Sex Education: working or not?
Sex Education: When is it effective?
Margaret Skeen
Sociology 1002
5 October 2014
Sex education is a common form of instruction in most countries. In The United
States it traditionally occurs when a child reaches adolescence, which in modern times is met with the guidance of formal school programs, parents, and public health programs. The overall effectiveness for such instruction is detrimental to the way adolescents learn to perceive sexual matters. In The United States there are two basic types of sex education, comprehensive, and abstinenceonly. The difference between effective and ineffective sex education relies on how well students are informed on both the biological and the psychological workings of sex. Depending on the overall effectiveness of their sex education, students’ lives can be severely affected, for better or for worse. Young people have a fundamental right to be instructed on accurate, unbiased information about their anatomies and sexuality. Therefore effective comprehensive sex education should be taught in every school, leaving students with knowledge that will allow them to act responsibly in regards to their sex life.
The role that sex education plays in the initiation of sexual activity is controversial, mostly due to the stigma of sexuality in schools. In fact, there are many parents who prefer to have their children go without formal sex education just as there are many reasons why a person may not want their child to learn about sexuality. Most of us “don’t take challenges to our opinions of what is right or wrong about sexual behavior lightly.” (Henslin).These personal reasons can range from religion, shame, or simply wanting to protect their child from the dangers of sex. In addition, it is commonly believed that sex education encourages sexual activity. Apart from excluding these programs, abstinenceonly education programs often fail at informing students as well
and
Margaret Skeen
Sociology 1002
5 October 2014
Sex education is a common form of instruction in most countries. In The United
States it traditionally occurs when a child reaches adolescence, which in modern times is met with the guidance of formal school programs, parents, and public health programs. The overall effectiveness for such instruction is detrimental to the way adolescents learn to perceive sexual matters. In The United States there are two basic types of sex education, comprehensive, and abstinenceonly. The difference between effective and ineffective sex education relies on how well students are informed on both the biological and the psychological workings of sex. Depending on the overall effectiveness of their sex education, students’ lives can be severely affected, for better or for worse. Young people have a fundamental right to be instructed on accurate, unbiased information about their anatomies and sexuality. Therefore effective comprehensive sex education should be taught in every school, leaving students with knowledge that will allow them to act responsibly in regards to their sex life.
The role that sex education plays in the initiation of sexual activity is controversial, mostly due to the stigma of sexuality in schools. In fact, there are many parents who prefer to have their children go without formal sex education just as there are many reasons why a person may not want their child to learn about sexuality. Most of us “don’t take challenges to our opinions of what is right or wrong about sexual behavior lightly.” (Henslin).These personal reasons can range from religion, shame, or simply wanting to protect their child from the dangers of sex. In addition, it is commonly believed that sex education encourages sexual activity. Apart from excluding these programs, abstinenceonly education programs often fail at informing students as well
and
References: Henslin, James. M. (2014). Social Problems: A DowntoEarth Approach Boonstra, Heather. D. (2014). What Is Behind the Declines in Teen Pregnancy Rates? http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/gpr/17/3/gpr170315.html Theresa, Tampkins. (2008). Lafferty, William E., Kohler, Pamela. K., Manhart, Lisa. E. (2007). The Office of Adolescent Health. (2013).