Each year, U.S. teens experience as many as 850,000 pregnancies, and youth under age 25 experience about 9.1 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs). By age 18, 70 percent of U.S. females and 62 percent of U.S. males have initiated vaginal sex (Klein, 2005). Comprehensive/realistic sex education needs to be instilled in schools because it is effective at assisting young people to make healthy decisions about sex and to adopt healthy sexual behaviors and habits. Comprehensive/realistic sex education has a monumental effect on today’s youth, resulting in a rabid drop in teen pregnancies, teen abortion rates, and sexually transmitted infections between teens. Unlike abstinence until marriage programs that have not been shown to help …show more content…
Just by parents initiating having “the talk” is a tool that parents can give to their teens about sex, just the common and general details. Without this type of connection being made between parents and teens it becomes that much more difficult for teen to reach out to adults when they are thinking about possibly becoming sexually active. If this connection is established then when in the initial sexual education class teens will not be as taken back and frighten by sex and the cold hard facts about what can happen to you if you decide to have sex and are not careful. Inside the classroom all facts (no matter how graphic or embarrassing some people may think they are) should be discussed. This being because unfortunately many teens are somewhat clueless when it comes to sex and the facts of life. In my own opinion I believe that if teens were to learn about these facts and given the proper resources they need in a safe educational environment they are more likely to either chose to wait to have sex or if they chose to have sex they will at least be prepared and know which steps to take to have safe sex so they will not end up pregnant or with an STI. Teens will also have someone educated about sexual education who they can ask any question without feeling uncomfortable or having doubts about any sexual concepts. Maybe if we were more open about sexual education we wouldn't have so many societal problems like teen pregnancy, teen abortion, and teen STIs.
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Even though sex education has been proven to lower pregnancy and abortion rates among teens, for years people have argued that comprehensive or safe-sex education encourages early sexual activity instead of steering the thought away. However, the main issue is not education about sex but specifically what kind of education. In 1986 Planned Parenthood commissioned a poll to determine how comprehensive sex education which teaches about abstinence as the best method for avoiding STDs and unintended pregnancy, when affected behavior. Much to the agency’s disappointment, the study showed that kids exposed to such a program had a 47% higher rate of sexual activity than those who’d had no sex education at all. In contrast, a 1996 study on “Project
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
We have all heard the stories about the rise in teenage pregnancies, girls dropping out of school to care for their newborns, and even those who get pregnant on purpose. This new trend is everywhere. Most parents fail to have the “talk” with their children and are left without the proper education regarding sex until its too late. With the current rates of teenage pregnancy correlated with the current rates of spreading epidemics of STD’s and HIV/AIDS, steps should be taken in an effort to aid the situation. Schools are a main source of information and education for teens, and are in a unique position that can provide adolescents with knowledgeable skills and understanding that promote sexual health. With consistent speculation surrounding
In this paper I will address virginity, first sexual experiences, sex education in public schools, and abortion. The first two topics, virginity and first sexual experiences, coming from a personal perspective as well as some credible sources. I will also include the historical aspects of virginity, the creation and use of the concept, and why it’s in our society. The last topic is my concern for the lack of sex education in public schools and mentioning the harm of abstinence only sex education and the importance to provide comprehensive education for our youth for protection and lifelong sexual satisfaction. I will also include my experience with sex education and how limited or censored topics can be detrimental to children by second-guessing their understanding of necessary and critical sexual information.
