Birth Control in Schools

The amount of adolescents participating in sexual activity has risen dramatically in the last few decades. In a study, United States researchers found that an increase in the amount of teenage girls who are sexually active has quadrupled in the last fifty years. Girls who used to lose their virginity at an average age of 19 now the average age is 15. Boys used to be 18 and now they're average age of sexual activity is 15.

This is not the only fear we have, even though we may teach proper sexual education courses, our will still participate in sexual acts if they so choose. If we refuse to offer a form of birth control, it's not going to stop them. By doing this we are leaving them open to sexually transmitted diseases. Some of which can be very deadly, if not deadly, permanently embarrassing. A CDC study taken in March of 2008, shows that one out of four females (3.2 million) between the ages of 14 and 19 currently has a sexually transmitted disease, that's 25%.

Now aside from disease, one of the biggest issues with teen pregnancy usually comes down to a decision, whether to keep or abort the unexpected child. On one end of the spectrum you have a fifteen year old girl, still in her youth, pregnant by surprise. Everyone has their own opinion on the subject, but abortion has its moral flaws and there are many people who are against it. You are killing a potential human, though it is a fetus, it is the beginning of life. If the young mother decides she wants to go through with the pregnancy now does she keep the baby or put it up for adoption? What if she can't physically or financially care for the child? And what would a fifteen year old girl have to offer a newborn baby if she did? If the child is put up for adoption there are also risks. There are convincing arguments linking adoption to increased risk of interpersonal problems. Children put in foster homes and adoption agencies tend to have a higher crime rate statistically. And not only that but adopted children tend to have identity issues. All adolescents must incorporate their family into their sense of identity. Adoptee has to integrate cultural heritage from their adopted family, as well as the genealogical and cultural heritage from their birth families.

The best thing parents can do is teach their kids about being safe if they choose to participate in sexual acts. By providing birth control and proper teachings of sexual education in our public high schools we can help our youth make better decisions about sex and possibly prevent a future of teen pregnancy, broken homes, disease, abortion and orphans.