The Influence of Sex Education on the Younger Community

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The “talk” about sex has never been a topic many like to discuss with tweens or teens, but it has to be addressed sometime during their lifetimes. Sex is a natural experience that is used for reproduction and the building of an emotional connection. However, many teens engage in pre-marital sex and have no knowledge about protecting themselves. Sex education teaches about human sexuality and how abstinence should be practiced to prevent sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) and unplanned pregnancies. Yet, sex education classes are mostly for those in college. Sex education is not meant to encourage sex, but hopefully steer students into having safe sex or no sex at all. Becoming aware about the consequences of having sex among the tween and teen community needs to be established and understood. If parents have a hard time giving the “talk” about sex, then the subject should be discussed with a trained individual instead of being avoided. Without knowledge teens will explore things without caution. Sources indicate that the argument to allow sex education within public schools, such as middle or high schools, is whether the benefits of learning about sex at an early age will outweigh the risks of experiencing sex without advanced knowledge. Teenagers who learn about sex in school are less likely to have sex at a young age than those who learn from family, friends and the media. Based on a questionnaire conducted by Victoria Bourton, a senior staff nurse, Paediatic Accident and Emergency at St Thomas’ Hospital, students, 16 and 17 years old, knew about the risks of having sex because 75% of the answers about sex were correct. Participants felt that the need for sex education at an earlier age is appropriate and will reduce the urge to ... ... middle of paper ... ...s, 2011. 24-28.Print. Sawyer, Kate. “Sex Education Is The Key To Curbing Teen Sex.” Teen Sex. Olivia Ferguson. Michigan: Greenhaven Press, 2011. 29-39. Print. National Abstinence Education Association. “Comprehensive Sex Education Is Inappropriate And Harmful.” Do Abstinence Programs Work?. Christina Fisanick. Michigan. Greenhaven Press, 2010. 33-42. Print. Bourton, Victoria. “Sex Education In School: Young People’s Views.” Paediatric Nursing. Academic Search Premier, 1 Oct. 2006. Web. 28 Jun. 2014. McAvoy, Paula. “The Aims Of Sex Education: Demoting Autonomy And Promoting Mutuality.” Educational Theory. Academic Search Premier, 1 Oct. 2013. Web. 24 Jun. 2014. Fentahun, Netsanet, et al. “Parents’ Perception, Students’ and Teachers’ Attitude Towards School Sex Education.” Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences. Academic Search Premier, 1 Jul. 2012. Web. 28 Jun. 2014.

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