The Elementary School Sex Education Debate
Grade School Sex Ed. 1
The Elementary School Sexual Education Debate
Sara Vanbuskirk
English Comp. 1
Professor Evans
November 29, 2011
Grade School Sex Ed. 2
Abstract
Controversy is rampant regarding the sexual education of grade school children. Some insist that it is prudent to educate children on this subject beginning as early as kindergarten. Others strongly disagree that earlier education has any effect at all on teen sex and pregnancy and, therefore, abstinence should be the focus. Lastly, we have those who believe advocating abstinence is appropriate, but agree that a more in depth sexual education is also necessary for those who are going to have sex anyway despite our best efforts to teach them otherwise.
Grade School Sex Ed. 3
The Elementary School Sexual Education Debate
It is unanimously agree upon that it’s important to educate students on a wide range of topics, especially during their most formative years. As part of their education, they are taught to understand their role in history. They are taught science to foster an understanding of the smallest particles of our world. While debates of what should be taught scholastically do exist, there is no debate more heated than the one concerning students’ sexual education curriculum. Opinions vary considerably on several points. When do we start teaching students about sex and the body? From what perspective do we frame the discussion? Since the curriculum of sexual education is not under any Federal mandate, the choice of what to teach and when to teach it is decided on a state by state, and even county to county, basis. Therefore, is it safe to say that all students are given a comprehensive account of sexual education? New Jersey, for example, aims “to bring sexual enlightenment to schoolchildren. In 1980 the state adopted one of the nation's first mandates for comprehensive sex education--or family-life education, as it is called there--and it was the very first
The Elementary School Sexual Education Debate
Sara Vanbuskirk
English Comp. 1
Professor Evans
November 29, 2011
Grade School Sex Ed. 2
Abstract
Controversy is rampant regarding the sexual education of grade school children. Some insist that it is prudent to educate children on this subject beginning as early as kindergarten. Others strongly disagree that earlier education has any effect at all on teen sex and pregnancy and, therefore, abstinence should be the focus. Lastly, we have those who believe advocating abstinence is appropriate, but agree that a more in depth sexual education is also necessary for those who are going to have sex anyway despite our best efforts to teach them otherwise.
Grade School Sex Ed. 3
The Elementary School Sexual Education Debate
It is unanimously agree upon that it’s important to educate students on a wide range of topics, especially during their most formative years. As part of their education, they are taught to understand their role in history. They are taught science to foster an understanding of the smallest particles of our world. While debates of what should be taught scholastically do exist, there is no debate more heated than the one concerning students’ sexual education curriculum. Opinions vary considerably on several points. When do we start teaching students about sex and the body? From what perspective do we frame the discussion? Since the curriculum of sexual education is not under any Federal mandate, the choice of what to teach and when to teach it is decided on a state by state, and even county to county, basis. Therefore, is it safe to say that all students are given a comprehensive account of sexual education? New Jersey, for example, aims “to bring sexual enlightenment to schoolchildren. In 1980 the state adopted one of the nation's first mandates for comprehensive sex education--or family-life education, as it is called there--and it was the very first
References: Santos, F. (2011). New York will mandate sex education. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/ etrieved 26 November 2011 from mandate sex educatition.html. Whitehead, B. (1994). The failure of sex education. The Atlantic Online. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/past/politics/family/failure.html. Houghton, Ph.D., P.M., Houghton, Ph.D., T.J. (2009). APA : The Easy Way (2nd ed). Aaron, Jane E. (2010). The Little, Brown Compact Handbook With Exercises (7th ed). Lester, J.D., Lester, J.D., Reinking, J.A., & Von Der Osten, R. (2010/2011). Strategies For Writing Successful Research Papers (Custom ed.)