...problem is not centralized just within the state of Texas, but also as a nation. Many federal and state officials have tried solving this issue. There is no argument to say there has not been an effort placed to solve this issue. Although there is cohesion in the attempt to resolve this conflict, there is disagreement to find the best way to deal with this issue. The argument surrounding the most effective way to reduce STD infection rate has involved government officials, school officials, health officials, religious figures, and parents. Many people ask where the real controversy on this issue is. For a simple question, there is not a simple answer. The disagreement rises from whether abstinence only should be taught or a comprehensive sex education program that teaches the consequences of sexual activity. Some people believe abstinence is the most effective method to help the STD infection rate become reduced. Other critics feel that a comprehensive sex program is the best method. Just like an onion the topic of sex education has many layers. The debate against sex education has another level involving who should be responsible for these teachings. While the standpoints on the issue are realized, it is important to place figures in these perspectives. Some people feel as though the parents should teach their children about sex and sexually transmitted diseases. This can go further into what method works best and how should parents teach their children. Should parents monitor their...
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...Should Sex Education Be Taught in Schools Laterra Dykes, Nastasia Davis, David Webb, Joy Dobbins BCOM/275 May 29, 2014 Dewayne Acree Sexually active teens are a matter of severe concern in the United States and many other countries. In the past several years many school-based programs have been created for the sole purpose of delaying the beginning of sexual activity. There seems to be a growing compromise that schools can play an important role in providing youth with a knowledge base which may allow them to make knowledgeable decisions and help them shape a healthy lifestyle (St Leger, 1999). The school is the only institution in regular contact with a sizable percentage of the teenage population (Zabin and Hirsch, 1988), with virtually all youth attending it before they initiate sexual risk-taking behavior (Kirby and Coyle, 1997). The idea of sex education is a very controversial subject. Sex education will teach teens about the importance of safe sex. There are two different styles of learning about sex education, which are abstinence and sex education or comprehensive. Comprehensive education discuss abstinence as a choice. Even though, comprehensive sex education teaching abstinence as a choice it still inform the teens about contraception and how to avoid obtaining sexually transmitted diseases. Abstinence education teaches teens about abstinence from sex until marriage. Abstinence education does not discuss but rejects the use of contraception. The difference between...
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...Supporters of comprehensive education argue that teaching students, primarily teenagers, sex education beyond abstinence only allows them to be better prepared in case they choose to become sexually active while in school. Comprehensive sex education programs do teach abstinence; however, they also discuss how to use contraceptives, sexually transmitted disease prevention and sexual orientations. They argue that knowing how to use contraceptives does not encourage premature sexual behavior. Comprehensive sex education proponents also argue the health of the public is at stake if students are not fully prepared for the future ("Abstinence-Only Education”). Proponents of abstinence only education argue that society should discourage students from partaking in sexual activity until they are mature and married. The argument is if they are taught about contraception, they will take that as a cue to begin engaging in sexual activities. Robert Rector, a writer in President George W. Bush’s administration sexual education program stated: "Kids in society are saturated with information about contraception and messages about encouraging casual, permissive sex” (“Contraception”). The programs also place an emphasized value placed on virginity. A tactic used by abstinence educators to encourage the value of virginity is a “virginity pledge”, which helps reinforce the idea of waiting. The pledges have been found to be an...
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...English 1303 Abstinence-only: Does it work? Statistics show that “70 percent of US teens have engaged in oral sex…and more than 45 percent have had intercourse at least once.” Today’s future generation has been involved in sexual activities more than ever. The question is, do they know what they are getting themselves into? With the deliberation on what should be taught in a sex education class, many wonder if the abstinence-only programs are working to lower the number of teens that participate in these activities? Paul Weyrich’s article “Abstinence Education Works” and Arthur Caplan’s article “Abstinence-Only Sex Ed Defies Common Sense: Education Policy Spreads Ignorance, Sends Confusing Messages to Teens” both have different viewpoints on abstinence-only sex education. Weyrich claims that having abstinence-only education programs can prevent teen pregnancies and transmissions of sexually transmitted diseases. Research from Texas A&M, show that sex education classes that teach abstinence have significantly lowered sexual activity rates among teens. Studies show that abstinence programs are very beneficial and many ways towards teenagers. The programs teach teens to be safe, prepared, and mature about sex; as well prepare them for when they get married and have sex in the future. Weyrich finishes off strong by restating his main point: the best prevention against STDs and unplanned pregnancies is not having sex before marriage. According to Caplan, STD’s are rapidly...
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...Without a doubt sex education has been a controversial topic in the United States. Our elected officials used to continuously debate comprehensive versus abstinence-only sex education for students K-12. Until very recent sex education was lumped in with abortion, and was a supporting argument for most Republican and Democratic to display their values before elections. However, during President Obama’s first term, he and his administration eliminated all federally funded abstinence-only sex education. (Tucker, 2011, as cited in Crooks & Baur, 2013, p. 371) The President had made this informed decision on data collected, but according to Herbnick, the administration was mostly motivated by the 1.5 billion federal taxpayer dollars spent on abstinence-only...
