While those who are full-blown supporters of abstinence frown upon comprehensive sex education in schools it may provide a notable difference in the number of unwanted teen pregnancies. “Journal of Adolescent Health found that those who received comprehensive sex education were 50 percent less likely to become pregnant than those who received abstinence-only education” (qtd. in Barrett). Those who disagree with having comprehensive sex education in high schools because it informs teens on measures to prevent pregnancy need to consider the statistics. In a society where children and teens are being exposed to aspects of sex in everyday life through books, television, magazines, etc. there is a need for increased knowledge of the subject. The Hamline Journal of Public Law and Policy states, “the teen pregnancy rate in the United States is higher than any other industrialized nation and it is eight times higher than that of Japan and the Netherlands.” (qtd. in Schwarz). Sexually active teens that receive abstinence-only education are taught the best way to avoid pregnancy is to remain abstinent but those who receive comprehensive education are not held out on the preventative measure that can be taken to avoid teen pregnancy. Annually, with almost 750,000 teen pregnancies taking place in the United States, a formal education program needs to be placed in schools to help teens learn how to avoid becoming one of these statistics (qtd. in Schwarz).
Comprehensive sex education, unlike abstinence-only, informs students of measures that can be taken to prevent teen pregnancy while also promoting abstinence. Supporters of abstinence-only education present the idea that teen pregnancy can be damaging not only to the child but also to the parent (Collins, Alagiri, and Summers). While agreeing with abstinence-only supporters on this matter, I believe this fact should make it easier to understand the need for comprehensive sex education in schools which inform teens of the available contraceptive methods to prevent the unwanted pregnancies that can damage them and their unborn child. Some wonder if a possible cause for the high rates of teen pregnancy could be lack of education on contraceptive measures and I believe the answer is yes. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “About one-third of adolescents hadn't received instruction on methods of birth control before age 18.” (qtd. in Preidt). With the number of teens engaging in sexual activity in high school instructions on these methods are needed. Comprehensive sex education in schools would instruct teens of methods of contraception and provide knowledge of their correct use to help prevent unwanted and unnecessary teen pregnancies and health risks.
Many teens are unaware of infections and diseases that can result from sex; however, having comprehensive sex education in high schools would allow teens to become aware of these harmful matters and become educated on preventable measures that are available. Critics of comprehensive sex education would argue that the best way to completely prevent STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) or STIs (sexually transmitted infections) is to remain abstinent (Collins, Alagiri, and Summers). True, but what about the children who have chosen not to abstain? Unlike abstinence-only education, comprehensive sex education would cover the dangers of diseases transmitted through sex and educate teens on how to avoid those dangers (Schwarz). Many teens have the idea in their heads that it could never happen to them when it comes to contracting a STD, STI, HIV, AIDS, etc. One alarming statistic used in hopes of gaining federal funding for comprehensive sex education in schools follows: “More infections occurred among young people under 30 (aged 13-29) than any other age group.” (Estimates). Statistics similar to the one before give support to including comprehensive sex education in high schools. Learning ways to practice safe sex before the act occurs could reduce the number of teens that contract infections and diseases.
Teens are exposed sexual sights daily. They receive numerous amounts of information about the subject through various ways including parents, peers, media, etc. Through outlets such as these, teens could be obtaining false or misunderstood information and some may feel uncomfortable clarifying the information they received. Including comprehensive sex education in high schools would give teens a chance to learn the facts and clarify any misunderstood or false information. A team of medical experts report, “comprehensive sex education programs that teach contraception methods and safer sexual practices help reduce teenagers' risky sexual behavior and limit the spread of sexually transmitted infections” (qtd. in Quillen). Comprehensive sex education has many benefits over abstinence-only education and those who have not received sex education. In addition to the benefits it provides, it has been reported by a teen survey that “Nearly [9] out of 10 students who have taken sex ed consider the classes useful.” (Gleick and Reed). Incorporating such a curricula as comprehensive sex education into high schools worldwide could assists in providing a number of benefits such as the following: improve the teen societies knowledge of sex, aid to decrease unwanted teen pregnancies, and mend public health throughout the world.
Work Cited
Barrett, Kate. “Is Sex Ed Working?” abcNEWS. ABC News Internet Ventures, n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2011.
Collins, Chris, Priya Alagiri, and Todd Summers. “Abstinence Only vs. Comprehensive Sex Education: What are the arguments? What is the evidence?.” AIDS Research Institute at University of California, San Francisco. University of California, San Francisco, n.d. Web. 5 Feb. 2011.
“Estimates of New HIV Infections in the United States.” Center for Disease Control. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Aug. 2008. Web. 8 Feb. 2011.
Gleick, Elizabeth, and Susan Reed. "Too soon, too sorry. (Cover story)." People 42.17 (1994): 52. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 9 Feb. 2011
Jayson, Sharon. “Today's Topic: Sex Education: There appears to be little connection between what teens are taught and their behavior” USA Today 8 Sep. 2008, Final ed.: 4D. Print.
Parker-Pope, Tara. “The Myth of Rampant Teenage Promiscuity.” New York Times 27 Jan. 2009, New York ed.: D6. Print.
Preidt, Robert. “Pregnancy, STDs on the Rise Again Among U.S. Teens.” abcNEWS. ABC News Internet Ventures, n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2011.
Quillen, Ian. "Comprehensive Sex Education Backed By Evidence, Medical Panel Concludes." Education Week 29.12 (2009): 5. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 8 Feb. 2011.16.
Schwarz, Amy. "Comprehensive Sex Education: Why America's Youth Deserve the Truth about Sex." Hamline Journal of Public Law & Policy 29.1 (2007): 115-160. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 8 Feb. 2011
