Sex education should be taught in schools
By TyAsia W.
In the last year 3,069 teens gave birth in South Carolina, according to Fact Forward, a local organization aimed at preventing teen pregnancy and educating teenagers about their bodies. Some people are against sex education but it has been proven to reduce teen pregnancy and STDs. People have expressed that giving kids knowledge about topics like sex can make them want to do it more. Some parents are also against it because they believe that they should be the ones to teach about sex. Most governments seem to be for it. Thirty-nine states mandate it to be taught in some way, but out of these states only eight are required to have a medically accurate program for the students. My view is that public high schools should teach medically accurate sex ed.
Above all, medically accurate sex ed in schools can teach students to make smarter choices. The idea that being educated on this subject will teach the younger generation to make smarter decisions in the future has been proven to be accurate based on the study. According to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, studies have proven that comprehensive sexuality education programs reduce the rates of sexual activity and sexual risk behaviors (referring to unprotected sex, number of partners, STDs and teen pregnancy). The theory that giving kids this information will encourage them to engage in the activity isn't true. What is true is that they will make better decisions and be aware of the consequences of their actions.
Another reason that sex ed in schools is important is because parents are not having these conversations with their children despite a common misconception that they do. In a study taken place in 2022 StudyFinds.org stated that 1 in 5 parents have expressed that they will never give their child the sex talk. Some people have said that the reason they don't think they should teach sex education in school is because it should be the parents' job when to decide what age is appropriate to and how they should do it. Although it is their child and they have a right to make the deciding decisions on what their kid learns, not every parent knows the accurate and correct information themselves. There have been many incidents where teens have gotten pregnant because of misinformation that they were taught from their parents to end that cycle. People need this knowledge.
Sex education has been proven to promote a number of other safe practices and healthy choices outside of the sexual arena. There are many misconceptions when it comes to sex education, and it doesn't just teach about safety of sex, but (according to PlannedParenthood.org) it also teaches human development, what healthy relationships look like (of all kinds like friends and family too), personal skills like communication, boundary setting, and decision-making, and about society and culture, including media literacy, shame and stigma, and how power, identity, and oppression impact sexual wellness and reproductive freedom. These can also be topics that parents don't even realize a young adult might be interested in let alone not be aware of yet, yet it can actually harm them if they aren't educated on it. This is why we should have a regulated program for sex ed so it covers all these topics and be taught in all schools to help protect and make sure kids of the future don't repeat cycles.
A fourth reason to teach medically appropriate sex ed is because, in 2024, we have more technology than ever before. Many parents might not be aware that kids today are more exposed to inappropriate and misleading things at a young age than past generations from having technology and from just being around other kids.
Some people argue against sex education in schools because they believe it undermines their parental rights and responsibilities they have when it concerns their children. Other people will argue that exposing kids to this kind of content will confuse them or raise their curiosity or that it will even sexualize kids. Everyone's values and beliefs differ from one family to another, and that’s understandable, and it is true that the topics that sex education may not align with everyone’s beliefs on contraception or other controversial topics. Although these arguments are all valid, science simply does not support removing it from school for those reasons. There have been too many studies proving that sex education is good for all kids. Its purpose is not to take the responsibility of kids away from parents but more so that the kids who don't have parents can also be educated and to get accurate information from reliable sources who are very educated on this topic. Data has shown that sex education will not encourage them but will educate them to make better decisions. It has kept children safe from STDs and unplanned pregnancies. But It is important to know sex education also teaches abstinence and other topics like setting boundaries with people, or menstrual cycles. It is not all about sex. It is best for everyone to be educated so everyone makes the right life decisions.
When speaking to AHS senior student, Erin J., about his view on sex ed, he expressed this: “I believe it is very important for people to know this information. I have met kids in this school who really lack information on simple things like how a period works. It's sad. people need this education in schools.” To help kids shift to adulthood the right way we should be having these uncomfortable conversations with them and they should be medically accurate so they know about how their body works.
Another senior student at AHS, Dominique M., said, “I get some parents may not agree with it but it is good for kids to know about this the right way then for them to find out the wrong way.” Although not everyone in the school agrees like student Janiyah S., stated, “I feel like it's a weird subject to have. I hate it. I don't think kids should have that class in school. It's inappropriate.”
In conclusion, everyone has different opinions on this but the science shows that sex ed is the best thing we can offer to the future generations. It should be regulated and medically accurate; it is an essential component of people's lives. Giving accurate information will allow kids to be more responsible and reduce misinformation spread by other sources. Schools are responsible for giving proper education like this to their students. If you want your child to grow up to be a well educated person who makes the best decisions for themselves and their health sex education should be a priority of all adults.