Parents must also play a leading role in sex education. It must go beyond the doors of the school, and into the homes of the children. Since parents are the main educators in a child's life, they need to discuss the topic of sex education in home as well. (Sex Education in Schools; 1999) Children who have never had a talk about sex with their parents feel more uncomfortable when they have to talk about it in front of their classmates. In some cases, some students may even feel more comfortable to talk to their teacher, rather than their parents. A very important idea for parents to remember is, although talking about sex can be difficult, it makes it helpful on a child to hear about the facts of life from their parents at first. (4.Woznicki, Katrina. Smarter Teens Likely to Delay Sex; 2000) This also makes it easier when they attend the sex education classes so they can understand the full impact of
Studies not only show that abstinence only programs do nothing to delay the age at which teens and young adults begin having sex, but they also fail to provide any information about alternative and necessary healthy sexual behaviors ((Santelli, J., Ott, M. A., Lyon, M., Rogers, J., Summers, D., & Schleifer, R, 2006). Humans are sexual beings, and yes one of the ways to avoid STI’s and pregnancy is through abstinence. However, these programs decline to take into account or acknowledge that these teens will inevitably become sexually active at one point or another, and in turn fail to equip them with the proper knowledge on how to be safe when they do make the choice to have sex. Making sex taboo does not create a population of well-informed young people with safe sex practices and it definitely has not aided in resolving the epidemic of teen STI’s. Rather it has exacerbated it by denying youth with the correct information and tools they need to make well informed healthy
According to plannedparenthood.org, the nation’s longest provider for sex education says, “Sex education helps people gain the information, skills and motivation to make healthy decisions about sex and sexuality.” As well as abstinence, the fact or practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something, in this case…, sex. It is understandable why some parents do not want their children to be taught sex education in schools, just as there are some teachers who don't think it is their job to teach it. There are some parents as well as teachers who agree it should be taught in schools and at home because it is a topic that we all cannot escape. Sex education helps young people reduce their risk of potentially negative outcomes. These outcomes consist of circumstances such as unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It can also help youth to enhance the quality of their relationships and to develop decision-making skills that will prove invaluable over life. Sex is a natural part of life, and it happens with or without sex education. Refusing to talk about it will not make it go away.
Today’s youth faces very tough issues in their everyday life. Kids are growing up too fast too soon. They are facing situations and making decisions that will affect them for the rest of their lives. Among one of the most pressing issues they have to deal with is the risk of dangerous sexual behaviors and early pregnancies. Sex education programs in schools are clashing over comprehensive-sex education programs versus abstinence-only education programs. Abstinence-only programs not only instill morals, but the program helps prevent sex before marriage, prevents teen pregnancy, and the spread of STDs. The comprehensive-sex education programs helps kids make better decisions when it comes to sexual activity, they help prevent unwanted pregnancies, and they decrease the rates of STDs (Grossman, Frye, Charmaraman, Erkut). Combining both of these programs may be the smartest and healthiest solution for our kids when it comes to making decisions about having sex.
The reason parents are fearful of the sex talk is because they cannot or do not want to picture their child having sex, even though it is a possibility, and the child will feel embarrassed to have their parents talk to them about sex. Because of these feelings, the talk repeatedly becomes delayed, and it either does not happen at all or it happens too late after their child has already had sex. “In the latest study on parent-child talks about sex and sexuality, researchers found that more than forty percent of adolescents had had intercourse before talking to their parents about safe sex, birth control or sexually transmitted diseases” (Park).
Sex is something that almost everyone will experience before they die. It is a subject that has been debated about for years. From the debate over birth control to the outbreak of aids. With all this history behind us, sex is becoming even more of an issue. With the new outbreaks of sexually transmitted diseases and the fact that sexually active persons are becoming younger, sex has now become a daily topic. Sex scandals in the media and talk such as 'who slept with who at last night's keg party' are making these daily conversations apparent in high schools, middle schools, and in a lot of cases grade schools. As the saying goes 'monkey see monkey do' one can only assume that this concept will pertain to these easily influenced
+ Sex is important. Every human life is the result of someone having sex. So why has sex education become such a controversy? The entirety of the issue seems to fit under a cloud of scandal, because almost every topic is slightly taboo. Sex education however, is vital and absolutely necessary for a student’s comprehensive education. Students, parents, and teachers begin to hit roadblocks when human dignity and social inequalities begin to cause issues and misconceptions about sex education. When one is informed about what sex education really is, the issues within sex education that need to be faced, and how communication can create more solutions, the understanding of how sex education should be handled will naturally increase. The difficult and controversial topic of sex education is inundated with complicated issues, however with the help of increased education and communication, more solutions can be found for our most challenging problems.
