Abstinence And Sexual Education Programs

Every year, 1 in 4 teenagers will contract a sexually transmitted disease, 3 in 10 girls will get pregnant, and 1 in 5 of those sexually active teens will develop mental illnesses. Abstinence and sexual education programs spend time and money each year trying to educate teens and warn them about the dangers of premarital sex. What we want to know is which is more effective- preaching that sexual activity before marriage in every situation is wrong or teaching about the dangers of sex and how to prevent the consequences that may follow. Though sexual education programs are a good way to educate the youth of America, complete abstinence from sexual activity until marriage is the most effective way to prevent teen pregnancy and other unwanted

“Teens are confused by messages that are non-directive about risk-taking and optimal health” (Abstinence Is The Best Policy). Sex Ed programs are confusing young adults and are not being clear about the dangers of teens having sex. “Early sexual activity is associated with an increased risk of STDs, reduced psychological and emotional well-being, lower academic achievement, teen pregnancy, and out-of-wedlock childbearing” (Abstinence Education Programs). Sexual activity at a young age is resulting in so many unwanted situations and a clear message about abstinence could be the best preventative measure to take. Preaching abstinence will not only educate the youth about consequences of sexual activity but also give a clear message about what would happen if they were in that

Opposing Viewpoints says, “The message communicated to teenagers is that we adults recognize them as maturing individuals who are learning to take responsibility for themselves and that we will not treat them as though they lack the ability to reason on their own.” This is not necessarily correct because parents and educators that preach abstinence understand that teens can take responsibility for their own actions. They do not intend to control their lives but they do have the adolescent's best interest at heart. An educator at an all girls school met with his class after an abstinence-only adult came to speak to them. “By the time they came to my class, they were ready to kill the messenger- and her messages” (Abstinence Wars). This doesn’t always have to be the case. Most adults can have an open discussion about abstinence while respecting teenagers and their authority over their own