These numbers are a bit startling, aren’t they? As a teenager, you should be worrying about college and careers. STDs and pregnancy shouldn’t even concern you. However, as this generation goes on, it’s a growing worry. That is because sexual education isn’t taught in schools – it’s left up to parents to teach their kids about the importance of abstinence and condoms.
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).
When a teenager feels he or she is ready for sexual intercourse they may be ashamed or afraid of entering a store to purchase contraceptives or condoms and they may fair that if they confront their parent about this, their parents may become disappointed in them or may even become angry with them. So they take the chance of having unprotected sex with their partners. They may feel that because it’s the first time having sex for both partners, they are not unable to contracted any STDS or even conceive a child. Offering condoms in schools helps to educate the students on safe sex practices. It helps them to become more aware of the dangers of unsafe sex, and also help them to make the right sex choices when it comes to sex.
Sex education needs to be comprehensive and educate students about all pieces of sex including contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy. What is surprising is anyone can earnestly share the belief that an effective means of preventing the consequences of sexual activity should be restricted to teaching about abstinence. It is without a doubt, teenagers are going to have sex whether or not parents tell them to. Even though abstinence is the best technique to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, a proper sex education class is more ideal because abstinence programs are not as beneficial and conclusive to a teenager’s well-being. With the growing popularity of abstinence-only programs, one would think they are incredible classes,
Suggesting that sex is more of an ethical issue, sex education is merely facts built upon foundations that have already been instilled in teens. Regardless of the teaching approach, education follows behind one’s moral values. “When I was in high school, at the tail end of the sixties, there was a straightforward line on sex among my friends. Boys could have it; girls couldn’t. A girl who was not a virgin pretended she was” (Quindlen 297).
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. And that’s not particularly good news”. This means that adolescents are soaking in what the media says about sex. The media portrays sex and sexuality as alluring, fun, safe, and easy. The media does not tell the entire truth; it rarely tells of the consequences sex has such as STDs, pregnancy, or
Soaring rates of sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancies among these teens are adding urgency to the debate over sex education. Sex education in schools will lead to healthier sex behavior among the students in their later lives. II. Some conservatives claim the alarming statistics illustrate why abstinence should be the single topic when it comes to sexual education, others say it should not be part of the school curriculum. Liberals counter that the increase in disease is the strongest case for more detailed information.
With high teen pregnancy rates, the lack of social exposure with homeschooling appeals to concerned parents. With a more controlled environment, and parents able to monitor their children’s activities it brings a sense of security. School administration as well as teachers disagree and argue that children who are homeschooled are not getting proper social exposure or education. Teachers feel that some parents lack the proper credentials to educate their children. Since there are no education requirements for those who choose to homeschool their children, this is a legitimate concern.
Public Schooling vs. Home Schooling Many parents desire for their children to gain the best education they can to become successful in life. Home schooling becomes an option to parents who feel that a public school education can hinder their children to becoming well established in the world. Parents often make these decisions based on opinions from the media, newspapers, and gossip where they can often hear the "wonderful" things about home schooling like providing the student with more hands-on opportunities and the ability to move at a comfortable pace for the student. In home schooling there is no comprehension of being bounded to public school calendars and how school can take place anywhere and anytime. Public school is better than home schooling because public school mentally prepares students for the real world; giving students knowledge on how to deal with bullying and peer pressure, and also allowing them to interact with different students and teachers.
They say a mother’s love is unconditional, which is a love she won’t experience if she aborts. It’s hard not to agree with the author when she says that the number of unwanted births should be decreased instead of abortion by spreading more awareness regarding contraception. But abortion isn't the only solution in case of unwanted birth, even with teens; they can always turn to adoption in case they want to finish high school, education or simply don’t want kids now. Adoption is so much simpler health wise and moral wise. Abortion shouldn't be a traumatizing experience as the author says, but it shouldn't be undermined either.