October 27, 2022

Dear Editor,

I’m reaching out to advocate for the extension of sexual education in schools. This is a

curriculum that should reach all school districts and consider a variety of ages and developmental

levels. As a local public-school graduate, I have had the opportunity to sit in on these classes

from a high school students perspective. However, looking back on this experience as an adult, I

can’t help but notice the lack of education on certain topics.

In many cases, there is no sexual education offered to students until they reach high

school, but children can benefit from being introduced to some information when they’re much

younger. Elementary and middle school students should be given the opportunity to learn about

situations that can soon affect them, such as menstrual cycles and puberty. Children of this age

should also learn what sexual abuse is, how to recognize it, and how to report it. Unfortunately,

many sexual abuse victims are young and don’t realize these actions are wrong or are too scared

to tell anyone about it. Bringing attention to this is extremely important and can help many kids

get help if it is needed.

Continuing, sexual education programs typically only promote abstinence. While

abstinence is ideal for high school students and is important to touch on, the reality is that many

high schoolers are beginning to experiment with sex and developing boundaries. With this in

mind, sexual education should also aim to highlight topics such as safe sex practices, consent,

STI transmission, and teen pregnancy. Implementing the extension of education past abstinence

can help many students and, potentially, lower teen pregnancy rates. Resources and support

groups should also be offered to those taking these classes.

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Equipping school districts with these new practices and offering education to younger

students can change the way we all view sex and break the stigma surrounding it. Thank you for

taking the time to read this. I hope that the extension of sex education in schools is just as

important to others as it is to me.

Sincerely,

A Concerned YSU Nursing Student