Sex Education in Schools Abstinence-Only Programs Essay

Sex Education in Schools: Abstinence-Only Programs Teenage sexual activity is a major problem confronting the nation and has led to a rising incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and teenage pregnancy. The existence of HIV/AIDS has given a sense of urgency to the topic of sex education. The issue of sex education in schools especially in the formative years has been a subject of intense debate among parents, school officials, health scientists and religious authorities worldwide for a considerable period of time. The debate centers on comprehensive sex education versus abstinence-only sex education in school. Abstinence only sex education is a sex education model that focuses on the virtue of abstinence from sexual†¦show more content†¦Abstinence only program is the only approach that can contain the spread of HIV/AIDS, that instill moral values by discouraging fornication, that discourages the use of birth controls like condoms and that is widely accepted by parents. Why is abstinence only sex education t he best? In this era of HIV/AIDS, this is the best program that can be used to contain the spread of this menace (Deborah 5). In July 2005, a report from the Population Research Institute’s Weekly Briefing confirms the effectiveness of abstinence only program in combating AIDS in the Philippines: And the bill mandating the two-child policy includes sex education for Filipino children, even though abstinence-based efforts in the Philippines have been remarkably effective in containing the spread of AIDS†¦. The Filipino abstinence-based approach†¦has kept the Philippines relatively free of HIV infection. The adult HIV infection rate was a mere 0.1% in 2001, though the Philippines have a low condom use rate. Even Arroyo [the governor] ascribed this success to â€Å"good morality.† Yet results dont matter: The bill adopts the comprehensive sex approach that has failed everywhere (Miller). The same abstinence only model has worked in East African country of Uganda where evident drop in rates of HIV infection have been achieved. Uganda leads in Africa when it comes to infection rates, having dropped from 18% to 6% due to the consistentShow MoreRelatedShould Sex Education Be Mandatory?1364 Words   |  6 Pagesdebate whether young adults should receive sex education in their school curriculum. Statistics show that one-third of girls become pregnant before the age of 20. An increase in teen pregnancy could be due to the age of which females reach puberty. Today, there has been an enormous increase in young girls reaching puberty before the age of seven. Could encouraging sex education in schools decrease the amount of pregnant teens? The purpose of sex education is to educate adolescents of the consequencesRead MoreAbstinence Only Programs For Public Schools1383 Words   |  6 Pagesadvocatesforyouth.org, â€Å"abstinence only education teaches students to abstain from sex prior to marriage.† These program has been proven to be ineffective. Abstinence only education is ineffective because it is not conducive in reducing teen pregnancy rates and sexually transmitted diseases rates. Abstinence only programs are less likely to teach students about birth control and contraception and how to access it. These programs ha s not been shown to reduce teen sexual activity. Abstinence only programs became moreRead MoreComprehensive, the Right Approach to Sex Education989 Words   |  4 PagesComprehensive, the Right Approach to Sex Education Since the first sex education video, Human Growth was shown in public schools in the 1940s, sex education in school has remained a controversial subject (Bellafante 9.1). In the present however, it is no longer disputed whether or not sex-ed should be taught, but what should be taught in a sex education program. Conservatives and Liberals both agree that sex education in public schools is important but, their views on what should be taughtRead MoreAbstinence-only vs. Abstinence-plus1607 Words   |  7 Pagesare many problems facing teenagers these days. None are bigger than the issue of underage sex, and all the issues stemming from it. The number of teenagers becoming sexually active, pregnant, and contracting sexually transmitted diseases are rapidly on the rise. There is no simple fix, or easy solution to this problem. Sex education should begin at home, and extend to include an effective program in schools that reinforce a clear message of abstaining from sexual activity in addition to informingRead MoreThe Reality Of Abstinence Versus Sex Education1224 Words   |  5 Pages10 April 2017 The Reality of Abstinence Versus Sex Education Do you ever stop to wonder what goes through a teen’s mind? Maybe it s the late paper that wasn t turned in for English or the worry of coming home after school to family members being high as a kite, maybe it s the plans for their significant other later on or the so called special night they have planned together. Whether it be one of the topics mentioned or some far off random thought either way sex will be on a teen’s mind at someRead More Sex Education Essay1112 Words   |  5 PagesSex Education Two drastic Emergency Room cases were handled in 1998 at Mary Washington Hospital. Concerned mothers brought their 12 year old daughters into the hospital thinking they were suffering from severe stomach pain or even appendicitis†¦both girls were actually in labor (Abstinence, 2002). The United States has the highest teen pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates in the Western world (Planned Parenthood, 2003). Are teens getting enough knowledge on sex and how to prevent STDs and unwantedRead MoreTeenage Pregnancies And Std Contraction1342 Words   |  6 Pagesin rates of teenage pregnancies and STD contraction. What is it about the US and its approach to sexual education that produces such numbers amongst its youth? The prevailing sexuality education system in the US is abstinence-only sex education programs. Abstinence-only-until-marriage education in schools is highly destructive to its students in multiple ways. Abstinence-only sexuality education does more harm to students than good, and is shown to have adverse effects on its students. The CDC YouthRead MoreSex Education And Sexual Education Essay1326 Words   |  6 Pagesalways affected the essence and teaching of sex education in the United States in different ways. Various sexual education methods exits, however comprehensive and abstinence-only programs are the most commonly know in public schools. Although many schools in the United States prefer to give an abstinence-only lecture, the results shown proof that these programs are ineffective because it simply does not fit the reality we live in, comprehensive sex education works better, and they do not offer honestRead More Education Is Key: A Comprehensive Approach to Sex Education Essay1579 Words   |  7 PagesSex education is about informing students about sex so that they can make educated decisions when the time comes to have sex. Sex education helps students protect themselve s from unintended pregnancies, STDs, and HIV/AIDS. Students should leave a sex education course with the right tools so they make informed decisions about their sexual health and well-being. The goal of sex education is to provide a student with as much information as possible so that they can use the skills they learned inRead MoreSex Education And The Early 19th Century1204 Words   |  5 PagesSex education is instruction on issues relating to human sexuality, including emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, sexual activity, sexual reproduction, age of consent, reproductive health, reproductive rights, safe sex, birth control, and abstinence. Sex education that covers all of these aspects is known as comprehensive sex education as opposed to the abstinence only education that only promotes abstinence. Common avenues for sex education are parents or caregivers,