The Importance Of Sexual Education

Current programs have been successful in lowering the teenage birth rates from their 1991 rates to their current rates, a difference of more than 50 percent. While the STD rates in the United States have not improved, they have ceased to increase in recent years (Satcher, Carmona & Elders, 2015). Sexual education programs differ in what information the program covers, who teaches the class, and how relevant the material is to a diverse student body. In order for a sexual education program to be successful in reducing teenage pregnancy and STD rates, the United States needs to ensure that schools are offering comprehensive sexual education classes that incorporate information on contraceptives and condom usage, are facilitated by both trained and qualified teachers and health professionals, and are tailored to a diverse student

Sexuality is a part of human life. Throughout this time from birth to death it is guaranteed it will occur for someone. During adolescence, a person is exposed to sexuality and needs to know what messages they are receiving are positive, and which negative. As of 2011, “Eighty-two percent of parents have talked to their children about topics relating to sexuality” (Planned Parenthood). But, schools have to take into account the parents that did not adequately educate their children and ones that didn’t even discuss it at all. “Parents overwhelmingly support sex education programs in high school and middle school” (Planned Parenthood). School districts have goals. Their main one being that students “truly enjoy their life and their work” (Littkey, Grabelle). For students to benefit from their being, they need to be educated on reproductive health. “A 2011 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey indicates that more than 47 percent of all high school students say they have had sex, and 15 percent of high school students have had sex with four or more partners during their lifetime” (CDC). So it is crucial for everyone to learn the risks involved, consequences, how to be safe, and to know when they are ready. The best way to accomplish this is through abstinence-only sex-ed programs.

There are many debates that occur in our society today. Some of the debates are viewed as being unnecessary. While others are looked at as more serious topics, one of the newest debates is whether or not sexual education should be taught to our youth of today in public schools. Sexual education should be taught to our youth in public schools. Many children aren’t being educated at home to, there is a lack of parent education, adolescents are becoming more sexually active at a younger age, and the number of teen pregnancy is at a lower level than in the past, but still at an alarming rate.

In 2011-2013 more than 80% of adolescents aged 15-19 had received formal information about sexual education. In the present sexual education is rarely taught today, unless you live in a suburban area. The more informed young adults are about sex at an early age the more it will refrain from a responsibility young adults are not ready for Sexual education classes usually start from grades 5th to 8th, sometimes earlier and young adults will live a more protected life. Thirteen states require discussion of sexual orientation in sex education classes. Nine of these states require inclusive discussion of sexual orientation, and the remaining four require that classes provide only negative information about sexual orientation(Guttmacher Institute, Sex and STD/HIV education, State Policies in Brief, October 2011). It is common for parents not to talk about sex to their children and children do not take the initiative to ask. The history behind young adults that gets pregnant still in high school is that they usually won’t finish school or has a difficult time living in a stable place. Only 40% of teen mothers graduate, and fewer than 2% graduate college before age 30. Sexual

There are multiple issues that arise due to the lack of sex education in schools today. It was estimated from the twenty million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases recorded each year, approximately half of those cases included young people ages ranging from fifteen to twenty four. In addition, there are roughly 230,000 teen births each year in the United States (Sexual Risks). Clearly, it is crucial that adolescents receive a sex education to help prevent more cases of sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancies. These statistics also prove the ineffectiveness of sex education that students are receiving, not to mention some even acquiring a proper sex education. It is alarming that less than half of high schools across the country relay the basics of sex education to their students, when it should

According to Advocates for Youth 46 percent of high schoolers in America are sexually active. Only 20 states in America require sexual education classes and there are 35 states that have laws that say parents have the right to keep their kids out of these classes. Almost every American will have sex in their lifetime so having more information on it should be required. As reported by the National Library of Medicine, America has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the industrialized world (Sedgh, Finer, Bankole, Eilers, & Singh 2015). According to the CDC’s Incidence, Prevalence, and Cost of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the United State, people from ages 15-24 account for 50 percent of the new STDs and also America has the highest rate of STDs in the industrialized world (CDC.gov).

Today, there are more teens getting pregnant than before. With sex education being in schools, it can help teens learn the basic needs for when they become sexually active. This subject can help teen pregnancy, un-planned pregnancy, and could lower the STD rates in the United States. By showing teens these basic needs, it can prevent having to plan for a baby at a young age, not having a support system, and not having enough money to take care of the baby and yourself. In the following paragraphs, it will explain same beliefs and opinions on sex education.

Are you afraid of becoming pregnant, catching a sexually transmitted disease (STD), or even both? This is where educators can make a difference and help out not only the community but the younger generations to come. Social trends, public health concerns, politics and various controversies have all, at different times and in different ways, affected the substance and teaching of sex education. Over time, however, one thing has remained consistent: public support for sex education. The most recent national polls show that 93 percent of Americans support “sex or sexuality courses being taught” in high school and 84 percent support such instruction in junior high. (“History of Sex Education”). Sex education should be better funded in schools to reduce teen pregnancy, raise the high school graduate rate, and to help prevent spreading STD’s.

Sexual education in the classroom has been a topic of controversy for years. Outside influences, such as increases in media and television exposure to children and adolescents cause an overwhelming exposure to sex. As a result, sexual education, like most school subjects, is far too important to be left in the hands of parents alone; teachers must educate students on the importance of sexual behaviours. Sexual education serves an important part of the classroom curriculum requiring proper education on individual sexuality, safety, and morals to students.

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.

Furthermore, school officials should also introduce sex education to students at an early age in order to inform students about the risks of undesired pregnancies and severe transmitted diseases. At a young age, students do not tend to think about the real consequences of being sexually active and the risks they are being imposed to. The US Department of human and health services stated that, “ About 77 percent of teen pregnancies are unplanned. In other words, they are unwanted or occurred “too soon,” according to a national survey of adolescents” (Office of Adolescents). Due to the high percent of teen unexpected pregnancies, school officials have to impose the topic of sex education to students in order to think before comming actions they cannot change. Although at this age, the students that experience unexpected pregnancies do not want to keep the child, due to the fact that they are learn that it is a huge responsibility after getting pregnant. Teenagers that do not want to keep and take care of the child will search for way to get rid of it, which ends in miscarriages or abortion. Once again, The US Department of Human and Health Services stated, “In 2010, the majority of pregnancies to adolescent females ages 15-19 in the United States—an estimated 60 percent—ended in a live birth; 15 percent ended in a miscarriage; and 30 percent ended in an abortion” (Office of Adolescents). Students who decide to stay with the child tend to experience a difficult life, due to the

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.

There are sides to the coin of sexual education, one side the teaching of abstinence only material and the other the allowance of some measure of sexual education in our schooling system. From the typically conservative viewpoint that abstinence only education is the only, and best method to teach children about sex to the more modern stance that the best form of preventative measure is proper education itself. Personally, I find myself on the modern side of the argument that preaches proper sexual education over abstinence. I believe that the best form of prevention of teenage pregnancy and reduction in stigma to teenager’s who become pregnant is to fight the problem at it’s source, that of the lack of sexual education.

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.