Sex Education in Public Schools Essay Example for Free

Sex Education in Public Schools Essay Sex education should be taught in public middle schools because: it decreases the chance of sexual diseases and teenage pregnancies, it is needed in case of a parents’ absence or neglect, and it also provides more knowledge about how sex works while debunking the myths surrounding sexual intercourse, and it makes some want to set goals for relationships. People say sex education encourages youth to engage in sexual activities rather than preventing sex. This is true; however, studies show that when youth are taught about sexual education, they are more likely to make better decisions. Sexual education should be taught in middle school because it is around this time that youth become sexually aware. Teaching them in middle school will better prepare them for the peer pressures and temptations that they will encounter in high school. I mean, how do we say that it is OK for schools to teach our children about math, science, history, and numerous other subjects, yet get high and mighty with righteous indignation when biology is taken a step further to focus on sex? Most students reach puberty around middle school ages, it is important to give them a solid base for them to make smart decisions before they become sexually active. Preparing them to make better decisions will lower STD and teen pregnancy rates. Whether its safe sex practices or even abstinence, all of these issues must be dealt with in an educational setting, because when we look at teen pregnancy rates, sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, it only makes sense to have as much education as possible. This allows them to make more informed choices about engaging in sexual intercourse. The youth do not always consider the consequences of having sex, but with well educated instructors informing them, they can learn the dangers that come with having sex. If someone has no prior information about STD’s and they engage in sexual intercourse, they not only put themselves at risk but their partner is also at risk. The education provided by this program will help students be more aware of life threatening and life changing risks. Some say that the education of sex invokes students to engage in sex. However, stats say otherwise. Research shows that in a survey conducted, only about seventeen percent of the respondents answered that sex education encourages them to do â€Å"it† and the remaining eighty-three percent strongly disagreed. Sex education isn’t encouraging students to have intercourse, but rather it is teaching them how to stay safe. Should kids their age be having sex? No. However, kids are kids. They will do as they please. By teaching them safely to â€Å"do it† they will at least avoid any unnecessary risks involved in making such a grown-up and mature decision. Because many view sex as a taboo outside of marriage, they do not wish for it to be taught at all, especially to youth. However as I have stated before sex education does not encourage people to have sex but make better decisions when the time does come. Regardless of personal beliefs it is important that they understand the risks and benefits of sex. If the parents believe that the child should abstain from sex then this gives them a chance to talk about it with their child and why they believe so. Another important point to consider is the youth who do not have a particular adult to confide and ask about these feelings and urges they are experiencing. Parents do not talk about this subject to their children because either they are too busy with their daily life, don’t know how to talk about it, or they may feel uncomfortable. Therefore, sex education should be taught to them so that they would learn it from an educated and responsible adult instead of learning it from the media or their friends. Students aren’t getting the information that they need from the right places. Talking to friends or learning from social media is not the best way to learn about important topics such as sex. Many students don’t know how to prevent catching an STD because the information is not available in school. There will always be peers who will badly influence others. That is why sex education should be implemented in schools so the youth have a reliable non-biased adult to guide them into their own adulthood and are not just basing it off misconceptions. Myths and misconceptions play a big role in why youth engage in sex without considering the effects it can have. Many believe sex is an all access enjoyment activity because of the influence from outside sources like music, movies, and television. However, I state again, that with proper knowledge from both the pros and cons of engaging in sexual activity better choices can be made that will potentially save lives of many young people today and saving them the embarrassment of contracting an STD. When talking about sex, students are often embarrassed to open up about how they feel about it or what they know about it. Some adults say sex is a personal topic and should only be discussed with close family or close friends, therefore eliminates a class for sex education. Kids nowadays feel that to be a virgin is â€Å"not cool. † If you haven’t had sex by the time you are a sophomore, and if people find out about it, you lose popularity. However, what we need to emphasize is that being safe is more important than being popular. Some say that we should not teach sex education, but we should teach abstinence. Abstinence is such an unreasonable thing to teach kids. It’s just not going to happen. Too many people live in denial about their children having sex. People are crazy if they want to encourage parents to opt out of sex education and making it more about abstinence and nothing else. Why can’t both take place? Abstinence is definitely the safest of all safe sex measures, but there is also a point where we have to accept reality. If you were to talk to teachers and administrators, they will tell you that students as young as middle school are engaging in oral sex. Most say that oral sex isn’t really sex. However, anyone with half a brain knows that to be the case. In conclusion, if sex education was taught in public middle schools, these situations could be prevented. The teen pregnancy rates would be lowered along with the STD rates. Students would be provided with the information they need to prevent getting an STD or getting pregnant at such a young age. They would also learn about many different places they can turn to for information or help with any situation they got themselves into. If sex education was being taught, they could open up to their parents about it and receive information from someone they know and are comfortable talking to. I think the school board should put sex education into public middle schools so the students have the information available to them and to prevent higher pregnancy and STD rates.