Sex and STD/HIV Education Programs on Adolescent Sexual Behavior” Douglas B. Kirby analyze the two types of sex education in the U.S. and their effectiveness on teens. In “Abstinence and Abstinence-only Education: A Review of U.S. policies and Programs” Santelli et al. claims that even though sex education programs that only offer abstinence-only instruction are ethically flawed, abstinence from sexual activity is efficient behavioral choice for teenagers to make. In order to support their claim, the authors focus on the federal government’s involvement on funding for these abstinence programs and the censorship of the information that they portray. In “The Impact of Abstinence and Comprehensive Sex and STD/HIV Education Programs on Adolescent Sexual Behavior,”

The topic of sexual education has been controversial for a while now. There are many stances that are taken to defend the course of education, but there are also many positions that are completely opposed to this idea. One side of the spectrum simply doesn’t trust anybody to teach their children about this act. There lays an authoritative issue underneath the opinion of not allowing a professional teacher to inform their children of what would happen if one were to partake in this sexual activity. The opposite side believes this class has beneficial factors, due to children knowing nothing about what could happen, or even what intercourse is. However, the question that we boil down to is what exactly IS sex? Why do we treat this topic as something

Sexuality is one of the most powerful and universal forces for human-kind. Whether before or after marriage, everyone engages in it at one point in their lives. Unlike calculus, sex education is something you are going to use in the future. When I took a class survey, most of you either agreed or strongly agreed that sex education was important for teens to learn about. However, many people in America, specifically parents, believe that sex education should not be taught in schools and boycott any measures to educate teens. These people have led me to create this speech. I am up here today to persuade the audience that a fundamental lack of comprehensive sex education can lead misinformation, teen pregnancies, and negative views about sex.

Sex Education is a controversial but extremely important topic. Yet, we are doing very little to address it. Teaching sex education in school is essential for teens to help build strong foundations for sexual health. Although sex education must begin at home, some parents feel uncomfortable talking about the topic it with their children and believe teaching their children about sex education can end up encouraging them to engage in sexual intercourse. Therefore, parents and schools try to emphasis the importance of abstinence. Parents and schools try to teach children to never have sex until they are married. However, this program is flawed because it promotes a bias perspective. The goal of the program

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.

Minnesota is ranked number six out of all states in teen birth rate. Minnesota is ranked number three in teen pregnancy rate. The average ages for all of these results are girls aged from fifteen to nineteen. With the most recent statics, in 2012 there were 3,295 teenage girls to give birth to a child and in 2010 there was 146 million spent on teenage childbearing. The last statistic I found was there were are 18.5 births per 1,000 teenage girls. (National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, pg.1) With regards to reading this information it makes me think back to my high school years, were we taught the right information? What type of sex education should be taught to decrease the numbers of teenage pregnancy? In my opinion students need to get taught the comprehensive sex education program. This is a program where abstinence is taught that it is the best way to avoid pregnancy and STI’s but students are taught ways of contraception and condoms to prevent the pregnancy and STI’s is they do decide to become sexually active.

“Teaching only about abstinence is like teaching ‘a driver 's education course in which teachers show students grisly photos of traffic accidents but never tell them to stop at red lights or buckle their seat belts’" (Wagle). Sex education is often a hot topic of debate within the States, where high school teens often receive some form of sexual education. However, the quality of this information varies from state to state and even district to district. Although there are many different definitions, the one being applied here is that abstinence-based curriculum teaches that the only truly effective way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, and other sex related risks is by not having sex. This includes severely limited or no information about contraceptives or ways to lessen the spread of disease. On the other hand, comprehensive sexual education includes information not found in abstinence curriculum and resources about STDs and prevention, various contraceptive methods, healthy relationships and rape, and are inclusive towards queer and trans experiences. Sex ed is an important part of education, and a comprehensive sexual education is critical in both reducing teenage pregnancies and STDs and promoting health and good choices.

Sex education in school’s have divided the nation, with conservatives pushing to have abstinent only programs, while liberals insist on comprehensive programs, that promote the choice of remaining abstinent while still providing information on how to stay safe if a student chooses to participate in sexual behavior. There has been studies to show how an effective sex education program can help someone socially.

There is little to no argument from anyone that children should be not taught Sex Education. It’s a vital part of human existence and can prevent a lot of harm. However, the real question is not doing it but from whom is the adolescent hearing it from. It’s been common in the United States since the 1980’s for almost every school to offer some form of Sex education. Even as early as Elementary years. The real debate on the issue is whether or not the school system is doing it properly or even whether or not it’s their job at all.

Sex education provides information on sex, bodily development, sexuality, and aids in the making of informed decisions in relationships regarding sex. Sex is human nature, yet it is still censored heavily especially to adolescents who are developing and approaching the stage of puberty. Sex education is about creating awareness and knowledge for those who are confused or have never been talked to about human development and reproduction. Sex education should not be censored in schools; rather it should be taught accordingly to help prevent unhealthy sexual relationships and understand body changes as they age.

One reason that sex education should become mandatory in all high schools, is because many teens may otherwise live in denial or be illiterate about sex due to lack of parental teaching, thereby being ignorant about how to avoid the dangers of sex. Parents, above all should not live in denial about their teens having sex. Yet, too many parents admit they simply avoid the topic, or fail to properly teach their children about the dangers of sex. For example, college friends admit that they hide