Rough Draft

For years there has been much argument over what public schools should teach in sex education.  In recent years, the government has supported abstinence-only programs.  They’ve insisted that adolescents be taught to remain abstinent until marriage.  Opponents contend that abstinence only programs are failing and are accounting for the high pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease rates in the United States.  Both sides of the issue want to see decreases in premarital sex, teenage pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases.  With controversies flaring, it is time people consider what is truly best for the health and protection of the young people.  Therefore, public schools should adopt a comprehensive sex education curriculum with a strong focus on abstinence as the only sure way to prevent against STDs and pregnancy.

            While the government still supports abstinence only teaching methods, the clear majority of citizens recognize that this method is impractical.  The republican view remains, “The fact that some teens engage in unhealthy behavior should not discourage us as a society from promoting moral conduct” (Sex Education).  The word ‘some’ does not accurately portray the correct number of sexually active teenagers.  Moral conduct can still be taught in schools while still teaching comprehensive sex education.  The majority of the public realizes this.  A study done by the University of Pennsylvania found that “approximately 82% of respondents indicated support for programs that teach students about both abstinence and other methods of preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases” (Results of Recent Studies).  Citizens want their children to be educated on contraceptive methods and STDs.  It is the job of the government to take into account the feeling of the public.  The government needs to realize that Americans do not want abstinence only methods being taught to their youth.

            Since adolescents are not abstaining, action needs to be taken.  In a 1993 study done by the Centers for Disease Control, they found that, “more than 43% of ninth grade boys and more than 31% of ninth-grade girls report having had sexual intercourse” (Sex Education).  These alarming numbers show that teenagers are having sex and not waiting until marriage.  “The typical male has sexual intercourse 10 years before marriage; seven years before marriage is the figure for the typical female” (Sex Education).  With data showing that teenagers are not abstaining, the public cannot then deprive them of valuable information to protect themselves.   Depriving them of valuable sexual education may be partially to blame for the high pregnancy and STD rates.  Three million teenagers become infected with a STD every year in the United States and over a million teenage girls become pregnant (Sex Education: Statistical Update).  With comprehensive sex education, the school would teach them about different types of birth control and STD prevention methods.  The focus would still be on how abstinence is the only sure way to prevent against pregnancy and STDs.  American teenagers are having sex, and it is now the public’s responsibility to educate them on how to better protect themselves.

            For every teenager to get the most out of a sex education class, it needs to be tailored to the appropriate audience.  Sex education can be a cumulative process.  As Douglas Kirby, reviewer of CDC analysis, says, “For younger, sexually inexperienced youth, an effective message is: ‘Wait until you are older to have sexual intercourse.’ For older kids: ‘Avoid unprotected intercourse--the best way to do this is abstinence; if you have sex, always use protection.’ For high-risk groups, most of whom are having intercourse, an effective message is: ‘Always use condoms; otherwise you might get AIDS’” (Sex Education).  This method allows for education to expand as the child ages.  A comprehensive sex education class will not teach ten-year olds how to use condoms.  It will slowly increase their knowledge on sex, STDs, HIV, pregnancy, and contraceptives while pressing abstinence as the best option at every step.  Abstinence only methods leave out a part of the audience.  Where does that method leave homosexuals, people who choose not to marry, and the non-religious?  When do they learn about sex?  By teaching all students comprehensive sex education, the entire population is included.  Abstinence only would be senseless to teach in inner city, urban environments.  These teenagers grow up with a high risk for teenage pregnancy and STDs.  They need to be taught comprehensive sex education to protect their future health.  By teaching a comprehensive sex education program, all teenagers are included.

            A comprehensive sex education program that includes preaching abstinence is a more real world approach.  No individual can be forced to practice abstinence.  “Programs that teach only about abstinence fail to recognize the reality of teenage sexuality” (Sex Education).  It is and will always be his or her choice when they want to have sex.  Whenever this time comes, it is in best interest of the public that the teenager has been taught safe sex practices.  Especially with today’s technological resources, an immense amount of information on sex is circulating.  As Kreinin, president of the Sexuality Information and Education council says, “Young people are going to learn about sex and our question has to be where do we want them to learn? From the media? From their friends? Or do we want them to learn from an educated, responsible adult?" (Masland).  By providing adolescents with correct information, we enable them to make the right choice.  “Respecting students means that they will make the right choices when they are informed of all the relevant facts” (Sex Education).  It is not realistic for the government to say when the right time to have sex is.  But by putting faith into the younger generations, we can give them the available information and the responsibility to make the correct decision.  Since expecting abstinence from the youth is not realistic or practical, we must educate with comprehensive sex education methods. 

