What Are The Pros And Cons Of Sex Education In Schools

Comprehensive sex education gives people the knowledge to make responsible choices about sexual relationships. It consists of age appropriate, medically accurate content about sex, puberty, contraceptive use, and human development. In many forms, it can be categorized as a helpful way to teach young children about choices they can take in order to prevent many sexually transmitted diseases, teenage unwanted pregnancy, and delay sexual intercourse. On the dark side, comprehensive sex education can arise many controversies and disagreements between people with distinct cultural and religious views, and the person that should take responsibility in teaching young people. In this paper I will discuss the positive and negative sides on teaching comprehensive sex education in schools.

Sex education has become increasingly normalised in the twenty-first century. Attitudes to sex have evolved as society becomes more open to discussions about relationships and sexual health. Simultaneously, the rate of teen pregnancy has dropped since the previous generation, suggesting that either teenagers are having sex later, or using contraception more effectively. As sex education is prevalent, however not compulsory in many of today’s high schools, the country must question the value of this program – and the impacts on the students who undertake it. The sexual health of an individual is intrinsically connected to the overall physical and mental health of the country. The health of individuals makes up the health of a population – it seems quite clear that, in a perfect world, sexual education would improve national health. Countries around the world have different attitudes towards sex education, and opinions on the most effective way to teach it – and the overall health of these populations is equally as diverse. Australia as a nation must investigate the effects of sexual education, to ensure its program is the most effective.

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

Nineteen-fifty five marked the debut of sex education programs in schools in the United States. Along the years, many have argued whether or not sex education should be taught in schools. Many believe that the education of sex encourages students to engage in sexual activities which lead to a higher number of pregnancies and sexual transmitted diseases (STD’s).The U.S. is the leading country in teen pregnancies and STD’s As the number of unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases climbs higher and higher every day in our country, one can only think that sexual education is a necessity in our school systems. Young people, teens, account for 25% of our country’s sexually active population and contract half of said population’s STD’s. Teens as young as fourteen years old have admitted to already engaging in sexual activities. No teen should be engaging in such acts at that age. Many schools give parents the choice to have their child opt out of the lesson or class. Few states are required to teach sex education to students in secondary schools unless they were withdrawn from the class by their parents.

While in high school, most teenagers between the ages 13-17, will have attended at least one sex education class. Instead of using the “Abstinence- Only” approach, schools should consider on teaching students the “Safe- Sex” approach to increase their knowledge on potential health risks involving sex. Increasing their knowledge not only increases their awareness, but lets them use their knowledge in the real world and let them form their own decisions, whether they be bad or good.

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).

Schools should educate students about their bodies, and how to protect them. “The point of this kind of sex education is to inform teenagers about the possible risks of being sexually active and to educate them about methods of birth control and sexually transmitted infection protection.” Students deserve the basic human right live freely, and if their choice may be, considering about 70% of the national teenage population usually make this decision anyway, to be involved in sexual relations than there needs to be a basic knowledge of safety

Sexual education is an important topic which as to be addressed due to the growing debates as to weather it should be implemented within the school system. The Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education states that sexual education curriculums addresses a range of topics including “puberty, effective contraceptive methods, prevention of STI/HIV, communication skills, sexual orientation, interpersonal relationships, and media literacy” (Public Health Agency of Canada). Children need to address such issues early in order to protect them from early initiation of sexual activity, sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. The issue is then weather or not parents support such a program.

Sex education, most commonly known as family life, is any information about sex and sexual relationships taught to maturing young people as a part of a school’s curriculum. Currently, there is a constant political and ideological debate in the United States over the merits of abstinence-only and comprehensive sex education programs in the teaching of our youth. Abstinence only sex education has been the primary sex education taught in the United States. Although different in their approach, the overall goal is to help them build a foundation to be able to make healthy informed decisions as they mature into adults. The objectives of sex education programs are to help adolescents develop a positive view of sexuality, body image and make responsible decisions in relationships (Knowles, 2012). Ultimately, any sex education should be a partnership between parents, guardians and school personnel. However, in recent years, a large amount of information about sexuality is acquired through friends, music, books and the media instead of from their parents. For some individuals,

Firstly, what is Sex education? It is an explanation about bodily development, sexuality and relationships. Also, it teaches young people how to make good decisions when engaged in sexual intercourse. This is extremely important, as it can help prevent issues such as teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases from spreading. Some might argue that sex education shouldn’t even be discussed on whether it should be in schools or not, but that it is a right for students to know. There are numerous benefits to a person’s education as a result of sexual education. Some include: Communicating about sexuality and sexual health, autonomy of one’s body, and even as much as protecting a student's’ academic success. The CDC reports that people who engaged in health-risking activities were more likely to score lower on examinations than those who did not. Teenage pregnancies can lead as far as absenteeism or even dropping out.

Comprehensive sexuality education has always been a focal point of the debate across the United States. Any topics related to sexuality education would make tremendous amount of people feel embarrassed and uncomfortable because sex education is fallaciously perceived as a stigma of the society on an increase rate of unintended pregnancy, the outbreak of sexual transmitted diseases, and other social ethical issues. From a U.S. review, however, “the overwhelming weight of evidence shows that sex education that discusses contraception does not increase sexual activity.” The understanding of sex education not only covers simply a part in reproduction, or how babies are conceived and born but also helps the teenager to have some basis understanding of virtually every aspect of sex by the time he or she reaches full maturity, and more importantly, it encourages confidence and improves communication skills, the social issues surrounding sexuality and reproduction as well as cultural norms, family

Texas is reputable for implementing abstinence only sex education. About 60% of public schools only teach this curriculum (Howell). This leaves thousands of students of various ages with an altered view of sex and insufficient information on safe sex practice and contraception. This program has also proved itself ineffective because Texas ranks fifth highest nationally in teen birth rates with 41 births per 1,000 women (Howell). 4 out of 5 adolescent pregnancies are unintended” (Gelfond, 597).Abstinence only programs have failed because they do not prevent or even educate students about safe sex practices, contraception, and Texas still remains in the forerunner for highest rates of STDs and teen pregnancy.

Sexual education is a great tool that should be used within classes more often than not for many reasons. There are a shocking amount of young ones who are unaware of the harmful consequences

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

Picture a young couple being on the verge of exploring their sexual desires for the first time. The question is does this young couple have the proper education to make this life changing decision? They most likely were given their education from the school they attend. Hopefully the school taught them what they needed to know to make such a decision. Should sex education be taught at school by teachers or by the parents?