Essay on Should we teach Sex Education to Minors?

Feed by Manisha Cat- Essay

We are providing many paragraphs, Essay in very simple language with the boundaries of different words here.  Here you can find Essay on hould we teach Sex Education to Minors? in English language for 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and banking or other competitive exams students in 550, 600 and 1500 words.

Essay on Should we teach Sex Education to Minors? - 550 Words

Over the years the subject of sex education has been a topic of argument for various critiques. It is such a sensitive issue that people do not feel comfortable discussing it in public. However, one needs to carefully study and analyze the costs and benefits of sex education before forming an opinion about whether to teach sex education to minors or not. The need for sex is as natural a need as other basic needs such as food, water, clothing, shelter, etc. No matter how hard parents try to keep their young children away from sex, this natural desire is hard to curtail.

Proponents of sex education argue that minors are deeply involved in sexual activities and it is vital they are provided with adequate sex education. They believe that minors would get access to information related to sex in any case so it is important that they are taught what they should know to live a healthy and protected life. If parents or schools don't provide sex education to children they would seek the help of other mediums such as the internet and would resort to watching pornography. Pornography damages the entire image of sex and eradicates the emotional element out of this spiritual act. Proper education on the emotional side of sex should be provided to young individuals so they could refrain themselves from getting into trouble. The proponents of sex education believe that sex education should be made part of the curriculum for students so that positive results such as fall in abortion rates and teenage pregnancy could be observed.

On the other side of the argument are the opponents of sex education for minors. Generally this category includes parents who are of the view that minors are too young to be provided with such information. They argue that there is no need of sex education at a young age as young children do not understand it so these children don't need to know about it. Parents of the East consider it to be religiously wrong to teach children about sex. It is considered to be something which is not to be discussed or spoken about with children. Many of the religions also stop children from acquiring sex education before marriage. According to these religions knowledge related to sex should only be shared with those who are about to get married as that is the time when it is absolutely necessary to tell them. Such people are ignorant of the fact that in this modern era children have various other sources to find about sex and it is practically impossible that they do not have the knowledge beforehand.

There are various statistics present to support the viewpoint that sex education is necessary at some point in time in life. It allows people to have protected sex and reduces the chances of having sex related diseases such as HIV Aids. It also results in a fall in the number of pregnant teenagers and consequently a decrease in the abortion rate.

It seems that the debate will continue for a long time to come as the issue of sex education is a sensitive one. Many of the people who hold strong religious values would continue to protest against it while there is a strong chance that people and governments in the West would make it part of their curriculum. Sex education for minors is a subject which needs to be researched extensively before actually implementing it at the school level.

Essay on Should we teach Sex Education to Minors? - 600 Words

The largest gulf of understanding still remains between the parents and the youth especially in the area of sexuality. Sex is a natural part of life, and when questions arise, they can be discussed in a matured way without condoning certain behavior. Relying to that, we realize that sex education is important to be inserted in a person’s life. Therefore, sex education in high schools is very necessary for youngsters to acquire information, form attitudes, beliefs and values about identity, relationships and intimacy. Sex education also encompasses sexual development, affection, body image and gender roles. In other words, it is about learning how we grow, reproduce and change over the years. It also includes a positive view of sex and the safety involved on sexuality. Regarding to the importance of sex education, I want to state my stand here that I strongly agree that “High schools must provide young people with adequate sex education because ignorance can be harmful”.

Sex education in high schools helps young people to be more prepared for life changes such as puberty, menopause and aging. Sex education can develop skills and self esteem to help students enter adolescence. It helps them in knowing that the sudden few changes are okay and normal. For example, girls would not get shocked, panic and afraid at their first menstruation once they already had the knowledge about it.

Young people can also learn to appreciate and recognize their own sex: bodies just as good, beautiful and special as other God’s perfect creations. Moreover, it delivers confidence on them to value themselves and others. Sex education helps them understand the place of sexuality in human life and loving other people. They will learn to enjoy their sexuality, behave responsibly within their sexual and personal relationships.