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...to agree with “comprehensive sex education”, makes a very great statement in her essay. She provides the information to show her views, she has pointed out in great detail, why “comprehensive sex education” is a better idea than going with “abstinence sex education”. She also lists a lot of detailed sources that help her claim and make her points agreeable and understandable, she also provides what could happen if students in public schools were not taught proper sex education, they could end up with tragic sexual transmitted diseases because of their actions. As I read and looked over her essay, I found a lot of very interesting points that she has made and I found them rather fascinating and genuine. As I continued reading, I noticed some funny points that I had a hard time believing and thinking about. It was at this point, that I thought that the author of the essay has made confusing and in my opinion, has ignored some important views on her own argument, I will respond to Dahlke, and point out her mistakes and give out my own opinions on what she has made mistakes on that I believe could have been better said. Dahlke shows on her essay a source that says “comprehesive sex education encourages students to half less sexual partners, warns them about diseases and other methods to prevent pregnancy”(Landry et al). Now that this statement may be true, but it has some flaws to it. A lot of young people in the US do engage in comprehensive sex but fail to actually follow up...
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...anything black and white. The debates about sexual education in U.S. public schools are no different. While the ideas of abstinence and holistic learning of sex contradict each other at first, they can coexist if one looks at the bigger picture along with its consequences. Thus, while the discourse concerning sexual education in public schools may depict abstinence-only and fully comprehensive sexual education as conflicting ideologies, they are actually quite similar. This is significant because a comprehensive education actually adds to the abstinence message while supporting (instead of shaming) youth and their right to information that could lead to safer and more responsible sexual choices. While the vast majority of...
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...Early Comprehensive Sex Health Education Tenesha Rivers Keiser University Early Comprehensive Sex Health Education “Education is a powerful weapon”, is a popular saying that I always find truth in. This does not differ when it comes to Comprehensive sex health education, also called sex education. Sex education involves learning and understanding how to form appropriate opinions about sex: including “sexual identity, relationships and intimacy” (Avert, 2011). This method to sex education does not encourage sexual activity, and it offers medically accurate information about birth control and sexual development (Wind, 2006). With many unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), and sexual abuse this day and age, there are undisputed benefits to sex education. However, sex education becomes a controversial issue when the information is provided to young people of middle and high school age. There are a few reasons certain people feel that early comprehensive sex health education is not appropriate. However, I feel that early sex education is not only appropriate but necessary in promoting health and preventing the negative effects that ignorance of the subject could lead to. An important part of the curricula is sexual development and reproduction. This portion of the curricula focuses on “the physical and emotional changes associated with puberty and sexual reproduction, including fertilization and conception, as well as sexually transmitted diseases...
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...investigate sexual education because it is a policy area that hits close to home. Sexual Education is an issue with many facets, but it falls under the larger umbrella of reproductive freedom. Many people would consider themselves either pro-life or pro-choice, but there is also a middle section that is less defined. This section is present because of cases like rape, health difficulties, or future health of the baby. With education, it is less black and white in the eyes of the general populace. Further, sides are frequently taken due to religious beliefs. Education is typically a more local issue, but it has a large impact on the rate of pregnant teens, which ultimately funnels into the debate over abortion. More specifically, the federal government has to take action on both abortion and sexual education because of their inter-connectedness. With that said, the focus of my policy is primarily the need for comprehensive sexual education. I work for the American Civil Liberties Union, and within this I am a part of TACL. The point of this group is to focus on civil liberties for students. With the passage of the abstinence only bill in Tennessee, I feel as though my liberties have been taken. I believe that you cannot stop students from doing what is natural by not teaching them about it or teaching them about protection. Studies show that in states with abstinence only education laws, the pregnancy rate is much higher. I want to focus my research on education about safety...
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...Abstinence-Only vs. Comprehensive Sex Education Which is the Right Choice? Allysa Lekas English 401 Professor Kramer December 11, 2012 Abstinence-Only vs. Comprehensive Sex Education The appropriate type of sex education that should be taught in United States public schools continues to be a major topic of debate, which is motivated by high teen pregnancy and birth rates in the United States compared to other countries. This debate is centered on whether abstinence-only or comprehensive sex education should be taught in public schools. Some argue that sex education, that covers safe sexual practices, such as condom use, sends a mixed message to students, and actually promotes sexual activity. The United States government used to promote abstinence-only initiatives through the Adolescents Family Life Act. It cost 176 million dollars annually to fund abstinence-only programs. The central message of these programs was to delay sexual activity until marriage, and cannot include information about contraception and condoms (Stranger-Hall & Hall, 2011). It has been proven that abstinence-only education does not have an effect on the birth rates in the United States, but comprehensive sex education has. Teaching students to not only about abstinence, but about contraceptive use and information about sexually transmitted diseases, has decreased the birth rates in the United States as well as the contraction rate of sexually transmitted diseases. Comprehensive sex education...
