hope for our future
by hailee richman
(just say no? does it really work?)
One of the most important issues of today is sex education and teen pregnancy rates. Over half of the states in America teach abstinence only sex education to their teens. Of those teens, 70 percent have engaged in oral sex by the time they reach 18, and over 45 percent have had intercourse at least once. By definition, abstinence only works when teens are not sexually active without exception. As mentioned earlier, more than 45 percent of teens in the United States have not abstained from sex. This being the case, abstinence only sex education does not get through to every teenager and something needs to change. Most teachers believe that topics such as birth control methods, the correct way to use condoms, and sexual orientation should be taught by the end of twelfth grade. These topics are currently being taught less often and later than teachers think they should be. Nine in ten teachers believe that students should be taught about contraception, but one in four are prohibited from doing so, and one in five teachers believe that restrictions on sex education are preventing them from meeting their students’ needs. (“Facts on Sex Education”).
A lot of people disagree with comprehensive sex education for multiple reasons. Some believe it encourages teens to become sexually active, some believe contraceptives do not prevent pregnancies and STDs, and to some it is a moral issue. In a Human and Health Services report on comprehensive sex education, Valerie Huber, Executive Director of National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA), said, "Although they receive ten times the amount of government money as abstinence programs, so-called 'comprehensive sex education' has not been proven to delay teen sex, the predominant message encourages sexual activity. The message of abstinence is virtually non-existent."
A lot of people disagree with comprehensive sex education for multiple reasons. Some believe it encourages teens to become sexually active, some believe contraceptives do not prevent pregnancies and STDs, and to some it is a moral issue. In a Human and Health Services report on comprehensive sex education, Valerie Huber, Executive Director of National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA), said, "Although they receive ten times the amount of government money as abstinence programs, so-called 'comprehensive sex education' has not been proven to delay teen sex, the predominant message encourages sexual activity. The message of abstinence is virtually non-existent."
(a good example of parents who are involved in their childs sex education)
According to a survey by The Heritage Foundation, the majority of parents and teachers do not agree with comprehensive or abstinence plus programs. They say that comprehensive sex education programs are nothing more than standard safe sex programs wrapped in a new label, that the brief message in comprehensive sex education curricula is weak and misleading. They also say that comprehensive sex education doesn’t present as a standard that teens should pursue, but that it is a minor option teens can consider. Basically that, through repeated example, it is okay for teens to have sex as long as they use contraception. Participants in this survey agree that comprehensive sex education programs contain sexually explicit material that is offensive. Such as practicing unrolling condoms on bananas, discussions of anal sex and homosexual role-playing, and that they encourage teens to practice mutual masturbation and watch erotic movies (Rector, par. 10-15). While some views and opinions that disagree with comprehensive sex education are valid, most of them misrepresent the approach. It is understandable how some people would believe that the comprehensive approach encourages teens to have sex, because it informs them about condoms and birth control and every way to have sex without the consequences. But in reality it teaches teens that they should abstain from sex until they are physically and emotionally ready, but when they do decide they are ready, it teaches them how to be safe. People with a comprehensive standpoint understand that a lot of teens will have sex before marriage no matter what you tell them, so they want their kids to have knowledge on the subject.
(the comparison of what teachers want to teach and what they are allowed to teach)
No research has found that an abstinence only program helps teens delay the start of sexual activity, or helps them to protect themselves when they do become sexually active. In fact, the most recent national data (2005), shows that the increasing emphasis on abstinence only sex education is directly correlated to the teenage pregnancy and birth rates. This data shows that abstinence-only education as a state policy is ineffective in preventing teenage pregnancy and may actually be contributing to the high teenage pregnancy rates in the U.S. (Stanger-Hall, Kathrin and Hall, David W.). There are some things being done to stop abstinence only programs, but it’s just the start, more needs to be done if it is going to be removed. For example, President Obama’s 2010 budget did not renew the Title V program, which is a big part of the abstinence only budget. The government has spent over a billion dollars to support abstinence only programs for the past decade. Although the government does not acknowledge it, teenagers have a human right to accurate and comprehensive sexual health information (McKeon, par. 1). The good news is that even if Congress decides to keep funding the program, experts expect the industry to shrink significantly (Kliff, par. 8).
