Should a real sex education program be taught in our public schools?

Question

I am 23 years old and i have a stong oppinion on teenagers and sex. I 100% believe we need a actual sex education program in our schools. not these so call abstinence-only program that has no real proof of doing anything good. Kids are having sex at 11 and 12 years old now, and some even younger. Parents are so naieve these days. they want to say if you dont talk about it, then our kids wont do it. but all that is a bunch of bs. they r doing it anyway. we definitly need to talk about it. parents to your childeren and also teachers to their students. some kids can not be open enough with their parents and ask certain things, but if put in a setting like a class room, where those kind of questions are normal and knowing that they wont get in trouble, we might just have lower teenage pregnancy rates and stds. so my ???, do you agree or disagree with sex ed in school. also how old where you when you first had sex? I'll go first, i was 16. i really wants some true feedback with this!

Answer 1

I am a mom of a 19 year old daughter and I agree with you 100%. I am age 48 and I first had sex at 14, without knowing the first thing about birth control or protection against diseases. I don't understand parents that think if they don't talk about sex with their children then they won't have it. Come on people wake up! My daughter came to me at age 16 and said that she wanted to start taking birth control pills even though she was not yet sexually active. She wanted to be prepared in case the situation came up. I thought this was very mature of her. I took her to her physician and gave her the privacy she needed for a one-on-one conversation with her doctor. I later spoke to her doctor and she told me that she thought it was great that my daughter could talk to me openly about sexual issues. Just because a parent consents to a daughter taking birth control does not mean you are giving permission to have sex. It just shows that you are realistic and are ensuring that your daughter is protected from pregnancy. We also further discussed the need for any partners to use a condom to avoid any STDs, etc. Unfortunately too many teens cannot go to their parents for these issues and I do think that a "real" sex education program should be offered at school.

Answer 2

I completely agree with you! Our high school isn't even allowed to mention birth control - they can only teach abstinence, which is completely ridiculous and very unrealistic. Then they also showed us a bunch of pictures of STD's and women giving birth to scare us off. I mean, it's definitely important to know about the risks of STD's and pregnancy, but that's not the only things there are to know. And learning about safe sex is so, so important. I can't believe people are so naive to think that the abstinence method would ever work. Most teens aren't stupid. We can handle real information, even if adults think we can't.

Teens are going to have sex either way, so the best thing for our society would be to educate them on everything. One thing that really bugs the crap out of me is that no one ever talks about the emotional aspect of sex. Having sex with a person creates a special type of bond with them, particularly if it's done within a loving relationship. I've had friends who had sex and then were so confused about how they felt that they came close to breaking down completely. The physical risks should definitely be addressed, as well as birth control, but there really needs to be more education on the emotions involved.

I was 16 when I lost my virginity to my long-term boyfriend, who was also 16 and a virgin. Thankfully we knew enough about birth control to use two methods - pills and condoms (better safe than sorry!). We're still in a very loving relationship, and we have such a strong bond. I don't regret having sex at all, but I know plenty of people who do. Just because it was the right thing for me to do doesn't mean it's right for everyone.

Answer 3

well i am 26 1/2 now and we had some sex ed in the schools i attended (not abstinence-only) we were taught about different forms of birth control and how it was to be properly used. i was 17 my first time (senior in hs) however...my mom was also very open with the subject with myself, my friends, and my female same aged cousins...lucky for us we had someone to ask real questions and get real answers from.

i completely agree that sex ed should be taught in schools some kids aren't fortunate enough to have a person like my mom in their lives and they learn what they learn on the streets...parents should get over themselves and talk to their children.

