Sex Education in USA High schools

Background

Essentially? teens need to learn about sex at some point in their lives. The questions being debated remains whether information should come from their parent or from a qualified professional at school. Some parents feel as though they cannot approach their children about this topic? never mind teach them the details about sexual relationships? so they leave the task up to the schools and there is nothing wrong with that. Sex education should be taught in high schools? as well as in the earlier years of education. Sex education can teach people of all ages the consequences and responsibilities of engaging in sexual activities. Most students are taught about six main subjects in a sex education class? which are: human development? relationships? personal skills? sexual behavior? and sexual health and society and culture. (www.advocatesforyouth.org) The content of each matter should depend on the age and maturity level of the students learning the material? as well as the community. The subject of human development would refer to the anatomy of the reproductive system? in both boys and girls. Puberty? also? should be discussed in sex education courses. The topic that should most be discussed about is sexual abuse? which? unfortunately? is very common in the world today. This issue should be talked about at every age level? starting during the early years of a child and carried on through to adulthood. As everyone knows? sexual abuse could happen to anyone of any age? especially if students are not taught that it is wrong for another person to do what is not wanted. (www.advocates foryouth.org)

Many people believe that sex education is not effective? however this cannot be further from the truth. For example? studies have shown that sex education is more effective than abstinence-only education; sex education tends to delay sexual intercourse and sex education increases the use of condoms and other contraceptives (Planned Parenthood? 2002). Another study? conducted by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy? shows that these programs do not increase sexual intercourse. The assessment of twenty-five studies of sex education and HIV programs that discuss the use of condoms found that some delay the initiation of sex. At least three of the programs actually decreased the occurrence of sexual intercourse. Sex education programs do not enhance the number of teen's sexual partners. Three of these showed a significant decrease in the number of new ...