A lot of parents and politicians believe that comprehensive sex education encourages teenagers to start having sex at younger ages, this is very far from the truth. It is effective at helping young people make healthy decisions about sex and to adopt healthy sexual behaviors at a younger age. Research has shown highly effective sex education and STD prevention programs that have positive outcomes. These have included delaying the start of sex as well as reducing the frequency of it, the number of new partners, and the rate of unprotected sex. In a study that was done, most American adults supported a comprehensive sex education approach. In fact, 89% believed that is it important for young people to have information about contraception and prevention of STDs and that sex education should focus on how to avoid these things. (McKeon, par. 4)
A lot of parents and politicians believe that comprehensive sex education encourages teenagers to start having sex at younger ages, this is very far from the truth. It is effective at helping young people make healthy decisions about sex and to adopt healthy sexual behaviors at a younger age. Research has shown highly effective sex education and STD prevention programs that have positive outcomes. These have included delaying the start of sex as well as reducing the frequency of it, the number of new partners, and the rate of unprotected sex. In a study that was done, most American adults supported a comprehensive sex education approach. In fact, 89% believed that is it important for young people to have information about contraception and prevention of STDs and that sex education should focus on how to avoid these things. (McKeon, par. 4)
(it might make more sense to teach kids how to use birth control)
According to an article “Effective Sex Education,” by Brigid McKeon, there are ten characteristics of an effective sex education program. A few of them are that it should offer age and culturally appropriate sexual health information in a safe environment, assist youth to clarify their individual, family, and community values, and help youth develop skills in communication, refusal, and negotiation. A comprehensive sex education approach values all of these characteristics, while an abstinence only approach touches base on a few of them, but not on some of the most important ones (McKeon, par. 5).
It has been said that abstinence only sex education has caused a lot of problems in today’s society. It has been proven that it has made the rate of sexually active teenagers go up, as well as the rate of teenage pregnancies, simply because they did not learn how to protect themselves from unplanned pregnancy in their abstinence only course (Stanger-Hall, Kathrin and Hall, David W.). Unplanned pregnancy affects more than just the teen mom’s life; it affects the child’s life as well as society. At two years old, children born as the result of an unplanned pregnancy have significantly lower test scores when compared to children born as the result of an intended pregnancy. It is commonly known that most children from an unplanned pregnancy are born to single women. Children born to single parents are more likely to be poor, drop out of high school, and have lower grade-point averages and lower college aspirations. These children will grow up and present a dent in society, and will not have much to contribute. Also, if couples are together due to an unplanned pregnancy, they tend to be less happy with their lives and have more conflict in their relationships compared to similar women and men who have planned births (“Unplanned Pregnancy”). Some teen pregnancies do end well, they get help and support from their parents and try as hard as they can to support and teach their children. It is possible for them to raise a healthy, intelligent, and well-mannered child, but while it is possible it is also very hard and does not happen on most occasions.
Abstinence only sex education needs to come to a stop if we want our future to be full of health, well informed responsible people. It is on its way there, but there is still work to be done to stop it completely. Schools are slowly changing their criteria to meet the views of a comprehensive approach. There will always be abstinence only advocates, but America is headed in the right direction. It is headed to a comprehensive or abstinence plus sex education world, where teens learn the importance of abstaining from sex, how to protect themselves using contraceptives and condoms, and contribute to a healthy society.
It has been said that abstinence only sex education has caused a lot of problems in today’s society. It has been proven that it has made the rate of sexually active teenagers go up, as well as the rate of teenage pregnancies, simply because they did not learn how to protect themselves from unplanned pregnancy in their abstinence only course (Stanger-Hall, Kathrin and Hall, David W.). Unplanned pregnancy affects more than just the teen mom’s life; it affects the child’s life as well as society. At two years old, children born as the result of an unplanned pregnancy have significantly lower test scores when compared to children born as the result of an intended pregnancy. It is commonly known that most children from an unplanned pregnancy are born to single women. Children born to single parents are more likely to be poor, drop out of high school, and have lower grade-point averages and lower college aspirations. These children will grow up and present a dent in society, and will not have much to contribute. Also, if couples are together due to an unplanned pregnancy, they tend to be less happy with their lives and have more conflict in their relationships compared to similar women and men who have planned births (“Unplanned Pregnancy”). Some teen pregnancies do end well, they get help and support from their parents and try as hard as they can to support and teach their children. It is possible for them to raise a healthy, intelligent, and well-mannered child, but while it is possible it is also very hard and does not happen on most occasions.
Abstinence only sex education needs to come to a stop if we want our future to be full of health, well informed responsible people. It is on its way there, but there is still work to be done to stop it completely. Schools are slowly changing their criteria to meet the views of a comprehensive approach. There will always be abstinence only advocates, but America is headed in the right direction. It is headed to a comprehensive or abstinence plus sex education world, where teens learn the importance of abstaining from sex, how to protect themselves using contraceptives and condoms, and contribute to a healthy society.