Plenty of us, if not all, will agree that as hormones run rampant and curiosity grows even bigger, teenagers and young adults alike will partake in sexual activities as a way to explore their own newfound needs and desires. Though this may be what many enjoy doing, it does come with its own consequences. Regardless of age, sex can definitely result in a multitude of burdens including unwanted pregnancies, as well as various STDs and HPVs (HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Herpes, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, etc) and other negative consequences. With an astounding lack of proper information regarding sex education, it is no wonder that this is an epidemic. It is obvious that this occurs in a growing number of teens in America, so the question lies; what is being done about informing others about sex? Why is it these teenagers face dilemmas, all which shouldn’t affect them at their age? How said information was received is also something worth asking about. Besides their own peers, and maybe their parents if they dare discuss it with them, a good majority of what teenagers learn is given at local schools. Sex education is given nationwide, but just how valuable is it? How useful is the information; could it be that what is offered, the way it is distributed a factor in the rise of teen pregnancies and STDs? The consequences of inadequate sex education have dire life-changing events which can cause a huge negative affect on their lifestyle overall. With the
Their was a once a girl who wanted to have sexual intercourse with her boyfriend. The next day when she went to second block which was her sex ed class the teacher made all the student stand up and ask question’s or tell personal stories. One of her friends told the class her personal story about how she had sex with her beloved one and caught HIV. The girl went home and decided not to have sexual intercourse with her beloved one just yet, she rather learn more about sex and get well informed about how to prevent STD”S and other bad things. Sex education has a positive impact on students. It helps students prevent such things as STDS/STI. Sex ed also shows teens how to protect themselves from any unhealthy relationship. Schools should allow sex education because it helps prevent STDS/STI , it also could gain self esteem , it could help prevent more teenage from being pregnant.
Schools play a major role in a child’s life. Students generally spend more time in school with their teachers and peers than they do at home. They learn about Math, Science, English, Social studies and much more. One of the major things that needs more emphasis is sex education. Society is changing boys and girls are starting puberty earlier than when schools provide them with information about it. “52% of teens have has sexual intercourse out of that 52% 42% say they did not use a condom during the last instance”(Sex Education in Texas Public Schools). With all the information on the Internet students should be informed on what is correct and what is not. The way we can do that is be placing students in sex education classes. Sex education is a necessary component in a child’s life; with society changing it needs to be offered at a younger age. There are many reasons for this it can help prevent unwanted teen pregnancies, educate youth on sexually transmitted diseases and teach them how to be safe. One of the issues people have with sex education in schools is the belief that it corrupts the youths mind.
For decades, sex education in US public schools has been a debatable issue for a minority of people (Shindel & Parish, 2013). Healthcare workers insist that with a rise in sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies among teenagers, sex education is desperately needed in school. On the other hand, there are some parents and other citizens who strongly believe that sex education is something that parents should be teaching to their children. These individuals feel that sex education courses in schools do not place adequate emphasis on abstinence. In addition, introducing children to sex education may also encourage them to experiment with sex at an early age. However, what these opposing parents and individuals forget is that in the last 2 decades, there has been a renaissance in sex. With the advent of the internet, almost anyone can easily access pornography and almost any type of sexual activity on cyberspace. Sex is now a part of American culture. The advent of cyberspace has made sex prominent at all levels of society. Today, there is no way to avoid sex as it permeates every facet of our lives, even at work and in schools. No matter what the parent or the school attempts to do, these teenagers will make their own decisions about sexual experimentation and when to start such activity. Over the past few decades, it has become obvious that teenagers have started to having sex much earlier than their peers several decades ago. In the past, many