Who Should Teach Kids About Sex?

Dorthy Berryman

Mrs. Wrenn

Compostition II

Thesis: Sex Education should be taught in schools in order to create greater awareness of the dangers of careless sex as well as sexual predators. In view of the findings regarding the positive aspects of sex education versus the negative ones, legal approaches would reinforce the necessity of this form of education in schools.

In contemporary times, it has come to everyone's knowledge through the media that children are not safe, as several of them have been sexually abused. The biggest reason for this happening is not just the working of ill-minded adults who take advantage of gullible children, but also a lack of awareness on the part of parents and their children.

If parents were more aware of how much risk their children are at there would be far greater chances of children preventing themselves from being taken advantage of sexually. The precautions advised consensually refer to educating all age levels of children in order to make them safe. Legal aspects of this understanding reinforce the need for se education. However, there are views that contradict the societal need for sex education as well as the legal stance.

Sex education is a subject area within the broad framework of community awareness. It is a subject that has become increasingly important for all age groups of growing children as well. Parents cannot always be around their children and guide them 24 hours a day, so by creating awareness among children is essential so that they can protect themselves. In order to this, it must be emphasized again that parents first of all need to be taught more about the issue of sex abuse and educated about sex in general (Harrison, 2000, 5-19).

In contemporary times the degree of exposure to everything is immense. Exposure refers to the manner in which people are more aware the world around them, even though there are still a great many things that they are not aware of. However, all that one is aware of needs to be carefully dealt with in order to prevent severe repercussions. This is particularly the case with the youth that are exposed to so much regarding issues like violence and sex.

Of these two fundamental issues, sex is something that the youth need to be more aware of. This is because of the fact that there is a great deal that is exposed but misunderstood. The youth are not in fact aware of the repercussions of being ignorant of facts regarding sex. This is why it is mandatory to tell them about what it and what isn't good for them. They may be indeed presented with all that they need to know, and beyond that the choice is theirs. This is something that goes for all age groups of those that are growing up in a fast-paced world, where parents cannot always keep an eye on them (Epstein, 1997, 105-115).

People in communities may be double-minded or reluctant about accepting se education because it perhaps puts their children ahead of their time for learning about such content. Indeed, when one looks at the issue closer, they have reasonable arguments. Some say that children who learn about this kind of content are more likely to fall into sexual activities. This includes either still going ahead with a sexual relationship during their teens or even getting into such a relationship prior to puberty. The mind of the individual could also be fickle and give into sexual activity in spite of being warned against it (Buston, pp. 2002, 59-72). Parents also may feel that educating children about sex and sexual activities is inappropriate because it robs them off their childhood way before they ready for it. However, as opposed to this argument, parents should be aware and explain to their daughters the manner in which they can so easily be tempted to have sex before it is the suitable time to do so (Castro-Vazquez & Izumi Kishi, 2002).

The role of the parent is to try and help daughters refrain from sexual activity during their teens. The reason for this essentially is because it is a complete diversion from the life that a teenage girl should be living. It must be noted that during one's teens one should be into studies as well as healthy activity that has no risks or severe side effects.

Though it might be asserted that sexual activity is healthy and refreshing, but it is age factor that also must be considered. This especially refers to the teenage girls that are under discussion. Moreover, their general lack of awareness regarding themselves as well as sexual activity is something that has to be taken into account (Ayer, 1997, 23-25).

Another factor that is considerably important here and reinforces the reason why teenage girls should not participate in sexual activity is that according to the law, they are minors. This is to say that they are not supposed to be married before the age of 18 due to the fact that they are not adults till 18. It must be emphasized here at this point that there are several teenage girls that indulge in sexual activity before the age of 18, regardless of the knowledge of sex. This is in fact a result of peer pressure, media influence etc. With their peers indulging in the latest fads, they are often urged into competing to make their impression as adults.

Quite commonly, it is known that teenagers associate activities such as sex, consumption of alcohol, smoking of marijuana, etc. with adulthood; they feel that these are the things that they should be doing by the time they are in their teens in order to feel better about themselves as grown ups. However, they are sadly mistaken, as these are things that can so easily get them into trouble. This also brings into play the legal aspect of the problem that prohibits abuse of particular substances. With regard to this, there is even greater need for educating the youth (Barlow, 1995, 15-19).

Having asserted the importance of educating the youth regarding sex, it is important to highlight what exactly it is that they should be taught about. It must be realized that they should be educated in regard to those areas about sex that are vital to their health and well being.

Regarding the means of prevention of pregnancy as well as disease through contraception, it also needs to be emphasized that education content should also encompass those areas that are crucial to younger children (Ayer, 1997, 23-25).

It is important for one to consider the importance of education content regarding younger children, as they are the ones who are most unaware of themselves and others who can take advantage of them. The role of communication in sex education here is vital too

Communication with one's child should never suffer any lapse, and children of this age should be guaranteed that their parents are