Comprehensive Sex Education

IntroductionAbstinence-Only education (AO) teaches adolescents to abstain from sexual activity, and that this is the only certain method of avoiding pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). AO programs teach that abstinence until marriage is a standard by which to live; that sexual expression outside of marriage will have harmful social, psychological, and physical consequences; it usually omits controversial topics such as abortion, masturbation, and sexual orientation; and AO uses fear tactics (such as highlighting condom failure rate) to encourage the limitation of sexual expression. I will be arguing that schools should teach about birth control alongside sex, as opposed to limiting the discussion to "don't have sex before marriage." Rosalie will be arguing that comprehensive sex education should not be taught in schools. Do schools have the right to teach about sex? Should they? Most schools concentrate sexuality education in grades 7 through 9 and confine the unit to the health or science curriculum [1]. This is because sexuality directly links to both subjects. Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) does not teach about the morality of sexuality, but rather about factual things that pertain to sex. Schools are not discouraged from teaching fact-based information. For example schools teach about different religions, even though public schools are not allowed to promote one religion over another. Similarly, schools can teach about both sex and abstinence without necessarily promoting one ideal over the other. Consider the fact that schools also teach about politics without necessarily promoting one ideology over another. In other words, it's possible to teach about sex without encouraging students TO have sex. The conversation/curriculum would strictly be educational and informative. In the United States, 46% of all high school age students, and 62% of high school seniors, have had sexual intercourse [2]. Therefore we can effectively assume that 1/2 of all HS aged kids are having sex. Teaching CSE provides information that directly relates to the lives, health and safety of sexually active teens, as well as prepares the other half so they will be better equipped to understand the consequences and options. Since the schools would not be promoting sex but merely teaching about it, they have every right to promote factual information that pertains to health and science. Sex in and of itself is not a taboo subject but merely part of nature. It is the individual or cultural (religious) preferences that dictate particular attitudes toward sex, but schools are not responsible for accommodating the bias or personal beliefs of some. Rather schools exist to foster learning and provide a useful, well-rounded education. Learning about sex is very useful - more about that later. What if parents think the topic is inappropriate?It's common for schools to teach about reproductive health (specially menstruation) when students become adolescents, prior to reaching puberty. If parents prefer their children not learn this material, they have every right to deny the school permission for this lesson. The child can either be kept home, or more realistically be relieved from the class and not be exposed to things their parent or guardian does not feel comfortable with. Notes explaining the content material are often sent home for the parents to understand before making the decision. However just because some parents prefer their kids remain ignorant and afraid, doesn't mean that's the option many parents would choose. Thus schools should teach CSE and allow the parents who disagree to make other arrangements. The fact is there is a lot of scientific and useful health information about sex, thus schools have a reason to include it in the curriculum overall. After all we should assume schools are secular and therefore non-moral, fact-based information is relevant in class. What are the harms of Abstinence-Only sex education?AO programs do not acknowledge teen sexual behavior. They believe that sex outside of marriage is immoral. Consequently, these programs do not teach young people how to protect themselves when they become sexually active. Contraception and condoms may be mentioned only when discussing failure rates. As a result, young people who engage in sex will not be knowledgeable enough to understand why they are important or how to use them effectively. This puts sexually active young people at great risk. With AO, the consequences of STDs, guilt, and shame are used to frighten young people into abstinence. However statistics show that AO does not work at inhibiting sexual activity. Research shows that AO is ineffective at preventing both unwanted pregnancy and the spread of STIs, among other shortfalls [3]. In addition, AO has been found to include misleading medical information and exclude potentially life-saving information about sexual risk reduction [4].According to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, "scientific evidence simply does not support an abstinence-only-until-marriage approach." A 2010 report by the Guttmacher Institute pointed out that pregnancy rates for teens reversed their decline in 2006, near the peak of the Abstinence Only campaign in the United States [3]. In other words, AO promoted pregnancy because teens were ignorant about birth control. Furthermore teaching AO did not actually prevent teens from exploring sex. Teens are having sex whether parents want to accept it or not. As a result of AO education, they are completely unprepared and do not understand the risks, options or preventative measures that could protect them. Why should schools teach Comprehensive Sex education? CSE includes age-appropriate, medically accurate information on a broad set of topics related to sexuality including human development, relationships, decision making, abstinence, contraception and disease prevention [5]. It is a more holistic approach that recognizes abstinence as one possible approach to sex, but prepares students for a more realistic one. The majority of Americans do not stay virgins until marriage. Even assuming one stays abstinent until marriage, they can still benefit immensely from learning about sex. First, CSE not only teaches about sex with others, but provides insight about one's own sexuality as well. For example CSE touches on masturbating and other things that have to do with the changing body. It might also touch on homosexuality and other sexual identities for informational value. Many teens have a lot of questions about their newfound sexual preferences and desires. While AO programs keep kids in the dark (many parents are too uncomfortable or ill equipped to have these conversations), CSE looks to provide insight that could benefit an adolescent's understanding of themselves and their bodies. CSE reduces risky behavior. In November 2007, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy released an authoritative and comprehensive review of research findings on the effectiveness of CSE programs. They found that none of the comprehensive programs hastened the initiation of sex or increased the frequency of sex. It also found that CSE worked for both genders, for all major ethnic groups, for sexually inexperienced and experienced teens, in different settings, and in different communities [6]. In short, CSE is helpful and effective across all youth populations. Conclusion Since many teens are having sex, it would make sense to assume that parents and society want them to be safe. Inhibiting STIs and unwanted pregnancy are important. Teens have a right to learn important information that directly affects them. They should be knowledgeable about their choices and the possible consequences, as well as how to protect themselves. This would leave them in a position to make more informed decisions. AO programs increase the risk of unwanted pregnancy and STIs. Research indicates they are completely ineffective at preventing teen sex. Therefore they only keep people ignorant and ill-prepared to make smart and healthy choices. On the other hand, CSE educates and protects teens. It explains (often tough or awkward) information to teens about themselves, their bodies and their options in a way that is informative and valuable. There is a ton of value in sex education that is relevant to health and science. One's mental health could also be affected. Uncomfortable parents can make other arrangements if they prefer to keep their children ignorant, afraid and exposed to potential danger. Otherwise, CSE provides a learning environment where adolescents can be exposed to information they might not even realize they needed to know, and that can teach them things they might want to ask their parents questions about later. Again CSE is not about the morality of sex, but the science of it. == Back to Con. [1] http://www.advocatesforyouth.org...[2] http://www.advocatesforyouth.org...[3] https://en.wikipedia.org...[4] Santelli, John S.; Speizer, Ilene S.; Edelstein, Zoe R. (January 2013). "Abstinence promotion under PEPFAR: The shifting focus of HIV prevention for youth." Global Public Health, 8.[5] http://www.siecus.org...[6] Kirby D,Emerging Answers 2007: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Washington, DC: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 2007.