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Matthew Hullihen

McLaughlin

English 12

5 February 2018

Sexual Education is Necessary

Due to the fact that 95% of people between the ages of 18 and 44 have premarital

sex, proper sex education needs to be taught in schools. Not only is it important to teach

heterosexual education, but also homosexual education as well. With that it will help

students deal with the depression that can potentially come with being homosexual or

questioning in a straight based sex ed program. Because of the 46% of reported teens

being sexually active high schools should be required to teach proper sex education and

not use an Abstinence-Only based program.

Sex education refers to any instruction that covers issues relating to human

sexuality and its reproductive health. In the united states there is no law that mandates

that method of contraceptive be included in sex educations and the word condom is not

encouraged. There are 16 main topics that should be taught in a high school sex ed

program and only half of the high school in america do.43% of adolescent females and

57% of adolescent males say they did not receive the proper information on birth control

before they engaged in sexual activity. Teaching the proper methods of sex education and
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contraceptives will help with the high rate of teen pregnancies and they would be less

likely to contract STDs, and will also help teens discover the full potential of their bodies.

To receive federal funding for sex education programs in high school, you are

required to promote abstinence only programs. Studies have found that abstinence only

programs have little to no effect on reducing pre marital sex. Not only do they not teach

proper sex education, they also riddled with misinformation, which in return could lead to

more STDs and pregnancies in young adults. Some students have reported learning these

“facts” in there high school abstinence only programs. “Half of the gay male population

has HIV or AIDS.” “touching a person's genitals can result pregnant.” “HIV can be

spread through sweat and tears.”

There are some teens who will take a “virginity pledge” to stay away from having

premarital sex but most still have the tendency to to partake in Outercourse. Outercourse

is sexual activity that doesnt include vagial or anal sex. Outercourse can be taught in a

Comprehensive Sex Education program which discusses the benefit of abstaining from

sex but also offer factual information about sexual orientation, masturbation, birth control

methods, abortion, oral sex and other issues that wouldn't be covered by and abstinence

only program. Outercourse will really lower the risk of STDs and pregnancies but is still

possible.

Abstinence is the only 100% effective birth control method and the only way to

100% avoid STDs, and with being abstinent you will be more likely to have less sexual
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partners in your lifetime. Many people think that teaching their children in detail sex

education programs and even including homosexual information will be to contradicting

and they will have to much “useless information”. The parents or guardians of the teens

need to understand that the information isn't to persuade them into thinking that it is

“good” “bad” “wrong” or “right” to be sexually active and/or homosexual. It is more to

guide them into adulthood knowing as much as they can about themselves and others,

and being safe if they do decide to become sexually active.

The evidence above shows that teens would be better of properly informed about

sex. Even if they choose to refrain from premarital sex, most kids will not and they need

o be properly informed on the right precautionary measures to take to remain sexully

safe. We do not need to remove the teaching of abstinence but we do need to remove

teaching abstinence only programs.

 
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Works Cited
“Abstinence and Outercourse.” ​Planned Parenthood​, Planned Parenthood Federation of

America, 2018, www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/abstinence-and-outercourse.

Accessed 1 February 2018.

Alterman, Eric, and George Zornick. “The Abstinence Only Sex Education Curriculum Is Biased

and Dangerous.” ​Are Textbooks Biased​?, edited by Noah Berlatsky, Greenhaven Press, 2012.

At Issue. ​Opposing Viewpoints in Context​, http:// link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/

EJ3010816211/OVICU?u=pl2127&xid=e0271544. Accessed 10 Jan. 2018. Originally

published as “Think Again: The Costs of Enforced Sexual Ignorance.” Center for American

Progress, 8 May 2008.

Curtis, Tenesha. “Sex Education Programs Should Teach That Homosexualtiy is Natural.”

Homosexuality​, edited by Cynthia A. Bily, Greenhaven Press 2009. ​Opposing Viewpoints​.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010143290/OVIC?u=

pl2127&xid=b8b9aed3. Accessed 9 Jan, 2018. Originally published as “Should Education on

Homosexuality Be Added to Sex Education in Schools?” www.helium.com, 2008.

“Sex Education.” ​Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection​, Gale 2017. Opposing Viewpoints in

Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/PC3021900154/OVIC?u=pl2127&xid=aafae22d.

Accessed 12 Jan. 2018.

“What Does It Mean To Be Sexually Healthy?” ​Planned Parenthood​, Planned Parenthood

Federation of America, Inc., 2018, www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sex-

and-relationships/sex. Accessed 11 Jan. 2018.

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“What’s the State of Sex Education in the U.S.?” ​Planned Parenthood​, Planned Parenthood

Federation of America, Inc., 2018 www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/for-educators/

whats-state-sex-education-us. Accessed 11 Jan. 2018.