            Teaching students how to properly use contraceptive methods will lower the pregnancy and STD rates among the sexually active students.  There are many different types of contraceptive methods available to females.  Females and males should be taught these methods, how to use them effectively, and their failure rates.  They also need to be aware that abstinence is the only way to be 100% sure you will not get pregnant.  The high pregnancy rate could be lowered with this knowledge.  The high teenage pregnancy rate is associated with another very controversial subject, abortion.  Since a third of all teenage pregnancies end in abortion, “people on both sides of the abortion debate agree that educating adolescents about how to prevent unwanted pregnancy is a major step toward reducing the need for abortions” (Sex Education).  Therefore, teaching students about contraceptive methods could in turn lower the abortion rate in the United States.  The use and effectiveness of condoms would be discussed in this program.  “The lack of knowledge about how to use a condom effectively and the lack of motivation to use one every time mean that condoms fail much more often than they otherwise would” (Sex Education).  A study done by the CDC found that when condoms are used consistently and properly there is only a 2% failure rate (Sex Education).  If teenagers are taught about condoms then they will be able to use them effectively.  Condoms can also greatly decrease the risk of STD transmission.  Sexual behavior is the number eight modifiable cause of death in the United States (Schneider).  Many of those deaths are attributed to STDs and AID.  Teenagers need to be educated so that preventable deaths, STD transmission, and pregnancy rates can diminish.

            Scientists and the general public support comprehensive sex education meaning that the government needs to change their abstinence-only policy.  The current policy does not include the entire audience, leaving some adolescents unsure of where they fit.  Expecting all teenagers to abstain until marriage is an unrealistic teaching method. Comprehensive sex education would still focus on abstinence as the safest and most ideal choice for every student.  However, it will teach contraceptive and STD prevention methods.  This could then lower the pregnancy and STD rates among students who choose to become sexually active before marriage.  Public schools need to adopt a comprehensive sex education curriculum with a strong focus on abstinence to best educate teenagers. 

Working Works Cited

“Abstinence-Only Education.” Issues & Controversies on File. 11 Sept. 2006. Issues & Controversies. Facts on File News Services. Cooper Lib., Clemson U. 31 Mar. 2008.

Brody, Jane E. “Abstinence-Only: Does It Work?” New York Times Jun. 2004:F7. ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times. Cooper Lib., Clemson U. 12 Apr. 2008

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Masland, Molly. "The Sex Education Debate: An Overview." At Issue: Sex Education. Ed. Kristen Bailey. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Cooper Lib., Clemson U. 9 Apr. 2008.

“Results of recent studies reported by University of Pennsylvania, U.S.” Biotech Business Week. (2007): A07. LexisNexis. LexisNexis. Cooper Lib., Clemson U. 4 Apr. 2008 .

Schneider, Mary-Jane. Introduction to Public Health. 2^nd ed. Boston: Jones and Bartlett, 2006.

Seagren, Alice. “Making a Case for Abstinence-Only Sex Education.” Contemporary Issues Companion: Teens and Sex. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Cooper Lib., Clemson U. 31 Mar. 2008 .

"Sex Education." Issues & Controversies On File 5 Jan. 2001. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services. Cooper Lib., Clemson U. 9 Apr. 2008.

"Sex Education: Statistical Update." Issues & Controversies On File 22 Mar. 2007. Issues & Controversies @ FACTS.com. Facts On File NewsServices.  Cooper Lib., Clemson U. 31 Mar. 2008 .

"Update: Teen Pregnancy." Issues & Controversies On File 6 July 2007.Issues & Controversies @ Facts.com. Facts On File News Services. Cooper Lib., Clemson U. 31 Mar.2008 .

Weiten, Wayne. Psychology: Themes and Variations. 7^th ed. California: Thomson Wadsworth, 2007.

Wetzstein, Cheryl. "Sex-Ed Found to Prolong Teen Virginity: Two Studies Concur." The Washington Times 20 Dec. 2007. Lexis Nexis. Cooper Lib., Clemson U. 14 Apr. 2008.