Birds and the Bees
Elizabeth Salerno
April 23, 2013
Ethical Essay
Dr. Hobbs 1302
The Birds and the Bees
Parents always seem to agree on education being a vital aspect of life. Knowledge of literature, math, and philosophy can help students go far beyond their expectations; however this process starts with awareness at a young age. One topic that is widely neglected in education is sex. Sexual education classes vary tremendously across the nation; while some schools insist on hiding the facts from children, others are much more open with discussion. Abstinence only classes are popular among educators, but statistically they are highly ineffective. As sex becomes a reality for younger aged students, it is necessary for schools to provide suitable sex ed classes to reduce teen pregnancy and STD rates. This has turned into an ethical problem, with educators hiding information from students; they are also sheltering them from reality.
Sex education has been a debatable topic over the past decade. Whether the government should get involved by requiring sex ed classes, or step back and let the parents handle it, is the question everyone is discussing. There are two schools of thought about the type of education your child is taught, Comprehensive Sexuality Education, or Abstinence-Until-Marriage programs. Both are very opposite ends of the spectrum, and it usually depends on the state or school district you were brought up in to determine which lesson is taught.
Recently North Dakota, Texas and Arkansas, who are states with the most restrictive abortion laws, are currently pushing a bill that would defund both Planned Parenthood and sex education programs for at risk teenagers (Bassett par. 1). While these few states preventing education, many other sates are moving the other direction with comprehensive sex programs at the start of schooling. The Comprehensive Sexuality Education is a program that brings up age appropriate sex topics and covers many categories, from safe sex,
April 23, 2013
Ethical Essay
Dr. Hobbs 1302
The Birds and the Bees
Parents always seem to agree on education being a vital aspect of life. Knowledge of literature, math, and philosophy can help students go far beyond their expectations; however this process starts with awareness at a young age. One topic that is widely neglected in education is sex. Sexual education classes vary tremendously across the nation; while some schools insist on hiding the facts from children, others are much more open with discussion. Abstinence only classes are popular among educators, but statistically they are highly ineffective. As sex becomes a reality for younger aged students, it is necessary for schools to provide suitable sex ed classes to reduce teen pregnancy and STD rates. This has turned into an ethical problem, with educators hiding information from students; they are also sheltering them from reality.
Sex education has been a debatable topic over the past decade. Whether the government should get involved by requiring sex ed classes, or step back and let the parents handle it, is the question everyone is discussing. There are two schools of thought about the type of education your child is taught, Comprehensive Sexuality Education, or Abstinence-Until-Marriage programs. Both are very opposite ends of the spectrum, and it usually depends on the state or school district you were brought up in to determine which lesson is taught.
Recently North Dakota, Texas and Arkansas, who are states with the most restrictive abortion laws, are currently pushing a bill that would defund both Planned Parenthood and sex education programs for at risk teenagers (Bassett par. 1). While these few states preventing education, many other sates are moving the other direction with comprehensive sex programs at the start of schooling. The Comprehensive Sexuality Education is a program that brings up age appropriate sex topics and covers many categories, from safe sex,