Sex Education: Abstinence In Public Schools

In a modern American paradigm, many young adults constantly face the desire to participate in sexual intercourse. Many events could influence an individual’s decision, including recreation, relationships, or even alcohol or drug use. Sexual intercourse has flourished into an inevitable altercation among American teenagers. Adolescents constantly experience coercion in regard to sexual contact, and the concept of intercourse has portrayed ample controversies. Among teenagers, the yearning for sex surpasses the subconscious need to reproduce, and a moral dilemma which arises in terms of one substantial concept: Abstinence. Many teenagers first absorb the concept of abstinence through sex education; however, the content of abstinence-only sex
While some courses educates its students on significant topics, a wide array of sex education courses advocate, if not force, abstinence. The coercion of abstinence in sex education has led to an increase of birth control purchases, teen pregnancies, abortions, and sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers. According to “Sex Negative,” the federal government contributes 85 million dollars yearly to 25 states that require its educators to emphasize abstinence as the best method to avoid pregnancy and other health conflicts. Only 10 of those 25 states inform their students of contraception. The other states, which are not required to stress contraception, tend to portray teen pregnancy and infant mortality rates (Andrews). A 2005 poll showed 15 percent of parents supported abstinence-only sex education. The surveyed parents advocated more significant topics should arise from sex education, such as sexually transmitted infections, abortion, and contraceptives. The poll states, “most parents and most adolescents do not see education that stresses abstinence while also providing information about contraception as a mixed message” (Santelli et
Due to the unsuccessful intentions of abstinence-only sex education, many individuals become sexually active at a young age. A recent study shows that the average woman in 1970 engaged in intercourse at age 19.2, and first wed at age 20.8. Contrariwise, the average woman in 2002 first had sex at age 17.4 and did not encounter her first marriage until age 25.3 (Santelli et al). The age gap between first intercourse and first marriage continues to widen, and a logical solution, is to present the concept of sex education to individuals at a much younger age. Many individuals participate in sex education during middle or high school; by this time, many individuals “have begun experimenting sexually” (Sex Education Has Failed). A logical solution to this dilemma is an earlier introduction of sex education. Introducing sex education to individuals at a younger age - possibly fourth, fifth, or sixth grade - may increase abstinence rates. If an individual does, have sex, the probability of safe sex is much higher, due to an earlier education. A wide array of sex education programs incorporate the prognosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as a consequence of engaging in sex prior to matrimony. One in four teenagers will also obtain a sexually transmitted disease