Should Sex Education Be Taught in School

In society today, there are many controversial issues about whether sex education should be taught
in school. Sex education are instructions on issues relating to human sexuality, including human
sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations,
reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, birth control, and other aspects of human sexual
behavior (www.news.yahoo.com). Often parents do not agree about their kids learning about sex
education in school. Every child who attends a public school should be taught about sex education in
some form.

There are two types of sex education that are taught in schools in the United States, abstinence plus
and abstinence only. Abstinence plus, also known as comprehensive covers abstinence as a positive
choice, but also teaches about contraception and avoidance of STIs when sexually active. Abstinence-
only tells teenagers that they should be sexually abstinent until marriage and does not provide
information about contraception. In school, the instructor explains each concept about sex and may
also demonstrate procedures (www.dailymail.co.uk)

Sex education is about more than just keeping kids from having babies before they are ready or
getting STDs, it is also about making sure they understand the emotional and psychological pitfalls of
sex, and how these can affect them. If kids are learning about sex education in school it could
decrease the chance of teenage pregnancy and also STDs. By discussing sex education in school
kids will learn about condoms.

They will get information about what they are, how they are used, and how they prevent pregnancies,
but not STDs. They will also learn about the different types of birth controls and how it works and
where they can get it. Whether it is safe sex practices or even abstinence, all of these issues must be
dealt with in an educational setting, because when we look at the teen pregnancy rates, sexually
transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, it only makes sense to have as much education as
possible.

Studies have shown that when kids are given comprehensive sex education in school, the rates for
teens getting pregnant or contracting STDs goes down. The U.S. teen pregnancy rate declined
continuously due to sex education. The decline was more pronounced in younger teens. The
pregnancy rates for teens ages 15 to 17 declined by almost one-half from 2000 to 2011, while the rate
for older teenagers declined by one-third over this time period (www.news.yahoo.com).

Many parents believe that sex education should not be taught in schools because they believe that it
is their choice and place to teach their own kids. Though parents feel as if it is their place to inform
their kids on sex education some may not be responsible enough to sit down and talk about sex with
their kids. Too many parents live in denial about their kids having sex also. The fact that it is okay for
kids to go to school and learn math, science, history, and other numerous subjects, but yet get mighty
with righteous indignation when biology is taken a step further to focus on sex is unacceptable.

In conclusion, schools should be able to teach kids about sex education. Informing them about sex is
best so they will at least have knowledge about the factor. Everyone should want to help the children
and sex education is one way not to hinder them by the lack of knowledge. In order to equip the
children for tomorrow, sex needs to be dealt with in a smart, productive and educational setting by
professionals.

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