Youngsters are usually very curious to know all new things that came up to them especially abstract things such as sex. Despite that, sex education plays a major role in addressing concerns and correcting the misunderstandings that the youngsters may have gained from sources such as the media and their peers. In addition, they will learn to make decisions that respect themselves and others by taking account the possible consequences. For instance, youngsters will be more matured, responsible and social ills can also be reduced. Furthermore, research had shown that children that are subjected to sex education are more apparent to practice safer sex.

Some people might say that sex education could influence premarital marriage, leading to the increment of unwanted pregnancies. Conversely, a survey done in 1987 had shown that girls who were not educated about menstruation and sexual activity were much more likely to become pregnant during their teen years. There was also a statement from the Government Review of National and International Research in London that identified high school sex education as being effective in reducing teenage pregnancies. Based on the facts given, it clearly proves that sex education does not lead youngsters to social ills such as unwanted pregnancies. However, a slight problem might arise since sex education might be a new subject or program in most high schools. Therefore, the program should be planned carefully in conjunction with those who will participate and the parents. The program instructors also ought to receive adequate training and equipped with the required skills and knowledge to support the personal and social development of young people through sex education.

In conclusion, we must realize the importance of sex education being taught in high schools to students. This is to ensure the students that are our future generations will be well prepared to stand up against all the unexpected obstacles in their future. After all, “Education does not hurt, but ignorant does”.

Essay on Should we teach Sex Education to Minors? - 1500 Words

Introduction

Kids spend a better part of their childhood in school, and they learn a lot. After every academic year, they will have acquired so many skills like reading, writing, and arithmetic. At least those are the basics, but some schools go an extra mile in teaching subjects such as driving, social education and sex education. The later generates quite a buzz, and parents and policy makers have different opinions regarding its inclusion in the school curriculum. I believe sex is a part and parcel of human nature, and therefore sexual education should be mainstreamed in the school system. It should be taught as a pure science so that students can learn the facts about sex (Guttmacher, 2011). However, education on sexual matters should be crafted with suitability for the ages of learners in each level, and only relevant information should be taught.

Sex education should be taught in high schools to dispel common myths about sex. It is said that information is power and the same applies to knowledge about sexuality. Sexual reproduction is about life, and there are scientific facts about this process that is not necessarily common knowledge (Harrison, 2000). In uncovering common misconceptions about sex you, will discover that a good number of teenagers firmly believe that:-

1. A girl cannot get pregnant by vaginal intercourse as long as it’s her first time.

2. You cannot get STDs through oral sex.

3. Teenage boys know more about sex than girls do.

4. That you cannot get pregnant if you have sex while standing.

5. Douching just after sex prevents pregnancy, amongst many others.

All this is misconstrued information on what goes on during sex. So why should the curriculum leave out this program when teaching about human body in biology? After all, school is the best place to get factual information about a topic that is considered distasteful or embarrassing. Eske (2003) asserts that all public and private schools should educate on sexuality especially because it may not be dealt with at home. I believe teaching is what teachers do best, and if parents disagree with what their kids are taught, then they should tell their children how their beliefs differ. However, it is highly unlikely for factual scientific information to be different no matter the cultural background or beliefs. Therefore, having a comprehensive program as part of the school studies is the only way to change the mindset of teenagers who have varied beliefs about sex. This could help greatly in reducing teenage pregnancies and venereal diseases.

Sex education programs can also go a long way in educating students about the consequences of sex. Indeed we live in a world impacted by our sexual decisions. Statistics shows that close to 19 million STIs are reported each year in the US. Half of these infections are reported among teenagers and young adults (CDC, 2009). Teenage pregnancies are also very high with 10% of the births occurring in the U.S. involving adolescent mothers. This trend has however improved over the last decade, however, a big room for improvement remains. This includes teaching students, especially ones in high school on the consequences of pre-marital sex. This will equip them with information which can influence their future relationship decisions.

The best part of sex education is that it encompasses a range of relationships. When students learn about these relationships before they act on their sexuality, perhaps then they can understand why they should wait for a more appropriate time. Through sex education, students can also learn about various sexual vices that can be a danger to them. For example, they get to discuss the dangers of texting. This is a common practice among many teenagers which makes them vulnerable to predators on the internet. The school can even organize sessions where they can invite victims of sexual abuse who can talk to students. This can help the students learn from their experiences and avoids situations that may put them in such circumstances.

