Sex Education in Schools

          Should sex education be taught in schools? There had been many debates over this. They say that sex education only destroys the morality of people because they think that sex education teaches students about how sexual intercourse is done. Although sex education lowers the morality of people by teaching students how to use condoms and contraceptives, it should be taught in primary school and secondary school because (a) it prevents sexual diseases and teenage pregnancy, (b) it is indeed a need in case of parents’ absence, and (c) it gives children the idea of what is right and what is wrong.

          Others say that having sex education only encourages the students to engage in sexual intercourse and that it leads to sexual diseases and teenage pregnancy. The truth is that sex education does not encourage students to do it. According to Bleakley(2006), in a survey conducted, only about seventeen percent of the respondents answered that sex education does encourage them to do “it” and that the remaining eighty three percent strongly disagreed. Sex education prevents sexual diseases and teenage pregnancy. But how? Students are taught how to use condoms. According to Masland(n.d.), kids are becoming more sexually active at an earlier age. Sixty-six percent of high school students in America have done it by their senior year. These kids are in danger of sexually transmitted diseases. There is also a big possibility for them to become pregnant and that is why sex education should be taught to avoid these things from happening. In sex education, students are also taught of abstinence. They are taught that they should only have sexual intercourse after they get married.

          In case the parents are always away from their children, sex education should be taught to them so that they would learn it from an educated and responsible adult instead of learning it from the media or from their friends (Masland, n.d.). There will always be peers who would badly influence others. I remember my busmates when I was in High School. They are only ages eight to ten but the words that come out of their mouths are foul sex languages. I was really surprised and our bus driver did not even intend to lecture them. When I was their age, I still did not know anything. The generation today just keeps on getting worse. The media and technology played a big role on this. Students can now access any site on the internet that contains adult content or pornographic materials. That is why sex education should be implemented in schools. It is better for children to be informed earlier because they will still know about it when they grow up as they will be more exposed to it through their peers and the media (Cooper, n.d.).

          People say that sex education teaches the students about how sexual intercourse is done but the truth is sex education lets the students know about the consequences and the truth about sex. One may likely suffer emotional or mental depression which may lead to suicide. Students are also informed that it is only for unity and procreation of married couples who are committed to each other. They are also informed that they will know the true purpose of sex when they grow up as adults.

          In conclusion, sex education should be taught in schools because it is better to consider health than beliefs and we should consider reality. Since immorality cannot be eliminated and teenagers cannot be stopped from becoming sexually active, we should implement sex education in schools, as early as primary school. It also the only savior for children whose parents are always away from them and that is why sex education is needed so that they will not lose track of the right path. Through sex education, students will be able to learn the truth about sex and they will be able to refrain and control themselves.

References:

Bleakley, A. (2006). Public Opinion on Sex Education in US Schools. Retrieved           August 23, 2009 from http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/160/11           /1151.pdf

Cooper, M. (n.d.) Sex Education in Schools. Retrieved August 23, 2009 from           http://www.helium.com/items/66294-sex-education-in-schools

Masland, M. (n.d.) Carnal knowledge: The sex ed debate. Retrieved August 23,           2009 from http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3071001/539480.asp

Reflection:

It was hard to decide on what argument I am going to write about for this essay. There are many interesting arguments I have searched. After thinking about it, sex education might be a good topic. Teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases is very rampant in America. Soon, it might also be the same in Philippines because of the power of media. I am pro sex education to be ready for the future of our country. As I have seen in other young students of about age’s eight to twelve, they take sex as nothing special and they think that it is common because of media and other peers who badly influence them. I hope to help in preventing teenage pregnancies and spread of sexually transmitted diseases. This topic is of my great interest. I have researched a lot just to come up with a few ideas that can help prevent consequences of premarital sex.