Pros and Cons of Sexual Education Being Taught in Schools

Sex is a topic that cannot be avoided when it comes to curious young teens. As children grow, they accumulate knowledge over the years about various subjects to prepare them for the future. Children learn from schools, parent, life experiences, friend and what they watch, and it can be either positive learning or negative learning. There is one topic that is difficult to teach and have control over because of misunderstanding, lack of teaching and society.

Sex education in schools can lead to a much healthier behavior in life later on for students. They would be able to actually plan for children instead od having a child unexpectantly as a teen. “Sex education has positive effects, including increasing young people’s knowledge and improving their attitudes related to sexual and reproductive health and behaviors.”

Sex education has been a major debate for children under eighteen, only because some parents want it taught in schools and others don’t because of various reasons. One reason some parents are fearful of their child with sex education is because they cannot picture their child participating in sexual activities, even though it is still possible. Most parents are scared for their children to be exposed to sex but they should always want them to be educated and aware of many consequences that can come with sex. Even those parents who are for sex education in schools sometimes still feel uncomfortable about approaching their children about sex. They feel more comfortable allowing them to learn about it in schools.

Secondly, sex education in public schools can keep students aware of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Many students are just always told not to condone in sex, that can make them grow curious and they can possibly do it without knowing what could actually happen. Plenty of students who have had sex before has either been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease and/or an unwanted pregnancy. Sex ed class can teach students about practicing safe sex so pregnancy and diseases can be prevented.

Another reason sex education can be a disadvantage is because some people feel as if parents should teach their children about sex instead of schools. If more parents were to sit their children down and talk to them about sex their children would grow to be more comfortable with talking to them about it. For example, if a child is curious and possibly wants to become sexually active they wouldn’t hesitate talking to their parents about it and their parents will make sure they are aware of condoms and birth control. When it comes to sex children more than likely have their minds made up when their ready to become active and all the parents can do is make sure their child is practicing safe sex.

Some parents also feels as if you give a teen condoms it’s basically telling them its okay to have sex but its better to be safe than sorry. For example, Texas Freedom Network Education Fund quoted “Giving a condom to a teen is just like saying, well if you insist on killing yourself by jumping off the bridge, at least wear these elbow pads”

One more reason sex education can be an advantage is because students would be able to educate other students about abstinence and/or practicing safe protected sex. They will also encourage each other not to do it instead of pressuring each other to do it.

In conclusion, sex education in schools has advantages and disadvantages both to individual students, society and also some parents. However, most of the opposition (parents) of sex education is based on the assumption that once young teens are aware of the possibilities of sexual activity, they will indulge in it. Research has shown that sex education does not have significant effects on sexual behavior or outcome. It should never hurt a young teen for being educated about sexual activities, teens should always be aware of some things that come with sexual activity.  

Works Cited

1. Chin, H. B., Sipe, T. A., Elder, R., Mercer, S. L., Chattopadhyay, S. K., Jacob, V., ... & Community Preventive Services Task Force. (2012). The effectiveness of group-based comprehensive risk-reduction and abstinence education interventions to prevent or reduce the risk of adolescent pregnancy, human immunodeficiency virus, and sexually transmitted infections: Two systematic reviews for the Guide to Community Preventive Services. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 42(3), 272-294.
2. Kohler, P. K., Manhart, L. E., & Lafferty, W. E. (2008). Abstinence-only and comprehensive sex education and the initiation of sexual activity and teen pregnancy. Journal of Adolescent Health, 42(4), 344-351.
3. Lindberg, L. D., Maddow-Zimet, I., & Boonstra, H. (2016). Changes in adolescents’ receipt of sex education, 2006–2013. Journal of Adolescent Health, 58(6), 621-627.
4. Morgan, M., Gibbs, S., Maxwell, K., & Britten, N. (2015). Hearing children’s voices? Including children’s perspectives on their experiences of living with parental alcohol problems in assessments and reviews. Child Abuse Review, 24(2), 92-104.
5. Planned Parenthood Federation of America. (2021). Sex education: Get real. Retrieved from https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/for-educators/sex-education
6. Santelli, J. S., Kaiser Family Foundation, & American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. (2017). Sex education in America: A view from inside the nation’s classrooms. Journal of Adolescent Health, 61(3), 297-304.
7. Schalet, A. T. (2011). Not under my roof: Parents, teens, and the culture of sex. University of Chicago Press.
8. SIECUS: Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. (2021). Comprehensive sexuality education. Retrieved from https://siecus.org/what-we-do/sexuality-education/
9. UNESCO. (2018). International technical guidance on sexuality education: An evidence-informed approach. Retrieved from https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000263037
10. World Health Organization. (2010). Developing sexual health programmes: A framework for action.