The Necessities of Comprehensive Sexual Education
Gray 1
Matthew Gray
Mrs. Geidel
AP Comp.
18 October 2012
The Necessities of Comprehensive Sexual Education Teenagers in many schools are lacking imperative education, and not necessarily the sort of education that one may refer to as routine curriculum such as math or reading. This much needed education revolves around the ever so prominent existence of sexuality among high school teenagers. Although this education is much needed, there has been a substantial amount of controversy regarding the subject of comprehensive sexual programs. Should high school students be educated or should they be blind sighted by the thought of abstinence? This is a question that faces many parents and school officials with the increase of teenagers becoming sexually active. Comprehensive curriculums incorporate a variety of topics ranging from teen pregnancy to abstinence. The other option is to incorporate abstinence-only programs which encourage students to abstain from sexual intercourse and shield them from the reality of sex. Comprehensive sexual education should be condoned in schools, rather than the alternate abstinence-only course because comprehensive sexual education teaches students how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancies, increase the awareness of contraceptives, and fortify the responsibility of sexually active teens. Comprehensive sexual education programs provide constructive information about preventing STDs and teenage pregnancies. 90% of parents believe that sexual education programs should be required in schools and should emphasize topics such as STDs and pregnancy (Wirthman para. 37). It is evident by these astounding percentages that it is essential for teenagers to know about these so-called “revealing” topics, not only for health and prevention, but for future aid and knowledge. Students that are enrolled in sex education courses, that only provide knowledge about abstinence, are not taught about how STDs are
Matthew Gray
Mrs. Geidel
AP Comp.
18 October 2012
The Necessities of Comprehensive Sexual Education Teenagers in many schools are lacking imperative education, and not necessarily the sort of education that one may refer to as routine curriculum such as math or reading. This much needed education revolves around the ever so prominent existence of sexuality among high school teenagers. Although this education is much needed, there has been a substantial amount of controversy regarding the subject of comprehensive sexual programs. Should high school students be educated or should they be blind sighted by the thought of abstinence? This is a question that faces many parents and school officials with the increase of teenagers becoming sexually active. Comprehensive curriculums incorporate a variety of topics ranging from teen pregnancy to abstinence. The other option is to incorporate abstinence-only programs which encourage students to abstain from sexual intercourse and shield them from the reality of sex. Comprehensive sexual education should be condoned in schools, rather than the alternate abstinence-only course because comprehensive sexual education teaches students how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancies, increase the awareness of contraceptives, and fortify the responsibility of sexually active teens. Comprehensive sexual education programs provide constructive information about preventing STDs and teenage pregnancies. 90% of parents believe that sexual education programs should be required in schools and should emphasize topics such as STDs and pregnancy (Wirthman para. 37). It is evident by these astounding percentages that it is essential for teenagers to know about these so-called “revealing” topics, not only for health and prevention, but for future aid and knowledge. Students that are enrolled in sex education courses, that only provide knowledge about abstinence, are not taught about how STDs are
Cited: Graham, Kristen A. “Groups: Schools Should Provide Free Condoms.” Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA). 11 Jun 2008: B.1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 26 Sep 2012. . Neergaard, Lauran. “More Teens Using Condoms over Past Two Decades.” Green Bay News Chronicle. 24 Jul 2012: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 20 Sep 2012. . ProQuest Staff. “At Issue: Access to Contraception.” ProQuest LLC. 2012: n.pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 26 Sep 2012. . --- “At Issue: Teenage Pregnancy.” ProQuest LLC. 2012: n.pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 24 Sep 2012. . “Sensible Sex Education.” McClatchy Newspapers. 11 Apr 2012: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 02 Oct 2012. . Watanabe, Teresa. “Suit Targets Abstinence-Only Courses.” Los Angeles Times. 22 Aug 2012: AA.2. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 20 Sep 2012. . Wirthman, Lisa. “Abstinence vs. Sex Education.” Denver Post. 08 Jul 2012: D.6. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 24 Sep 2012. .