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The Sex Education Debate

            Everyone has an opinion about sexuality education. From opinionated parents at local PTA meetings to state governors who must choose the best way to apply federal funding to the programs teaching it. The sex education debate in America takes on special relevance because sex and its related health implications are a reality in the lives of many young people. The two most popular methods used in schools in the United States are abstinence education and comprehensive sex education. And, while the federal government continuously funds programs that suggest refraining from sex until marriage, there has been no research to confirm the program's effectiveness.
             The mission of abstinence education is that children and teenagers avoid engaging in sexual activities altogether. In 1996, the United States government passed a law giving funding to states offering programs that support this approach in public schools. Schools receiving these funds must teach students that they should "just say no" to sex and are not allowed to teach about safe sex. They encourage students to develop a strong sense of self and to avoid the negative consequences that might result from sexual activity completely.
             Advocates for abstinence-only programs believe that they help youth avoid the emotional damages of sex. The late Robert Rector, from the Heritage Foundation, was an expert on many social issues including poverty and inequality as well as marriage and family. In his article, "The Effectiveness of Abstinence Education Programs in Reducing Sexual Activity among Youth", he states, "Sexual relationships among teenagers are fleeting and unstable, and broken intimate relationships can have serious long-term developmental effects." These supporters are concerned that teens who are involved in sexual activity early on will have trouble maintaining relationships later on in life. However, the mere acknowledgment that teens could be participating in sex speaks for itself.


Essays Related to The Sex Education Debate

1. Abstinence and Sex Education in the Classroom

In many schools today there is a big debate over sexual education courses (sex-ed) and how they should be taught. ... Having a proper sexual education course can steer young students into making better and smarter choices about sex in their future. A viable article, Sex Education Programs: Definitions & Point-by-Point Comparison, highlighting the key points of comprehensive sexual education states abstinence only courses usually censors information regarding contraception, unwanted pregnancies, and sexually transmitted diseases (Alford, "Sex Education Programs"). ... This article als...

  • Word Count: 1440
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. sex education in the classroom

Sex Education and the Classroom In today's society there is an on going debate over sex education and its influence on our children. "The question is no longer should sex education be taught, but rather how it should be taught" (DeCarlo). ... Sex education can help children to cope with the many changes caused by the onset of puberty. ... The feeling that sex education classes are influencing teenagers to have sex is a feeling that is shared by William Kilpatrick. ... The information that sex education provides teenagers are indispensable. ...

  • Word Count: 1695
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

3. The Ineffectiveness of Abstinence Programs

The issue of sex education in schools has been a debate among parents, school administrators, health officials, and religious organizations for years. ... Abstinence-only sex education persuades teens to wait until marriage before having sex, but totally ignores all other aspects of comprehensive sexual education, like safe sex and the use of contraceptives and birth control ("Truth About Abstinence-Only Programs," n.d.). ... Today, sexual education is mandatory in public schools in 22 of the 50 states in the U.S., including the District of Columbia (D.C) (State Policies on Sex Education in Sc...

  • Word Count: 1602
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. Sex education

Why should sex education be taught to children? ... Thus, because of the openness quality of sex education in schools, most of the programs related to sex education are usually conducted in schools. Although there are also programs that are geared towards parents as informers of sex education to their children the significance of sex education can be individualistic and social. ... Importance of School in Teaching Sex Education Schools possibly are far more powerful institutions than families because they provide a neutral ground wherein sex education can be taught in an educational and ob...

  • Word Count: 2394
  • Approx Pages: 10

5. Common Grounds of Religion and Sex

Religion and Sex Religion plays a powerful role in regulating sexuality and influencing how we view experience sex. Identify a topic related to religion and sex (examples include but are not limited to: celibacy, virginity, sex as sinful, Adam and Eve, procreation, birth control, abortion, etc.). ... One of the most debated topics about sexuality and religion today aside from abortion is virginity. ... With the presidential election looming in the coming months one of the most debated topics by the nominees is abortion. Not only a debated topic in the elections but also among every state and p...

  • Word Count: 3241
  • Approx Pages: 13

6. Why Sex Education Is Right

Sex education is one of the most controversial ongoing debates in the United States. ... All schools should provide sex education to teach children to understand what sex truly means. ... She states, "Sex education programs in schools have been taking away the parents' responsibilities of teaching their children about human sexuality" (Sex Education: Why is it Wrong). ... Sex education will teach teenagers about birth control and how to use it. ... If sex education is not taught in schools, then the media will teach them instead. ...

  • Word Count: 1184
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Sex Education Reality Check

The debate over which method should be used became so controversial, it seemed to have "taken over from abortion as the leading symbolic fight in the culture wars," (Malone/Rodriguez, 2). ... In the absence of proper sex education, young adults look to parents, school, television, and friends for information on sex. ... In addition to the option of abstinence, comprehensive sex education informs teens on premarital sex, pregnancy, abortion, oral/anal sex, contraceptives, masturbation, and safe practices, as well as homosexuality and medical care. ... These are all great skills to a...

  • Word Count: 988
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

8. Sex Education in Public Schools

With teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease rates skyrocketing, proper sex education is needed rather than teaching strictly abstinence. ... This all led up to the production of the "sex education series" pamphlets by the American Medical Association that are still found in schools today("Facts on American Teens' Sources of Information About Sex"). ... The Christian Crusade stated that any sexual education taught in schools was "smut" and "raw sex.... About 46 percent of males and 33 percent of females do not receive formal sexual education or proper ...

  • Word Count: 2898
  • Approx Pages: 12
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

9. sexual education

The question that has always been debated is should sex education be taught in public schools? The reason such debate has arose over the years is because there are many diverse opinions about the topic. ... Therefore, parents must also play a leading role in sex education. ... Distributing condoms in school, is also another aspect of sex education. ... In general, sex education has its pro's and con's. ...

  • Word Count: 791
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

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