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...magnitude of such adverse side effects that not only impacts the teenage mother, but others as well. In a majority of instances some sort of family member, or social worker, need to intervene and care for the child (since the mother can still be called one herself). As for my situation, I was very grateful to have both sets of my grandparent’s take over the responsibilities and duties that an adult mother and father typically account for. Granted, there was sufficient assistance to aid my teenage parents, but their irresponsibility, immaturity, and lack of knowledge for the future, divided both families forever. Which brings me to this; should the teenagers be blamed for the high pregnancy rates, or should the blame be laid at the feet of sex education programs and society around them, or rather a culmination of both? I believe we can’t just blame the individuals themselves. I feel it is the utmost responsibility and collective effort from the government, programs, parents, and role models around them to lay down the knowledge they need in order to make appropriate decisions so they can make the most out of their lives as possible. I make this claim because I have involuntarily contributed to the statistical history of such epidemic pregnancy rates and have also witnessed firsthand why my opinion remains...
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...Kendall Hoyt ENGL 202-13 Research Paper Sex Education: Truth or Taboo? Each and every year the government spends over forty million dollars to support families that have resulted from teenage pregnancies (“Statistics on Teen Pregnancy” Question 1). However, the government chooses to only fund abstinence programs in schools. If a school chooses to have an abstinence plus birth control program, the government will not present them with any federal funds to help cover the costs of the program (Lindberg, Laura, Duberstein, and Isaac Maddow-Zimet 332). Not only will the government refuse to fund the program, but the parents are also scared such courses will negatively influence their children and churches say it goes against moral conduct. The church argument should be invalid if our country wants to live up to the separation of church and state. The church should not be able to dictate what students learn. However, that is beside the point. Until schools have the backing of the community and parents, this will not be changed. The media also plays a big role in negative influences on teen pregnancy. In my opinion, this is something that classes could change. Deciding on who should receive this education is another debate. Everyone should receive this education. The information is very helpful and useful. When asked about sex education, Helen B. Shaffer had this to say, “while sex education in the schools has become fairly prevalent, much of it still skirts around the very questions...
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...become very popular among teenagers due to its exceedingly high percentage for success. While none of the birth control options offer a 100 percent success rate, nearly all are in the upper 90s. Since most of the options use some form of contraceptive, there are arguments for allowing teenagers access to birth control as well as against it. With teenagers engaging in sexual activities at an increasingly younger age, it is important to provide them with access to the proper birth control. If birth control was not available to teenagers, they would just have sex without it which will lead to thousands of unintended pregnancies. It’s not possible to prevent teens from having sex which is why it is important to ensure they are properly equipped. Conversely, those opposed feel that giving teen’s birth control will encourage them to have sex earlier than they should. They feel that teenagers are too young to be engaging in sex and giving teens birth control gives them a reason to have sex. The United States is known for having the highest rate of unintended teenage pregnancy in the world. This means that every year thousands of children are born to parents that are still in high school. This proves that abstinence is an ineffective form of birth control for teenagers. Most teenagers are incapable of supporting a child, which leads many pregnant teenagers to abortion. This is where birth control methods come in....
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...Children and Sexual Education Frankie Hellyer Harrison College Children and Sexual Education "A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death”, (S.F.Heart.com, 2012). [Albert Einstein, "Religion and Science", New York Times Magazine, 9 November 1930] In 2000 my first and second grade children arrived home from school with a surprising question for me. I was asked what “69” meant. My response was “the number after 68 and before 70”. That was not the correct answer to the specific question they were asking, yet they were too naive to know any different. I did not feel they were at the appropriate age for a response to that question, but it meant it was time for a small bit of conversation regarding sexual education. Sexual education is opposed by some for religious beliefs, infringement of parental rights, and parental fears of a higher level of sexual promiscuity. Those opposed typically promote abstinence programs, (which have failed our society). Regardless what age a child is, sexual education is a very important topic and I feel it is crucial to start educating about sex now; in the schools; rather than wait for the latter possible unplanned STD, pregnancy, or even the unfortunate act of molestation. Since the beginning of time biblically, our society has been...
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...Time U.S. “When the Portland, Maine, School Committee voted 7-2 Wednesday night to make birth control pills available to middle school girls as young as 11. The response provided the latest evidence that adults still have trouble talking about sex with each other, much less with our kids. The debate was passionate, as you'd expect over an issue that touches so deeply our concerns about what our kids know and do — and when — and the messages we send them. To school officials and public health advocates who favored the measure, this was a question of confronting reality. Five of the 134 students who visited King Middle School's health center last year admitted they were sexually active; in the last four years, Portland's three middle schools reported 17 pregnancies, not counting miscarriages or unreported pregnancies that ended in abortions. Parents may be in denial, officials suggested, they may fervently want children to delay sexual activity, but if you know for a fact that kids are having sex then the responsible thing to do is to warn them about sexually transmitted diseases and help prevent them from getting pregnant. The message was not "value neutral": "We do certainly sit down and speak with them about why that's not a good choice," said Portland's school nurse coordinator Amanda Rowe, referring to sexually active students. "But there are some who persist — even though we don't like to think about that — in being sexually active, and they need to be protected." And...
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