Persuasive Essay On Sex Education

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In the U.S., more than 750,000 girls ages 15-19 become pregnant every year. More than 80 percent of these are unintended pregnancies. (Lorrie) Sex education and how it should be taught has been a controversial issue for many years. This is such a hot topic because everyone wants to find the best method to teach sex education so that children will be well informed and able to take care of their bodies and health. The need to teach children sex education will continue to be an ongoing issue and is not something that cannot be ignored. Educating students on sex education in school will ensure students are receiving correct accurate information.
Many groups are opposed to sex education being taught in schools. Some of these include parents, school officials, policy makers and religious leaders. There are several different views surrounding the issue of sex education in school.
One of the most popular views comes from a moral standpoint, from this stance it is suggested that abstinence only programs are the best and most morally correct way of educating students about sex. In the early eighties the Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) was put into the action, it was also known as “The Chastity Act.” “AFLA focuses on developing programs that promote abstinence as the only option to help young people avoid sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS and teen pregnancy.” (Perrin and DeJoy 446-47). AFLA caused a lot of controversy over whether this was the best way to educate children about sex. Those opposed to AFLA argue that this method of sex education offers no safe alternative to having sex and is not actually educating students on sex. It is only focused on encouraging students to refrain from sexual activity.
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...e has their own personal opinions in which they are entitled to, but that doesn’t mean that we should turn our backs on our youth because we are afraid or prefer to avoid talking about sex. As a society we need to stop viewing sex as a something negative or wrong and start educating ourselves on safe sex practices. It is our responsibility as a society to help guide our children, not to stand by and watch them destroy their futures. Even if certain religious beliefs teach not having sex prior to marriage it is still wise be educated on the facts. Knowledge is power and being taught sex education could prevent adolescents from being blindsided with an unwanted pregnancy or a disease they didn’t even know existed. It all comes down to choice in the end and we must stand up and unite on the issue of teaching safe sex to our youth, in order to ensure a better future.

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