Are Schools Teaching Sex Education in the Wrong Way?
Does Sex Education Prevent or Promote Sexual Activity?
What Kids are Learning about Sex at School
Depending on where your child attends school, he or she may be learning too little or even too much about sex. According to CBC News, a potential new sex-ed curriculum was recently decided against in Ontario, Canada. The curriculum was said to have included instruction in performing certain sexual acts (age 12), same-sex marriage (age 8), and other complex issues. Do you know what is taught about sex in your child's school?
Should Kids be Learning About Sex at School?
Sexual education in schools has long been an issue on both sides of the fence. Some feel it should not be taught in schools, but at home instead. Some feel that it must be taught in schools because some families will not properly educate the children about it. Because of the latter, it usually remains in schools. Many schools do allow parents to opt their children out of such education at certain ages.
Does Education on Abstinence Decrease Pregnancy and Teen Sex?
MedicineNet reports on a new study proving that abstinence-only programs can actually decrease sexual activity and pregnancy in teens. If this is the case, why are many schools still teaching more inclusive sexual education? It's true that many studies indicate that other sex ed programs or a combination of those and abstinence-only education also lower teen pregnancy. But if there is an effective choice between teaching kids how to have sex or not to do it at all, shouldn't we be leaning toward the latter?
Does All-Inclusive Sex Education Promote or Deter Intercourse in Minors?
Picture yourself as a young person considering being sexually active for the first time. Are you going to be more likely to perform the act if someone shows you how or if someone instead teaches why it's better to wait? In fact, Heritage.org points out studies showing that comprehensive sexual education is less effective at reducing sexual activity than is abstinence-only education. The abstinence-only education also increased the use of contraceptives. According to ChristianPost, one-third of the children participating in the abstinence-only education had sex within that two-year timeframe. Over half who participated in the safe sex programs mentioned having intercourse within the two years.
Sources:
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=112903
http://www.healthunit.com/article.aspx?ID=12533
http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/feelings/sex.html#
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2010/04/23/ontario-education.html
Published by Lyn Lomasi - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Lyn's the Community Advocate at Yahoo! Contributor Network. Contact her with community issues & ideas. She's been contributing since 2007 and previously acted as a Community Guide. Read her tips for success... View profile
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44 Comments
Post a CommentIgnorance breeds ignorant generations... literally...
sex education in schools is wrong! young teens are learning way more information then what they should be learning. sex educaution class is teaching teens how to become parents so they think their ready to start a family but once the child is born they have no idea what their doing.
The answer to the question of "does all inclusive sex education work," is "if the kid is listening" The same as with abstinence only.
I don't consider abstinence only to be particularly effective or relying on parents to do the teaching to be effective. In my experience, (my) parents weren't really familiar with STDs, and I couldn't talk to them about anything, and my mother's explanations were...inaccurate and fear-based. The program my high school used was inclusive (it taught how to use birth control devices, and where various organs were located). There were also films and lectures about dysfunctional relationships and abuse. (I don't know if any abstinence only programs discuss these things, which I feel are very important.)
I feel it's wrong to address an inclusive program as "they're teaching sex!" It's inaccurate and unfair to say so. An inclusive program says "This is how it works. Don't do anythin
Sex education at school cannot substitute for parent-child communication about sex even if the parents are highly uncomfortable discussing it. If you want your child to do something or not do something, you must discuss the reasons with them. You cannot blame the school district for your unwillingness to parent; sex ed is taught in school in the first place because parents weren't addressing the topic at home. This is how school subjects get introduced, by the way. Home Ec wasn't necessary when kids were always going home and helping their mothers. If you as a parent feel your child is not getting enough information about abstinence, that is YOUR job.
This is blatant propaganda. What the article doesn't tell you is that children in abstinence-only sex ed programs, or those who take abstinence pledges, have sex at the same rate as their peers, but do so with lower rates of protection.
Teens will have sex. The responsible decision is making sure they know the consequences of their actions.
I wrote something about this, and would be interested in your opinion on it, Lyn.
I salute your writing this article.
Sex education is just part of health and science and needs to be there. Leaving sex out is the wrong message. I'm interested to hear some people are coming up with research that abstinence ed. works. It hasn't before, and doesn't make sense.
This is an interesting subject. It has many sides and it depends on what you believe as to what side of the fence you are on. I have written a couple articles about sexual relationships and children.
This is so controversial. I do think that schools are trying to reach out to kids because parents are not being responsible in this subject.