Horvath 1

Sierra Horvath

ENG 1101

Prof. Dunham

11/12/2020

Should Comprehensive Sexual Education be Taught in Schools?

In this paper, I will be attempting to answer an often controversial topic in public

education; whether or not schools should teach comprehensive sexual education. In many

schools, very limited, if any, comprehensive sexual education is taught. The standard set in

America has mostly been abstinence-based only education. To answer this question, I will be

examining sources from both sides of the issue and answering the question by looking at

anecdotes from teachers, schools, and other researchers. I will also be focusing on statistics

surrounding sexual activity in teens related to the amount of sexual education they were given

and draw conclusions from the data. To better prepare teens for healthier future experiences in

their lives, schools should teach comprehensive sexual education.

"Comprehensive Sex Education Is Inappropriate and Harmful." Do Abstinence Programs Work?,

edited by Christina Fisanick, Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Gale In Context:

Opposing Viewpoints,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010603205/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=8f7

0f07a. Accessed 5 Nov. 2020. Originally published as "Straight From The Source: What

So Called 'Comprehensive' Sex Education Teaches to America's Youth," National

Abstinence Education Association, National Abstinence Education Association, 2007.

This viewpoint essay from “Do Abstinence Programs Work” talks primarily of the negative side

of comprehensive sex education, claiming it to be inappropriate and harmful. The article gives
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examples of curricula from comprehensive sex education and counters why those curriculums

are negative. It also claims that sex education is undermining the role of parents and overall

ineffective. There are many books and periodicals listed for sources making the article seem

more credible. I will use this article to pull examples of the “cons” of the comprehensive sex

education curriculum to counter and strengthen my argument for comprehensive education. I will

also use this article to show the opposing side.

Frohnapfel-Krueger, Lisa. "Comprehensive Sex Education Reduces Teen Pregnancy." Teen

Pregnancy and Parenting, Greenhaven Press, 2010. Current Controversies. Gale In

Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010066235/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=d31

8d4a4. Accessed 5 Nov. 2020. Originally published as "Comprehensive Sex Education:

Research and Results," www.advocatesforyouth.org, 2009.

This article, written by Lisa Frohnapfel-Krueger from Teen Pregnancy and Parenting, talks

primarily of the benefits of comprehensive sex education. The article goes through many

statistics proving the effectiveness of this type of sexual education and background information

about past studies/reports. The article lists all of the sources used and periodicals in which it

gathered and condensed the information. This article can provide statistics and percentages

showing the pros of comprehensive sex education in the argument essay.

Mackler, Carolyn. "Schools Should Emphasize Comprehensive Sex Education." Sex, edited by

Mary E. Williams, Greenhaven Press, 2000. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale In Context:

Opposing Viewpoints,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010162224/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=984
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99502. Accessed 5 Nov. 2020. Originally published as "Sex Ed: How Do We Score?"

Ms., 1999.

This viewpoint essay, written by Carole Mackler, initially from Ms. magazine, begins with

anecdotes from a teacher and some students at Ridgewood high school where comprehensive sex

education is taught. The source then discusses how the majority of schools in America are

abstinence-based only and mention some possible dangers of that type of education. The essay

also interviews some people who work for different nonprofit organizations and members of

important councils on their views around the subject. This article will provide helpful anecdotal

evidence and quotes from highly educated professionals who have credibility on the topic.

Martin, Courtney E. "Abstinence-Only Sex Education Should Not Be Taught in Schools." Birth

Control, edited by Beth Rosenthal, Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale

In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010568220/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=1a5

13fcb. Accessed 5 Nov. 2020. Originally published as "Virgin or Slut: Pick One,"

Alternet, 2007.

This viewpoint essay by author Courtney E Martin from “Birth Control” talks about the cons of

abstinence-only sexual education. This article mentions some statistics about the funding of

specific sex education programs and percentages of sexual activity amongst people regardless of

their education level on the subject. The article has a work cited page for all of the books and

periodicals used to provide the information, and there are quite a lot of sources used, making the

author seem more credible. I would use this to provide more percentages and summaries from

studies to help support the pros of primarily comprehensive-based education.

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The Administration for Children and Families and Department of Health and Human Services.

"Comprehensive Sex Education Does Not Delay Teen Sex." Do Abstinence Programs

Work?, edited by Christina Fisanick, Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Gale In Context:

Opposing Viewpoints,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010603208/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=d93

9f3f1. Accessed 5 Nov. 2020. Originally published as "Review of Comprehensive Sex

Education Curricula," 2007.

This article from The Administration for Children and Families and Department of Health and

Human Services provides information on how comprehensive sex education is not helpful. The

article talks about research questions and the methods used to carry out the study. It goes over

criteria and states the study’s findings in which the majority are against comprehensive sex

education. The fact that the authors are both well-known administrations/departments makes

them very credible and backs up their research well. This article could be used to show the cons

of comprehensive sex education and the opposing viewpoint. From the study, I will be able to

pull statistics that I may be able to contradict to strengthen my argument.