Sex is a natural part of life, and it happens with or without sex education. 71% of American 19-year-olds have had intercourse. 99% of Americans will have sex in their lifetime. Only 20 states require sex and HIV education be taught in schools. Sex is a fundamental part of being human, but less than half of our states require sex and HIV education, and most of what is taught are sub-par. Just because we refuse to talk about sex doesn’t mean it's just going to go away. There are 35 states that have laws that allow parents to opt their children out of sex ed. Even worse, 3 states make parents opt their children into sex ed. You can't opt your children in or out of math. But when it comes to sex education, one of the most important things you can learn in school, a parent can take their kid out for no reason at all. I am all for religious freedom, but just because you or your religion values abstinence doesn’t mean your kids will too. It's important teens get all the information they can, and then make a decision about their own values. Don't let religion or family values be a reason to let students be taken out of sexual health education. Don't let your morals obstruct your kid's learning.
There are so many reasons to support sex education. First, Studies Say "Just Say No" Doesn't Change Opinions. The research has shown it time and time again: Abstinence-only education doesn't affect the rates at which teenagers decide to have sex. Given that the primary purpose of abstinence-only education is to do exactly that, it is clear that it doesn't work. Second, Just Teaching No Doesn't Help Those Who Will Say Yes. One of the biggest problems with abstinence-only education is that it denies teenagers the chance to learn about acceptable options other than abstinence. Given that no form of sex education has been shown to effectively convince teenagers not to have sex, this is a significant problem. Third, Just Because You Have A Raincoat Doesn't Mean It's Going To Rain. There's a silver lining to studies that say abstinence-only doesn't encourage kids not to have sex. What is it? All the other studies that say providing condoms in schools doesn't make kids more promiscuous. Over the past 20 years, numerous studies have consistently demonstrated that teaching comprehensive sex education in schools doesn't have the downside most people are afraid of. Fourth, 1 in 2 High School Students Have Had Sex. Which One Is Yours? A large number of teens are sexually active. According to the Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance Survey, or YRBSS, in 2015, 41 percent of high school students had had sex at least once. Eleven-and-a-half percent had had four or more sexual partners. Fifty-seven percent of sexually active students had used condoms the last time they had sex, but only 18 percent had used birth control pills. Furthermore, one-fifth of sexually active high school students had used drugs or alcohol before the most recent time they had sex. Fifth, Start Safe and Stay Safe. A 2007 study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that teens who start using condoms from the first time they have intercourse score higher on several sexual health measures than teens who don't. The scientists followed more than 4,000 teens for an average of almost seven years. They found that those adolescents who used condoms at their first intercourse had the same number of sexual partners as those who didn't. Sixth, Boys Want to Be Men, So Teach Them to Be Good Men. Part of staying healthy is seeking appropriate health care. As boys age, many of them stop going for preventative health care. This limits the opportunities they have to be screened for, among other things, STDs. A study in Pediatrics found that parents who talk to their male children about sex are more likely to have boys who go to the doctor. It's all about setting a good example. Seventh, Comprehensive Sex Ed Doesn't Encourage Kids to Have Sex. Comprehensive sex education doesn't encourage kids to have sex. Just like abstinence-only programs, good comprehensive programs teach students that abstinence is the only surefire way to prevent pregnancy and STDs. The difference is that these programs also give students realistic and factual information about the safety of various sexual practices, and how to improve the odds. Eighth, It's the Parents' Job to Teach the Faith. Nothing about comprehensive sex education prevents parents from teaching their kids their standards for moral behavior. If anything, having them learn the facts at school frees parents to focus on explaining their own personal religious beliefs and behavioral expectations. Ninth, The More Kids Know, the More Likely They Are to Say No. Teenagers aren't stupid. When a teacher tells them that only abstinence can protect them from the dangers of STDs and pregnancy, they know they're being lied to. At the very least, they know they're being misled. Giving adolescents an accurate picture of the risks of different types of sexual behavior can help them make informed decisions about sex. The most effective sex education programs tend to be the ones that try to steer teens away from specific activities that are particularly high risk. Tenth and the least reason is, Comprehensive Sex Encourages Abstinence, Not Ignorance. What do teenagers do when they haven't been given accurate information about sexual risks? They have oral sex, or even anal sex, instead of vaginal intercourse. In particular, many teenagers don't see oral sex as incompatible with abstinence.
To conclude, I disagree with the statement. I believe that Sex education is important. It's been proven time and time again. We know students who receive formal sex education in schools are shown to first have sexual intercourse later than students who have not had sex education. Sex education does not encourage teenagers to have sex, it does quite the opposite. Every teenager should have sex education incorporated into their schooling. It shouldn’t be opt-in or opt-out but mandatory. Why should parents be able to opt their children in or out of a subject that they'll need later in life, one way or another? Sex education should be mandatory, comprehensive, medically accurate, and taught throughout student's school years, just like math. It's been shown to help students, not hurt. Not only is having access to sex education that is not only comprehensive but medically accurate a human right; it's our fundamental duty as a society to educate the next generation. Currently, we are failing.
No comments:
Post a Comment