Importance of Sex Education

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Recommended: comprehensive sex education vs abstinence

Our children are growing up quicker than they ever have in the past; consequently their minds are growing more and more curious. Teenage pregnancy has been a key topic for discussion for far too long with little to no action being taken to prevent such pregnancies. Many people consider that something different needs to be done in regards to the way our children perceive sexual education. There have always been disputes about which type of sexual education should be taught in U.S. public schools. There have been many studies conducted to determine which courses are more effective in preventing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s). Though there are hundreds of curriculums out there only two major options have been utilized in our schools; comprehensive sex education (CSE) and abstinence-only education (AOE). These two alternatives differ from each other greatly, as do the people who support them. Though these are the two most popular courses, the one that has been favored for a very long time is abstinence-only education. Being federally funded for well over a few decades; AOE has had a number of advantages over CSE programs. The results however, have not been so prodigious. You see, every day more and more teenagers become sexually active, and every day you hear more about “teen moms”. It is apparent that teenage pregnancy is becoming a vastly growing "fad" in today's society, and many people including myself, suspect that this can be blamed on the lack of comprehensive sex education in schools. Teenage pregnancy went up by nearly five percent from 2005 to 2007. This is a big deal because when an adolescent becomes pregnant it is a huge health risk for her, the baby, and society in general. Many cases of ST... ... middle of paper ... ... Follow-Up." Journal of School Health 76.8 (ND): 414-422. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. Frits, Gregory K. "Teenage Pregnancy: a Disturbing Trend." Brown University Child & Adolescent Behavior Letter26.1 (2010): 8. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. Hall, David W., and Kathrin F. Stanger-Hall. "Abstinence-Only Education and Teen Pregnancy Rates: Why We Need Comprehensive Sex Education in the U.S." PLoS ONE 6.10 (2011): 1-11. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. Miller, Monica K., and Dana A. Weiser. "Barack Obama vs Bristol Palin: Why the President's Sex Education Policy Wins." Contemporary Justice Review 13.4 (2010): 411-424. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. Rajani, Nicole, and Naomi Starkman. "The Case for Comprehensive Sex Education." AIDS Patient Care & STDs 16.7 (2002): 313-318. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.

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