Should sex education be taught in schools?
The question now isn't really should sex education be taught, but how it should be done. Over 93% of schools currently offer classes on sexuality or HIV.
Kids need this information. They need it to be able to protect themselves. The US has double the pregnancy rate of any other western industrialized country. More than a million teenagers become pregnant each year. HIV infection is most widely spread through the younger generation.
Sex ed has not worked the best for all students because knowledge alone isn't enough to solve the problem. Programs that tell kids to change their behavior isn't going to work. Often the programs start in high school--long after students have started experimenting with sex.
Reducing the Risk is a program in California that does behavior theory-based activities to prevent unprotected sex. Another program that is successful is Postponing Sexual Involvement, a program for African-American 8th graders in Atlanta. That program used the 11th and 12th graders to talk to the younger students. They can be found on the web by clicking here. Healthy Oakland Teens (HOT) targets all 7th graders in Oakland, CA. 9th grade peer educators lead different programs for them. They can be found on the web by clicking here.
Although sex ed programs have been around for a while, they are not as effective as hoped. Educators need to take a look at their programs and implement programs that will be effective to their students. Our children deserve the best education we can give them.
For additional information, please check out the following sites:
- U.C.S.F.--Does Sex Education Work?
- National Children's Bureau--Support and guidance on all aspects of sex education
- Sex Education--Understanding students' opinions toward sex education
- Avert--Does Sex Education Work?
- The Sex Ed. Dilemma--How much to teach? A map will show you the sex ed requirements in your state.
- Sex Education--A resource kit for educators