Section A : Health Studies Starting with the most important thing from Unit 1 on Human Sexuality, I would say that safe sex would be the most important thing that I've learnt. Safe sex is one the most important thing in life and moves on with you through your teen and adult years preventing any unwanted pregnancy or diseases. Without education in safe sex people would make wrong choices and wrong actions which could dramatically change the life and others around them. One important thing I learned in safe sex was how to put on a condom and all of the steps and precautions to opening a condom. We learned many facts about condoms such as if you put it on the wrong way you shouldn't turn it around and use it since there might by slight traces of sperm on the end and impregnate your partner.
Positive aspects of handing out condoms in school is that it limits the risk of unwanted teen pregnancies and the spread of STDs. Sexual education “including condom provision accepts the inevitability of adolescent sex and encourages students to make wise ‘safe’ decisions if they do have sex” (Reising 2). It is very expensive to address problems created by irresponsible sexual behaviors so it is a wise investment by the government to supply condoms for schools. Historically, women have suffered from “restrictive reproduction regulations” and providing condoms empowers women. Condoms would therefore be the most effective way to prevent pregnancies and the spread of diseases and it would be inexpensive for schools to provide.
He stepped up to the microphone, determined to speak his mind. He claims abstinence is the only way to teach students, it is the only way to warn off unwanted pregnancies, and it is the only way to keep children safe. If the school were to tell their students about contraceptives, they are telling them it is okay to give up their virginity. But is it the right way in which students should be taught sex education? Sex education needs to be comprehensive and educate students about all pieces of sex including contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy.
They have the notion that it is used for protection against unwanted pregnancy, when there are many other benefits. In the book Dr. Spock’s Baby and Child Care, Dr. Spock states, “Does sex education encourage sex? Many parents are afraid that talking about sex with their teenagers will be taken as permission for the teen to have sex. Nothing could be further from the truth. If anything, the more children learn about their sexuality from talking with their parents and teachers and reading accurate books, the less likely they feel compelled to find out for themselves” (2004).
As an alternative, some schools also now offer comprehensive education. This approach offers and provides more insight on sex education in which one can be better prepared for real life situations such as std’s and unwanted pregnancies. Although both these methods of teaching offer insight on sex education, it has been proven that they are not as successful as one may think. Sex among teens, as well as teen pregnancies, is at an all time high verifying that “teenage pregnancy has a lot more to do with what it means to be a teenager than with how someone gets pregnant” (Quindlen 297). Suggesting that sex is more of an ethical issue, sex education is merely facts built upon foundations that have already been instilled in teens.
Students should be able to take sex education while in high school. The program may or may not promote sex towards young teens. Whether the school teaches them about abstinence and birth control, at least they will have an education about safe sex. Around sophomore year in high school, sex education is a requirement for the general education. The school’s job is to inform students about the process of having sex, the organs, and the outcome when being sexually active.
III. Comprehensive sexual education explains the consequences of sexual decision making, including information on types of sexually transmitted diseases and how to prevent pregnancy. Some programs combine an abstinence message with comprehensive information, but all cover the consequences of sexual activity and discuss the best protection methods. Although some critics suggest that giving information about sex will only encourage teenagers, research shows that knowledge is power, and students
“[…] while the age of consent has remained the same, the age of knowledge has been hurtling down through the ages”. This tells us that children spend too much time around television and games. The media covers every topic that a parent should be concerned about their child being exposed to including sex, violence, suicide, drinking, drug use, and eating disorders. The media teaches children that they should look and act a certain way in order to be accepted by peers. Dr. Huffman goes on to make another good point: “With schools and parents not always eager to tackle the subject adequately, the media have arguably become the leading sex educator in America today.
Comprehensive sex education is mostly trying to stop the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies. The class does teach that abstinence is the best way of making 100 percent sure a person does not get pregnant or get a sexually transmitted disease. They spend more of the class teaching about protection and contraceptives. Abstinence by itself is another way of teaching that can prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancy. The teaching of abstinence is telling people to not have sex until marriage.
Abstinence has begun to lower the rates of teenage pregnancy both in the United States of America and in the Bahamas. As it becomes more widespread in our country, it will surely have a positive impact on our society. Abstinence in Teens Advocates for Youth said, “Accurate, balanced sex education-including information about contraception and condoms-is a basic human right of youth” (p. 1). Today’s youth should be thoroughly informed of what sex entails and how effective and beneficial the use of contraceptives are. One of the main types of contraception rarely used today is abstinence.