The Importance Of Sex Education

Comprehensive education teaches students about contraception, including emergency contraception, reproductive choices, LGBT issues, anatomy, and other traditional topics, including abstinence, as part of the curriculum, because of this comprehensive education is referred to by some as abstinence plus. (“Comprehensive Sex Education vs. Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage-Programs”) Comprehensive education focuses on giving student options on how to manage if they do choose to have sex. As the average age at which Americans start having sex drops, teaching students about how to prevent or deal with sexually transmitted diseases and avoid unplanned pregnancy becomes increasingly important. (“Sex Education Promotes Understanding and Safety”) 34% of sexually active students said they didn’t use a condom the last time they had sex, which is what increases the odds of getting an STD or becoming

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

Studies have also shown that abstinence-focused programs have failed to reduce STI rates. The American Sexual Health Association states, “More than half of all people will have an STD/STI at some point in their lifetime,” (“Statistics”). Comprehensive sex education would teach teenagers how to improve their sexual health, prevent unwanted pregnancies, and prevent sexually transmitted diseases and infections. Providing students with this information does not encourage them to participate in sexual activity sooner. Several findings show that, “[Comprehensive sex education] effectively promotes abstinence and may delay sexual debut, reduce sexual frequency, reduce the number of sexual partners, reduce STI risk, and increase the likelihood of consistent contraceptive use,” (Jeffries 173). Comprehensive sex education will be beneficial to students by teaching them how to have sexual intercourse safely, if they choose to not remain abstinent.

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

The U.S. has the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancies of any industrialized nation that put young teenagers at risks. It is estimate that 20,000 new cases of sexually transmitted diseases reported each year comes from people under the age of 25 and 82 percent of all teen pregnancies are accidents that account for one-fifth of all unintended pregnancies annually (CDC 2006). As a result, the government needs to stop funding and promoting abstinence only programs and start focusing on comprehensive sex education. Comprehensive sexuality education according to Sexuality Information and Education Council of the US (SIECUS) provides a complete message by teaching age appropriate and medically accurate information

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

Sexual education teaches adolescents about the use of birth control, their bodies, STD’s, and pregnancy. Due to the awareness of sexual education, adolescents are more careful about sexual intercourse. The pregnancy rate has reached the lowest in modern era between 1990-2010. It declined to 51% pregnancies per 1000 females ages 14-19 to 57.4%. This is the lowest recorded since 1973. Sexual education was not offered in schools until 1983 and many people had close to no knowledge about the options. Even though teens today are aware of their options today, they do not take proper precautions.

In the past, sex education in school has never been a topic to talk about. With the rising rates in teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted disease cases, it has now become a full controversial topic, that many people have different opinions on. Many high school students do not recall ever learning much about safe sex or sexually transmitted diseases. Talking about these topics does make a teenager and their parents uncomfortable but, they are conversations that need to happen in order for a teenager to make conscious decisions. A sex education course is needed in all high school so that an individual can make well educated choices, so they can reduce their risks of potentially negative outcomes related to sex.

Comprehensive sexual health education (sex ed) is the provision of information about sex, sexuality, relationships, and physical development. The content taught in sex education includes facts provided about different contraceptives and condoms, puberty, relationships, body image, sexual orientation, and prevention of sexual violence (Bridges). Sex education should be a part of school curriculum throughout all grade levels with age-appropriate material for each year. Sex ed in schools has been controversial since the 1960s (Cornblatt), when the argument over how detailed the lessons should be developed. There have been many fears surrounding the notion that courses on comprehensive sexual education will cause juveniles to engage in more sexual behavior, as if the actions are not already happening. Even though it has been many years since comprehensive sex ed has been proven to be a benefit to students, schools are still teaching abstinence-only programs. Programs only teaching abstinence can be harmful to youth. They ignore young people’s rights to thorough and honest information about the most effective ways to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Schools should have the responsibility of providing comprehensive sex education to give adolescents the skills they need to make healthy decisions regarding sex and relationships.

In America, teaching children about sex is something that is seen as “inappropriate” or “wrong”. However, making sure teens and young adults know how to have safe sex is something that is extremely important, especially now. When teens are equipped with the knowledge to make safe, healthy decisions it helps prevent unwanted pregnancy and STD’s.

In the United States of America, there are 50 states, and out of 50, 23 states and the District of Columbia require public schools to teach sexual education (Heather Wood Ruth). This means out of 98,271 public schools in America, only 37,835 schools, or 38.5%, teach sexual education (“Educational Institutes”). There are many adults who believe children in middle school and high school are too young to know about sex, and therefore do not want their child to be educated about it, thus being the cause for the low rate of sexual education. Because of this low education rate, teenagers contract half of all new STIs and girls are dropping out of high school to raise a child (“State Policies on”). Studies prove 3 in 10 teenage girls in America become pregnant at least once before they turn 20, resulting in nearly 750,000 teenage pregnancies every year (“11 Facts About”). All public schools should be required to teach adequate sexual education.

Do you expect to be taught correct information in schools? Though it may be the expectation, that is not the case in 30 states when it comes to sex education. Despite the many contracting political views, religious views, or any other barrier involved in teaching sex education, there needs to be a standard set across all school to teach medically accurate information to students in order to ensure safety.

In the United States, sex education poorly informs students on how to protect themselves from both unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted disease. When one looks at data comparing the United States to countries with comprehensive sex education, you can see the significant difference in numbers relating to these issues. You can also see how the lack of education among students leads to more sexual harassment towards females. In order to combat these issues, the United States should put in place an education strategy that is more similar to those of the countries with these low rates. This should include information on how to have safe sex and prevent unwanted pregnancy and STIs, instead of stressing the importance of abstinence towards adolescents. These changes could begin locally, in New Hanover County, by changing the curriculum in schools from abstinence-based teachings to programs that include fact-based material and information on contraceptive methods other than just abstinence.

“In teenagers between 18–19 years old, 41% report that they know little or nothing about condoms” (HealthResearchFunding.org, 2014, Statistics). A high level of sexual education is something that should be required in every high school. The education they teach should be a comprehensive one, and that means that the education that the student is getting a factual one that teaches them everything they need to know about having safe consensual relationships with others. A comprehensive sexual education is necessary in all high schools in North America because, it gives girls a higher self-esteem, it teaches teenagers about sexual assault, and it leads to less teen pregnancies.

The United States of America contains 50 states, and out of 50, 23 states and the District of Columbia require public schools to teach sexual education (Ruth). This means out of 98,271 public schools in America, only 37,835 schools, or 38.5%, teach sexual education (“Educational Institutes”). Many adults believe children in middle school and high school may be too young to know about sex, and therefore do not want their child to be educated about it, thus being the cause for the low rate of sexual education. Because of this low education rate, teenagers contract half of all new STIs and girls have been dropping out of high school to raise a child (“State Policies on”). Studies prove 3 in 10 teenage girls in America become pregnant at least once before they turn 20, resulting in nearly 750,000 teenage pregnancies every year (“11 Facts About”). All public schools should be required to teach adequate sexual education.