Sex education in public schools has been a controversial issue in the United States for over a decade. With the HIV and teen pregnancy crises growing, sex education is needed. Some of the American public believe that sex education should be taught at home by the children’s parents. Some argue that sex education in schools do not put an emphasis on abstinence and encourages children to have sexual intercourse. Sex is a prominent issue that constantly arises in the media and it is our duty to enforce and enhance a more effective sexual education program in schools. As Charles Krauthammer stated, “Sex oozes from every pore of the culture and there is not a kid in the world who can avoid it” (Krauthammer). As a Freshman in college, I have been fortunate enough to undergo more than one opportunity of sex education. I was introduced to sex education in the fifth grade. Some may say the fifth grade is too early to start, but I think that it is an effective age to begin simply because it is the point where puberty creeps up on us and it is important for adolescence to be aware what is happening to their bodies. From fifth grade to my junior year of high school, I was given the rare opportunity to be a part of a various sex education classes. However, not all students are lucky enough to get a chance at an effective and complete sex education or any at all. Schools today usually dedicate one year to sex education for students. Typically, this is done either their sophomore or junior year, and most times, it isn’t even a separate “sex education” class. The sex education material gets integrated into a biology or general health class plainly because the schools don’t have enough funding to provide a separate class dedicated solely to sex education. This poses as a problem in our society in that the sex education programs need to be improved greatly. Because teens are faced with sex on an everyday basis, they are able to make their own decisions on whether or not to have sex. The important thing is to make sure that they know all aspects of it. A reality-based sex education gives young people an understanding of positive sexuality. It provides sexual health information and skills on sexual development, reproduction, relationships, affections, sexual transmitted diseases, body image and gender roles. As a growing nation, we need to be able to enhance our sexual education programs in our public schools so that students will be able to effectively exercise their values, skills, and knowledge about sex. The primary problem with the lack of an understanding of modern sexual issues, is that the quality of sex education programs that are provided in schools are incredibly limited and incomplete. Although most school have some sort of a sex education program, many of them are not effective. “A national survey found that although 89% of secondary school students receive sex education at least once in school, only 68% receive information on how to use condoms correctly. About half of the students surveyed wanted to know more about HIV (47%), other STDs (50%), what to do in cases of rape or sexual assault (55%), how to deal with the emotional consequences of being sexually active (55%), how to talk to a partner about birth control and STDs (46%), and how to use and where to get birth control (40%). Fifty-three percent were aware that having an STD can increase the risk of getting HIV if one is sexually active—about the proportion that would be expected if every student simply guessed the answer” (Constantine, Jerman, Huang). These statistics show an overall basis on the general understanding of a student on serious sexual issues. Those statistics are extremely low, and don’t forget the fact that these are the results of having only one year of sex education. As stated, less than fifty percent of teens knew the risks and affects of HIV and other STDs, as well as not knowing how and where to get birth control. Although most public high schools make it a point for a student to come across some sex education classes at least once in their high school career, the quality is unfortunately not sufficient enough. Teen are at risk every day, and they give an Another problem that is evident is that the quantity of sex education in the United States is clearly not enough. According to “a study conducted on teens in Sweden and the Netherlands showed that teens in those countries were just as sexually active as teens in America, but the teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease rate was much lower. Researchers say this is due to sex education that begins in elementary school and continues on (Bender). This study holds true in that not enough elementary schools in the United States are introducing the idea of sex education to their students. The increase in abortion rates and teen pregnancies is a direct correlation to the lack in years of sex education that a teen has experienced. The sad reality is, “only ten percent of American school-age youth participate in a comprehensive sex education program lasting at least forty hours” (deMauro). With all the knowledge and resources at its fingertips, the U.S. should be able to teach the same kind of classes t hat are being conducted in Sweden and the Netherlands. Many also argue that sex education should be taught at home by the parents. This mindset is very common for society to have, however, there is no real guarantee that kids will actually be taught. In a formal survey, “8,000 students over twelve-years of age, fewer than eighty percent had received a meaningful sex education from their parents”(Denny). In spite the fact that our parents our a child’s “first teachers” many children feel that parents are the least informative source for information concerning birth control and sexually transmitted diseases. Other opponents of sex education believe that it does not enhance human life and it will further make a student give into temptation and influence them into the mindset that it is okay to constantly have sex. The risk of STDs and teen pregnancy is an urgent and practically irreversible problem, the key is preventing it. The lack of sex education has a major effect on the upbringing of teens today. To solve this ongoing problem, I propose that the public school districts should advocate for more enhanced sex education classes. With the struggling economy, it is understandable that providing an entirely separate class for sex education is not ideal. Therefore school should be involved with the Free Child Project. The FCP is a non-profit organization that, “Connects young people and adults to the tools, training, and technical assistance they need to create new roles for young people throughout society” (Fletcher). This organization has a specific program for sex education and the youth. It provides many resources and classes that students can go to when they don’t have a sufficient way of getting the information about sex that they need. Examples of these resources are SIECUS, or the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. and Advocates For Youth. SIECUS is another non-profit organization where they incorporate and promote an extensive sex education to students around the country and promotes students with the right to make informative choices about their own sexuality. These programs are able to shape the way teens can receive the formal ex education they truly deserve. Furthermore, for the schools who already do have a steady sex education, they should enhance the quality of what they are teaching their students. Ways they can do this are, simply be able to give the students a comforting environment so that none of them will be afraid or shy to ask the questions they may have. Second, give them the correct information about the serious issues that surround our world: abortions, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, and pregnancy. Without the proper knowledge and information, a student will not have a clear view on what to know when they are faced with those issues. Third, let the student be aware that they are always at risk of being involved with the negativities of sex. Let them understand the harsh realities that are happening in the world today. And lastly, be a mentor to these students. The last thing they would want is someone who will simply just tell them that sex is a bad thing. Be relatable, reassure them that there is always contraceptives or even the choice of abstinence. Being open with the students and giving them a specific sense of all the possibilities that come with sex, is the key to an effective sex education.