Sex Education
Essay by 24 • September 2, 2010 • 555 Words (3 Pages) • 2,338 Views
Sex Education
Many parents are against sex education being taught within the schools. Sex is a very sensitive subject. Many parents feel that it is not appropriate to teach children these Ð'ÐŽÐ'§facts of lifeÐ'ÐŽÐ'Ð at such a young age. ShouldnÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦t one wait for marriage to learn about these things any way? The overwhelming fact is that a growing number of teens especially are thinking about and even having sexual encounters. Should sex education be taught in school? Some say that is no longer the question, but rather how should it be taught. Over 93% of all public high schools currently offer courses on sexuality or HIV. More than 510 junior or senior high schools have school-linked health clinics, and more than 300 schools make condoms available on campus. (Sex Education in the Schools) The following is a discussion of the many questions associated with teaching sex education at school.
1. Why do youth need sex education? - The United States has more than double the teenage pregnancy rate of any western industrialized country. More than a million teenagers become pregnant annually. In addition, teenagers have the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) of any age group. In fact, one in four young people contract an STD by the age of 21.(Sex Education in Schools)
2. Why should schools be involved in sex education? - Most parents still avoid the issue. Keeping children ignorant endangers their livesÐ'ÐŽXespecially for the millions of teens who have already begun having sex. An overwhelming 61% of male high school students and 48% of female high school students fit in this category. (CDC, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, SEXUAL BEHAVIOR AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, What You Should Know About Sexuality Education)
3. If sexuality education is so useful, why are so many teens still having sex and getting pregnant? - It is also the product of the childÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦s environment and experiences that leads them down a certain path. The total responsibility cannot be placed on school education.
Here are some tips provided by Planned Parenthood for parents dealing with the issue of sex with their children. (National Family Sexuality Education Month)
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