Sex Education in School: The Issues

In many cultures across the world, premarital sex is frowned upon based on certain religious beliefs. There is cultural variation about sex and sexuality across the board, but only cultures such as Polynesians do not have strict taboos on premarital sex. Between cultures and religions there are differences on what is sexually acceptable. There are restrictions on openness, public displays of affection and different notions of modesty. In the 1960s the introduction of birth control was a catalyst toward more open sex relations. Women have control over their reproductive organs. This slowly worked toward men and women having almost equal amounts of premarital sex.

Unfortunately, this openness towards sex has taken many turns for the worse. In fear of youth partaking in premarital sex, there is increasing levels of uneducated teens. Health class is the perfect place for high school freshman to get educated about sex health—before they find themselves in trouble. Some schools will say that abstinence is the only choice, while in actuality that is not going to prevent teens from premarital sex. Seventy five percent of males have sex before marriage. A school is no place to control the sexual responsibility of teens, but it is a lace to educate teens about the choices and consequences they may and probably will face.

Sex education often stem from family values, religious beliefs, and school. Instead of suppressing the entire topic of sex, teens need to learn about the dangers of STDs, pornography, prostitution, and rape. It is challenging to put into perspective the amount of partners a given person has, and what that is equivalent to in terms of spreading diseases. Instead of hiding sex or scaring student away from sex, health teachers and family members should be honest and truthful about the subject. Some STDs will stick with you for the rest of your life. 

 

Any sexual photograph taken of a minor is considered child pornography and is a crime. Some people do not attach negative views to and sexually explicit material intended to cause sexual arousal, but the facts still stand. Child pornography is a crime. In low income countries prostitution is much more potent. In America, it is illegal. There are too many myths about all these sexual topics, and they need to me addressed so that teens do not make regrettable mistakes. Rape is another topic that should be thoroughly explained to all students. Rape is any violent act that uses sex to hurt, humiliate, or control another person. No matter how suggestive someone dresses, no one is ever “asking” to be raped. As a matter of fact, date rape (forcible sexual violence against the victim from people they know) accounts for Seventy percent of all rape crimes. All areas of sex education need to be addressed and not suppressed.

Although sexuality can be an intimidating topic to address publicly in a room full of peers—for teachers, students, and parents, it needs to be addressed. The facts should be discussed and truthful. The teachers need to be well trained in the subject. Parental involvement should be encouraged. It may be a private matter, but it is a public issue, and therefore it is a topic that all American teens need to face. Reality can be painful, but it is the truth. 

 https://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3018898.html

 http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Mauritania-to-Nigeria/Polynesians.html