The Importance Of Sex Education

Modern era sex education programs in the United States began in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a result of the AIDS/HIV epidemic. With the introduction of curricula teaching safe sex and the effectiveness of contraception, other curricula refuted these ideas thus creating a conflict about sex education in the U.S. Sex education in the U.S is divided into two categories: abstinence-only and comprehensive, the former being the most implemented among states nationwide. Abstinence-only programs stress the importance of abstaining from sex until marriage, fitting the “traditional” set of American morals. Covering more than just abstinence, comprehensive sex education programs not only teach students about the options they have when it comes

That way is through sex education, it will provide a safe and stable environment for students and even parents to understand options and routes each teen can take. Hopefully involving this education into all schools can overall affect almost all teens as well as their families, bringing a positive impact to the topic that people are weary of. Abstinence-only education may be effective for some and is a great way to teach kids, but sex education provides a more specialized learning for every student. Therefore it is a necessity in any child's education, young or old, it is never too late to

During 1920s, U.S. schools began to incorporate sex education to their courses. A 2002 study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that “58% of secondary school principals describe their sex education curriculum as comprehensive programs provide factual information about birth control, sexual transmitted disease, and continue the message to children about waiting to have sex.” (Johannah)

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

Since the HIV/AIDS epidemic began in the U.S. in the early 1980s the issue of sex education for American youth has had the attention of the nation. There are about 400,000 teen births every year in the U.S, with about 9 billion in associated public costs. STI contraction in general, as well as teen pregnancy, have put the subject even more so on the forefront of the nation’s leading issues. The approach and method for proper and effective sex education has been hotly debated. Some believe that teaching abstinence-only until marriage is the best method while others believe that a more comprehensive approach, which includes abstinence promotion as well as contraceptive information, is necessary. Abstinence-only program curriculums disregard

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.

However, controversy arises when the discussion as to what the proper method of teaching sexual education should be. In the school system of the United States sex education is taught in two main forms: abstinence-only sex education, which focuses on abstaining from sexual activity prior to marriage and does not provide contraceptive knowledge, and comprehensive sex education, which focuses on sexual health as a whole including knowledge about contraceptives and how to avoid STDs. Currently the only federally funded programs implemented in public schools are abstinence-only. But does Abstinence-only sex education work? In order to provide an answer this paper will discuss the basic principles and practices which constitute abstinence-only sex education, the proponents argument for abstinence-only sex education and how abstinence-only education affects teen pregnancy and STD

Sex education has always been a controversial topic, especially to the extent that it is taught to. Under the early years of the Reagan administration, the Adolescent Family Life Act was passed for abstinence-only education based on the presumption that talking about sex in school would promote sexual activities among teenagers. The two-point act was quietly passed in 1981, as it was not voted on by the House and was coded under Title XX of the Public Service Health Act. The first point was to provide at least two-thirds of funds to support pregnant teenagers, while the second point’s purpose was to use the remaining one-third or less to discourage sexual acts until marriage. Lawrence (2007) asserted that teenage pregnancy rates at the time of passing were rising, so the government wanted to stop everything all together. Since then, billions of dollars have been spent and more laws have been passed to promote abstinence-only education. Pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the U.S. actually continued to rise, despite what was believed that the acts and funding could accomplish (p. 2). Though scientists and accredited researchers saw this coming, they continued with research to finalize conclusions with the majority hypothesis that comprehensive sex education would show the greatest improvement among teenage pregnancy. Comprehensive sex education

Some people think that sex education should be in their schools to help prevent pregnancies. Mississippi had the third highest teen birth rate in the United States in 2012 (Teen pregnancy in Mississippi). To prevent teen pregnancy from happening some would say to have sex education classes in schools may help. It may not completely stop teen pregnancy, but not as many teens will get pregnant. Sex education helps teach about the abstinence as the best method for avoiding sexual transmitted disease’s and unintended pregnancy.Sex education helps gain the knowledge healthy decisions about sex. Protection can also another think sex education and teach individuals.

According to U.S center for disease control and prevention, last year only 34 out of 1,000 teen females gave birth which it the lowest since 1946. The reason behind this decline is comprehensive sex education taught in schools. One the other hand, the opponents believe that the reason for this decline is the sex education classes that teach about not having sex. Even when most schools are teaching abstinences only sex education about sixty-six percent of high school students says they are sexually active. Which concludes that the abstinences only sex education is not working and is not the proper way of teaching sex education in schools. Not teaching proper sex education may result in teen pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. According to, Center of disease control and prevention, last year, 26% people diagnosed with HIV were teens aged thirteen to nineteen. Even though supports of abstinences only sex education have a delusional thinking that comprehensive sex education will increase students to have sex more often, it should still be taught in schools as research show it declines teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease in teens. The survey done by Centers of disease control concludes that nearly about 10 million sexually transmitted disease are contracted every year in the U.S.

Unfortunately, the need for sex education to be provided for children is not being recognized by the federal government. The federal government invests over $170 million every year into abstinence-only education programs for schools. The focus of these programs is not only to enforce a strict abstinence-only approach, but it also puts an emphasis on the negatives of sex. Refusing to educate students on the importance of sex

According to the University of Kansas, historian Jeffrey P. Morgan in his book Teaching, Sex, sex education first appeared in 1913 when Chicago public schools instituted a lecture series for girls and, separately boys, on “physiology, moral hygiene, and venereal disease”. Americans have viewed adolescent sexuality as an impulse to be controlled, or better, repressed. Sex education has mainly aimed at saving teenage girls from having early sex, and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Alfred Kinsey discovered that girls and boys started having sex at younger ages than usual; this made the change in the curriculum for sex classes critical. Comprehensive sex education classes are key to our youth to ensure a healthy lifestyle, to obtain a proper education, and to achieve economic progression. Thus making comprehensive sex education classes more effective than abstinence-only classes.

The discussion of teaching sex education in classrooms were brought up as early as 1912. Movies that are used in sex education can alter the way teens think of sex. The films used in sex education portrays the different relationships that are created. The history of sex education in North America is a history of prohibition and has been concerned with limiting the scope of sexuality its ideas, affects, movements and practices. In sex education schools create a space in which students and teachers can potentially think together about the pleasures and risks of sexuality. However, in school-based sex education for youth, especially though but not only in North America, when it comes to talking about sex thoughts of teenage pregnancy, AIDS,

Coinciding with the onslaught of the new millennium, schools are beginning to realize that the parents are not doing their job when it comes to sexual education. The school system already has classes on sexual education; these classes are based mainly on human anatomy. Most schools do not teach their students about relationships, morals, respect, self-discipline, self-respect, and most importantly contraceptives. Everyday students engage in sexual activity, many of them with out condoms. This simple act jeopardizes these students' futures and possibly their lives. An increasing amount of school systems are starting to combine messages involving abstinence from sexual activity,