Salt Lake Community College

Sex Education in Schools

Whether its abstinence or safe-sex it needs to be taught

Jennifer Joiner English 1010 Professor Dursema

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I chose to write my research paper about sex education. This topic interests me and I have a strong opinion regarding whether or not safe sex education or abstinence-only sex education should be taught at school. I often think that you would never send an army into battle without having them properly trained and prepared. This is the same feeling I have regarding teaching sex education at school. I find it interesting how many parents dont talk to their children about sex while in the home. Many parents have the opinion that if they dont talk about sex that their children wont be interested in having sex. Unfortunately that idea backfires and then parents deal with their children having children simply because children are curious and dont have the necessary information. I have had a lot of experience with young women asking questions regarding sex. Many are afraid to ask their parents and arent sure who to ask. Some of their reasons for not asking their parents were because they were either afraid that their parents would think that they were currently having sex or that they were planning on it soon. Both reasons were untrue and the main reason was because they had heard phrases at school and wanted to know what it meant. I began researching this topic idea by visiting my local city library. Of course I found several print books regarding the topic sex education.

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However not many print books could be found regarding teaching sex education in schools. The first round of research was helpful yet I needed to turn to the Internet to find statistics and more current information. After fine-tuning my paper I found that some of my original works cited entries didnt make the cut of the paper. The biggest problem I see with my paper is that I dont think I made a clear stance regarding teaching an abstinence only sex education versus a safe sex education course clearly enough. This was mainly because Im not sure that I know how to define that as well as I should have. Im hoping that this problem can be resolved after a peer and instructor review. Staying on track with the issue was more difficult that I thought it would be. I felt it necessary to give a clear definition and history and then build from there. Im hoping that this gave the reader a better understanding of what I was trying to portray.

Joiner 4 Sex Education: Whether Abstinence or Safe-sex Needs to be Taught in Public Schools As children progress and grow into teenagers their bodies develop, which in turn creates their interest in the opposite sex. This results in an increase of not only pregnancy but also sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers. When teenagers have been educated and taught sex education the rate of both teenage pregnancy and STD drop considerably. The objective of sex education is to teach sexual anatomy, reproduction, intercourse, birth control options, abstinence, and understand sexual responsibility. Sex education is taught in a variety of ways. Whether it is a section of a biology class, a health class or a required sexual education curriculum, teens get some kind of sexual education through their high school education. No matter which type of education a teen receives it will help so they can make healthy choices in their behaviors, health and social interactions, additionally reducing the rate of teen pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. Given that sex education will be taught while a child attends school, the debate continues as to whether not educators stick with basic sex education or teach strictly an abstinence only sex education. The Beginning Planned Parenthood Federation of America, now known as Planned

Parenthood, was founded by Margaret Sanger in 1916. In the 1930s sex education materials were being made by the U.S. Office of Education. By 1968, the U.S. Office of Education awarded a grant to New York University to make a program to train sex-education teachers. The American School Health Association started a family

Joiner 5 life education program in 1953. In 1955, five pamphlets were published by the American Medical Association and the National Education Association. Those pamphlets are referred to as the sex education series for schools (Pardini). Planned Parenthood currently has over 800 clinics open across the United

States. Margaret Sanger and her sister originally opened the first birth control clinic in Brooklyn, New York. After her mother had 18 pregnancies, bore 11 children and died at the age of 40, Sanger felt it necessary to help women have additional options. The current mission of Planned Parenthood is to provide reproductive and complementary health care services, educational programs, and promote research and advanced technology in reproductive health care. Kindergarten-12th grade Many wonder at what age should sex education be taught to children.

Introducing graphic material and detailed sex education at the middle school level becomes not only beneficial, but also the perfect timing. Middle school is the age childrens bodies are developing and their sexual interest levels are heightened. Dennis M. Walcott, The Chancellor of The New York City Department of Education, sent a letter to all parents of students attending grades 9-12 at the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year. The letter explains that the New York State Department of Education requires a one-semester health education course in middle school and high school. Due to religious beliefs and customs, students are able to be excused by their parents from some of the teachings. However, it is mandatory for all students to attend the abstinence or other sexual health education

Joiner 6 lessons. Walcott explains, Sexual health education lessons are important because we have a responsibility to provide our students with accurate information and communication skills to help them make decisions that can keep them healthy and safe. The state also mandates a HIV and AIDS program for students aged Kindergarten through twelfth grades. The Department of Education states that all of the lessons are age based appropriate (Walcott). In 2011 the Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted a survey among 11,570 students who attend 102 different high schools in New York City. These students ranged from 9th grade to 12th grade, and varied in all races, all of which attended the sexual education course, Reducing the Risk. It was reported that 32.1% of the females and 43.9% of the males surveyed had already had sexual intercourse. The Department of Educations Reducing the Risk program is designed to teach students to wait to have sexual intercourse, for students that are sexually active to use contraceptives and for parents to become more involved and communicate with students about abstinence and contraception. Statistically speaking The Kaiser Family Foundation recently came out with the following statistics

regarding sexual activity: Nearly half (47%) of all high school students report ever having had sexual intercourse in 2011, a decline from 54% in 1991 (Sexual Health). Additionally, reducing the risk of not only pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, those that were surveyed reported the following: In a nationally representative survey of high school students, 67% of males and 54% of females

