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Importance of gender education programs
Implementation of Sexual Education
Implementing gender education in schools
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Sex is a predominant part of life, and that is not changing anytime soon. A common response to this is to dismiss the conversation. Instead of overlooking the problem like the majority of individuals, an inquiry into what is being taught/shown to youth is needed. Strasburger, the author of “Adolescents, Sex, and the Media: Ooooo, Baby, Baby—a Q & A” notes: “I’ve often wondered what it would be like if we taught young people swimming the same way we teach sexuality. If we told them that swimming was an important adult activity one they will all have to be skilled at when they grow up, but we never talked with them about it. We never showed them the pool . . . but when they asked a question about how swimming felt or what it was about, they would be greeted with blank or embarrassed looks . . . Miraculously, some might learn to tread water, but many would drown” (11). Strasburger conveys the message that there is a problem with sexual education and urges his readers to do something about it. Teens should be able to make educated decisions, so they can protect themselves and their partners from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and be able to maintain that safety from teenage years to adulthood. The bulk of sexual education programs within the United States are not assisting teens to achieve and uphold these standards. Sexual education curriculum in the United States needs to be examined on both a federal and state level, and comprehensive sexual education programs must be implemented. Sexual education and sex in general is a taboo subject. A number of people, both in the past and recently, have suggested that sex education programs should be taught elsewhere besides schools, like at home. Sadly, parents a... ... middle of paper ... .... Kirby, Douglas. “Abstinence, Sex, and STD/HIV Education Programs for Teens: Their Impact on Sexual Behavior, Pregnancy, and Sexually Transmitted Disease.” Annual Review of Sex Research 18 (2007): 143-177. Print. Kirby, Douglas. "Effective Approaches to Reducing Adolescent Unprotected Sex, Pregnancy, and Childbearing." The Journal of Sex Research 39.1 (2002): 51-7. Print. Rector, Robert, Melissa Pardue, and Shannan Martin. “What Do Parents Want Taught in Sex Education Programs?” Heritage.org. The Heritage Foundation, 28 Jan. 2004. Web. 1 Nov. 2013. Stanger-Hall, Kathrin, and David W. Hall. "Abstinence-Only Education and Teen Pregnancy Rates: Why we Need Comprehensive Sex Education in the U.S." PLoS One 6.10 (2011). Print. Strasburger, Victor C. "Adolescents, Sex, and the Media: Ooooo, Baby, Baby-a Q & A." Adolescent Medicine Clinics 16.2 (2005): 269,88, vii. Print.
Since the HIV/AIDS epidemic began in the U.S. in the early 1980s the issue of sex education for American youth has had the attention of the nation. There are about 400,000 teen births every year in the U.S, with about 9 billion in associated public costs. STI contraction in general, as well as teen pregnancy, have put the subject even more so on the forefront of the nation’s leading issues. The approach and method for proper and effective sex education has been hotly debated. Some believe that teaching abstinence-only until marriage is the best method while others believe that a more comprehensive approach, which includes abstinence promotion as well as contraceptive information, is necessary. Abstinence-only program curriculums disregard medical ethics and scientific accuracy, and have been empirically proven to be ineffective; therefore, comprehensive sex education programs which are medically accurate, science-based and empirically proven should be the standard method of sex education for students/children in the U.S.
Sex can be traced back as far as Adam and Eve, the first two people on this planet. Today, all age groups encounter things associated with sex, but it is not a problem that concerns everyone. The problem that has been at hand for more than thirty years is should sex education classes be offered in Public Schools? (1.Teaching Fear; 1996)
Congress hereby finds and declares that the sex education curriculum has been wrongly denied of pursuing a thorough course in order for high schoolers to achieve a better understanding of anything sex related. Sex education, or sex ed, is an instructional course built to instruct issues relating to human sexualiy, sexual anotomy, sexual reproduction, sexual activity, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, and contraceptives. Out of the 50 states in the U.S, only 18 of them are required by law to include a sexual education course available in all high schools. Of the 18 states that are required sex ed however, their curriculum differs. In some states such as Utah, youths learn about sexual education, STD’s, and abstinence until marriage, but are not provided information about contraception. In other states like Washington, teens receive information ranging from homosexuality to contraception methods. States like Utah that promote ‘abstinence-only’ sexual education courses are less effective than those like Washington, where a more in-depth sex ed course showed evidence of no encouragement of sexual activity. Washington used the comprehensive sex education program. The method that Utah used, “Abstinence-only” or “Just Say No” teachings, in spite of the fact that it educates youth on how to reject sexual advances, promote self-sufficiency, instruct the psychological health of youths who have had sex, etc. are biased and prejudiced. This bill will lower the teen ...
In the US, controversy over what message should be given to children has disadvantaged sex education programs in s...
Sex education materials for children more often serve to confuse than to inform. These materials generally present females as passive and males as active. The books describe heterosexual norms while ignoring the existence of homosexuality and bisexuality. Many books describe sexual intercourse as existing for the purpose of procreation only. Pictures and descriptions of this sex act more often mystify than inform. Finally, these materials target young children and assume that these children are incapable of understanding most elements of sex. Children can often understand far more than they are given credit for. Most materials offer descriptions of sexual intercourse as an act devoid of passion involving an active male partner and a passive female partner.
encompasses sexual development, reproductive health, interpersonal relationships, affection, intimacy, body image, and gender roles.” Sex education discusses important aspects of reproduction, sexuality, and just growing up in general in a physical and emotional sense. One would have to wonder though; does sex education actually serve its purpose? Does it enlighten teens enough about sex and the consequences, to the point where you can actually tell the difference between those who are sexually educated and those who are not? According to a study done bye Coyle (1999) sex education no matter where, at home or in school, and no matter the program does indeed help decrease the amount of teens having unsafe sex. Based on information from that same study about 3 million teenagers a year get an STD, and roughly 10% of adolescent females ages 15-19 get pregnant every year unintentionally. In an article from The Alan Guttmacher Institute (1999) there has been a 20% drop in female pregnancies between n 1990 and 1997 and the drop has continued, they have stated that the reason for this i...