Through sex education, students can also acquire consistent knowledge and information to assist them combat peer pressure. It`s true that we are all defined by the decisions we make. However, consistent knowledge and information is vital before any decision can be made. This is why matters of sexuality should be taught from a very tender age. Even toddlers and pre-school children need information that they can protect themselves with. At these ages, the focus should be on the correct terminologies and who is allowed to touch what and where. And as they grow older, the conversation will change. When students learn the expectations that come out of a sexual relationships, they are better off in making the decision whether they will get into one or not (Kirby, 2007).

Sexual relationships are known to drain young people both psychologically and physically. Most students are not aware of this yet they want to progress academically as well as in sports. In fact, most of the young people do it because others are doing it. Invoking them to use concrete reasoning to make a decision on whether they need it or not may help them evaluate their choices. I believe the system owes this to every kid that is entrusted to them.

Students also get a platform for an open and honest discussion about issues relating to sexuality. When young people are growing, they need to understand and adapt to the psychological and physiological changes in the different stages of development. With appropriate counseling and continuous guidance, they can learn to control their sexual desires. Having an open forum where they can discuss challenges affecting them can actually boost their confidence to come out and seek help. And when they volunteer to ask questions or share their experiences, the rest of the students realize that they are not facing unique challenges. In many counseling and sex education sessions, the tutors or counselors try to tone down to an appropriate attitude. They give definite replies and avoid using a commanding tone. This gives students a chance honestly to challenge their choices which is a step forward in delaying the initiation of sex.

Every sane person has values and standards, even teenagers do, only that they are incoherent and sometimes misguided. When young people are growing up, they pick up a lot of things. As they progress on to the eighth grade, they know what is right and what is wrong regardless of where they learned it from. But during teenage years, there is a tendency to disregard rules. It may be as a way of seeking attention or for sheer fun.

During sex education, educators put forward various stands that one can make to take control of their sexuality. The debate may revolve around abstinence as the best policy for adolescents rather than teaching students about contraception (Guttmacher, 2011). These programs also teach students how to avoid tempting situations and how to handle unwanted advances. It is here where students are taught to create boundaries in their relationship with the opposite gender. Students learn about personal space and how they should respect other people`s personal space. They also learn that their intimate space is off limits. This way, students acquire a coherent set of personal values that guide them to make better decisions every day.

Regardless of these efforts, studies have shown that abstinence-only programs are barely effective in curbing STIs and unwanted pregnancies (Kirby, 2007). Therefore, some schools have gone ahead to assimilate all-inclusive programs on sex education programs that also entail information on contraception methods. This is only done to the age appropriate students, and it is not so much stressed. It is only for the purpose of empowering students so that even in making choices against abstinence they may be able to protect themselves; especially because it is highly unlikely that such issues are discussed at home. Ideally, most parents will not volunteer information about contraception to their sons or daughters for the fear of provoking their sexual interest. Comprehensive sex education is effective in reducing risk behavior among the teens (Eske, 2003). In a study of 48 comprehensive programs that taught both abstinence and use of contraceptives for the sexually active teens, two-thirds of these were found to have positive behavioral effects (Schuster et al., 1998).

Conclusion

Teenagers and young adults will engage in sex at one point or another. What is important is if they are equipped to make better choices? Sexual education is not just a program on sex; it encompasses many important teachings on life skills. Furthermore, it’s the only way to ensure that we do not leave the media, friends and the internet to equip kids with uncouth information on sex. More importantly, such programs instill decision-making skills on students. And while we leave for schools to teach students about facts about sex, parents should teach their children about morality.

Fastread.in Author Manisha Dubey JhaDear Reader, My name is Manisha Dubey Jha. I have been blogging for 3 years and through the Fast Read.in I have been giving important educational content as far as possible to the reader. Hope you like everyone, please share your classmate too. As a literature person, I am very passionate about reading and participating in my thoughts on paper. So what is better than adopting writing as a profession? With over three years of experience in the given area, I am making an online reputation for my clients. If any mistakes or wrong in the article, please suggest us @ [email protected]

Read More.


Go Back