Joiner 7 said they had used a condom at last sexual intercourse (Donovan). Im waiting Abstinence-only sex education is defined in several different ways. One describes teaching adolescent that the only way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy is to not have sexual intercourse (Fisanick). Another defines it as postponing sex or just not having vaginal sex (Dallard). Additionally, abstinence-only sex education is also defined in moral terms, by using words such as virgin (Fisanick). Along the same lines the program has also been referred to as Abstinence-only-until-marriage, which encourages teens to wait to have sex until when they are married. The United States government has been funding abstinence-only sex education programs since 1996. Each state has the opportunity to apply for federal grants as long as they submit a curriculum that effectively teaches abstinence. By doing so those who receive federal monies are not allowed to teach about safe sex and contraceptives. Some people believe this creates ignorance among teens of what to do if they do have sex (Fisanick). Unfortunately, those who have been taught the abstinence-only-before-marriage sexual education are less likely to use contraception during their first experience of sexual intercourse (Fisanick). The Debate Since the government doesnt have any real evidence that the abstinence- only sex education program is actually working their focus has changed to promote the prevention of HIV. This justifies the spending of millions of dollars in the United

Joiner 8 States. After months of debates, public hearings and reviews of sexual education materials, a North Carolina school board had to eliminate certain chapters in their 9th grade health textbook in order to comply with their abstinence-only government funding in 1997 (Donovan). The chapters that were removed from the textbook included contraception, sexually transmitted diseases and sexual behavior. National polls state that 80-90% of adult support sex education in schools (Dallard). Those parents want more than just abstinence-only sexual education taught, they want the education to also include instruction on contraception and sexually transmitted disease prevention. The term safe-sex education has been created to merge the idea of teaching abstinence right along side of teaching the prevention of STDs and pregnancy. Primarily parents, alongside with educators, teach teenagers not have sex until they are emotionally and physically ready. They also teach teenagers, if they are going to be sexually active the ways that they can engage in sex safely. Solution Since students are given a human biology education since Kindergarten, they

probably understand the human anatomy. Teaching a second grader how to properly use a condom would be ridiculous. However, teaching that student about how to report sexual abuse would be more appropriate. Teaching younger grade level kids about basic human anatomy and what is private is realistic. Teaching children as much education as you can is the key to preventing STDs as well as teen pregnancy. Ideally sex education should begin at home and be taught by parents. Giving teenagers different scenarios and education will give them the information

Joiner 9 that they need, when sexual intercourse is presented, to decide whether or not to engage in sex, engage in safe-sex, or engage in abstinence only.

Joiner 10 Works Cited Dallard, Cynthia. Understanding 'Abstinence': Implications for Individuals, Programs and Policies. The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy. Guttmacher Institute, December 2003. Web. 19 July 2013.

This fact sheet compiles a huge list of facts and references that backs up their claims. The article offers many current statistics regarding teen pregnancy and how it relates to social issues. This reference will be helpful with the more current statistics and will provide what federal policy is on the issue. Donovan, Patricia. School-Based Sexuality Education: The Issues and Challenges. The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy. Guttmacher Institute, July/August 1998. Web. 19 July 2013.

The Guttmacher Institute has been around for over 50 years. The mission statement is to generate new ideas in educating the public about sex education. Even though this article was written several years ago, the article proves that the issues have stayed constant over the years. Fisanick, Christina. Teen Rights and Freedoms. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven P, 2012. Print.

The author gathered a lot of statistics relative to teen abstinence and pregnancy in schools. The author explains the legal rights of teens in a very understandable manner. This reference was chosen due to the amount of statistic. The majority of the statistics found in my research paper come from this book.

Joiner 11 Pardini, Priscilla Abstinence-Only Education Continues to Flourish. Sexual Health of Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States. KFF.org. Kaiser Family Foundation, 28 March 2013. Web. 28 July 2013 Rethinkingschools.org. Winter 2002/2003. Web. 27 July 2013.

The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit foundation that focuses on major health care issues around the United States. This particular statistics sheet was gathered in March of 2013. With up to date statistics are highly beneficial for the paper. 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Study. Nyc.gov. N.p, N.d. Web. 27 July 2013. This website explains a lot of the samplings and responses from how the New

York City Health Department gathered their information in making the decisions to teach sex education in the schools. The study gives interesting numbers about how many students are actively engaged in sexual activity. Walcott, Dennis M. Sex Education in New York City Schools. The New York City Department of Education, September 2012. Web. 20 July 2013

This cite offered a great example of an actual letter sent home to parents of students living in New York. The Department of Education is extremely reputable, has researched the topic and found the best solution that works.