I chose to reflect on the essay, Sex Ed by Anna Quindlen promoting the importance of sex education and how immensely beneficial it can be to teen students. More than a million teenagers become pregnant annually. The United States has more than double the teenage pregnancy rate of any western industrialized country. In addition, teenagers have apical rates of sexually transmitted diseases of any age association. In point of fact, one in four young people acquire an STD by the age of 21. Sex education is a very important subject in today's society, its mere absence in my educational and social progression utterly affected me and my peers in adolescent years.
When it comes to deciding on whether sexual education should be taught in public schools, there is always a disagreement. The disagreement comes from the students’ parents who have very different opinions which may end up clashing. Should sexual education be taught in public schools, and should sexual education courses taught be abstinence-only? “Despite statistics that demonstrate a high level of sexual activity and risk-taking behavior among U.S. teens, Congress has allocated well over half a billion dollars since 1997 for educational programs that focus on helping young people make responsible, healthy, and safe decisions about sexual activity.” (American Civil Liberties Union). Some feel that it is a good idea, and others feel as though
Many parents and teachers are against teaching sex education to students because they think it should be taught from home and also they believe this will only encourage teenagers to engage in sex. It is said that instead of continuing with the promotion of safe sex, why schools don’t just offer teenagers sex education on abstinence and the importance of abstinence. Some parents believe the most secure option to prevent teen pregnancies and STD's is by abstinence. The question is "why don’t schools start by promoting that?" My answer to that question is because society shows that sex is good, it's pleasurable and acceptable. Teenagers lack the knowledge to make w...
Sex among teenagers is one of the most controversial topics of our time. The teen pregnancy and STD rates in the United States alone have become a major problem over the years. Despite these skyrocketing sex cases, sexual education is not being taught in some schools, and the ones that do are extremely limited. Parents, the government, organizations, and school boards do not teach the proper curriculum necessary for students to thoroughly understand sexual behavior. This essay will explain the need for proper sexual education in our schools.
I feel that it is very important to incorporate sexual education into the public school districts. Many of our youth, are becoming more aware of their sexuality at early ages. With our adolescents maturing physically quicker than the generations before them, but remaining mentally immature. It is our job, as parents and teachers to work together in order to enlighten our next generation of world leaders, child care workers, teachers, parents, etc in the importance of sex and protection against unwanted pregnancy and STDs.
Over the years the topic has gone through various changes in the public school system. The first generation taught sexual anatomy and the risk of pregnancy, but soon was criticized for not showing knowledge of reducing risky sexual behavior, which soon lead to the second generation (Rodriguez, 1). The second generation approached sexual communication, values, and making personal decisions in one’s life; although students made smarter decisions in the areas taught, it failed to introduce teens to all contraceptives, therefore risky behavior was still being shown. Following the failure of the second generation the program of “abstinence only” began. The problem with this was it not only made students aware of the contraception available to the children, therefore encouraging risky behavior. The most current generation, the practice being taught in schools today, is known as “comprehensive sexuality education”; it not only encourages young adult...
Sex education in our schools has been a hot topic of debate for decades. The main point in question has been whether to utilize comprehensive sex education or abstinence-only curriculum to educate our youth. The popularity of abstinence-only curriculum over the last couple of decades has grown largely due to the United States government passing a law to give funding to states that teach the abstinence-only approach to sex education. But not teaching our children about sex and sexuality is not giving them the information they need to make well educated decisions. Sex education in our schools should teach more than just abstinence-only because these programs are not proven to prevent teens from having sex. Children need to be educated on how to prevent contracting sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies and be given the knowledge to understand the changes to their bodies during puberty. According to the Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Kindergarten-12th Grade from the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), comprehensive sex education “should be appropriate to age, developmental level, and cultural background of students and respect the diversity of values and beliefs represented in the community” (SIECUS).
High school years are generally the years people talk about when reminiscing. Many things happen in high school that are a milestone in a teenager’s life. Their first varsity basketball game, getting a class ring, and even maybe their first love. Along with their first love comes the topic, pressure, and even attraction, to sexual behavior. It is an inevitable feeling that all teenagers will feel at one point in time. With media today forcing sex in almost everything, adolescent sex is becoming a bigger problem. How it is handled on the other hand is a completely different topic. Parents are not educating their teens on sexual behavior and the consequences are not to be preferred. On the other hand, schools do not want the responsibility but are forced to take matters into their own hands by teaching abstinence only so that they are not blamed for risks of premarital sex such as AIDS, pregnancy, or STDs. Comprehension teaches kids about safe sex and the proper safety and precautions to take if sex is desired, whereas “abstinence-only programs are inaccurate, ineffective, and may even cause harm” (Advocates for Youth). Ones who believe abstinence only is the route to take must consider the ramifications of teenagers being poorly informed about sexual education.
Sex education is a wide topic that carries the knowledge about all issues and activities that are associated with sex. Among the sexual activities that form crucial par in sex education, include the reproduction process, the conjugal act, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, the utilization of contraceptives among other issues (Rosen, Nancy and Scott 6). Sex education is among the critical issues that that attracts debates in not only homes but also in schools. In the modern times, sex education has become more controversial, with various people and organizations staging debates as to whether it should feature in public schools for study purposes (Gilbert 138). Various individuals and organizations disagree when it comes to debate about the sex education issue.