I also believe that in a sex ed program instructors should be allowed to show a movie called "Kids"...its about a group of teenagers that are sexually active. two girlfriends go to the clinic for a checkup and to get birth control. one has had multiple partners the other has only had 1-2 and the girl that was less promiscuous ends up being diagnosed with HIV...and the guy she got it from is going around sleeping with virgins (he doesnt know he's infected)--anyway this would be a real eye opener for people that think that nothing can happen the first time

Answer 4

Well I think that there should be a sex education at school. When I was in elementary our teacher taught us about reproductive organs etc. When I was in HS our teacher taught us about sex education, like the pros and cons of it. Although in the country where I grew up teen sex is not really a problem (but some of them do, not a huge number compared to other country) because of the culture where we try to abstain from sex till we get married, unlike here in the US that it's really a major concern.

Kids nowadays have lots of resources to find out about sex one example is the use of the internet. I agree that parents here in the US should discuss these matter on their children. I believe in the abstinence but parents can't really control their child and have their eyes 24x7 on their kids so I think is education a must.

Answer 5

I agree they should have one. When I was in 5th grade every friday for about six weeks we has a one hour class on sex ed. Then in middle school we had a whole section in health class about it and again in high school on sex ed and another one on parenting. They explained the process of how a baby is born, the risks involved, how to prevent pregnancy including all the birth control methods, and they taught about STD's and even showed pictures of many of them. I tell you that was just gross. It definetly worked for me but I know a lot of kids now that are getting girls pregnant and are shocked because they "used the pull out method." How stupid. Even parents are not aware of what is going on and are not properly educated to explain sex ed to their kids. Granted they try but it's always better when professional presents the facts. I think a well thought out and tasteful sex ed program would reduce the number of teen pregnancies and spread of STD's.

Answer 6

I completely agree with you! I had sex education in school. My class went out on a field trip to the Robert Crown center... I hope it's still there. It was SO educating! It was medical, technical, emotional, and everything else too! I still remember everything I've learned and everything I've seen. Both my parents were extremely uptight about it, when I try to ask a question. The only thing I got out of my mom was having a book shoved at me about how it's done, and then my dad plugging in a plug into the outlet, taking it out, and plugging it back in then saying "That's how it works." What the hell... Other parents are uptight and so wound up that they refuse to talk about it until it's too late, or until their kids are already through puberty and have no idea what's going on with their own bodies!! My step daughter's 14, has everything a woman should have, and doesn't even know what a gynecologist is, and doesn't even know what periods are for because of her lazy mother. It got to the point where she's started to ask me questions. I decided to take charge of her sex education because her school forbids it, and because her mother only named it "woman's day" and left it at that. She has NO idea what a pap smear is and she'll need one in just four years! I was dismayed at my parents' reaction, and outraged at my stepdaughter's mother's lack of action. Yes, promote sex education in schools!!! It should start at the age of 8, since some girls start at that age nowadays.

Answer 7

im 17and a virgin and i so agree with u absitnece only isnt working we need to be taught about what can happen from sex i think it would help if a teen mom came in to talk also it would help if they dumbed it down a little not to be rude its just they use so many technical terms its confusing i had sex ed when i was in 8th grade and i was 14 i still was confused though until i was 15 and accidentally saw porn i had no idea movement was involved or anything like that i mean they shouldnt teach us how to have sex but they should teach more what happens during u know what i mean? just saying abstinece only isnt working and they are making it way to hard fro us to understand
also my parents never told me about sex all i know about sex i learned from the internet,tv shows (dr,ruth u know) and porn and that seems sad to me that i had to figure this stuff out on my own instead of someoen telling me

Answer 8

you know what ill answer that question... i was 18 a month away from being 19, but i would have slept with my high school boyfriend becuase i loved him. He was the one who didnt want to rob me of my virginity knowing how important it was to me. Now i admit i was an older teenager, and part of that reason was that I did have a real sex education in school, both in high school and in junior high. Also i listned to a radio program every night called love line, hosted by a real doctor who answered questions. I paid attention. I did get threathened by my parent, but I made the decesion... plus i had stupid freinds who were sleeping with everyone and thier brother, and having pregnancy scares and std's and what not. I decided that was not for me... also i think that if parents were watching more and talking more thier kids wouldnt be in this kind of activiy at age 12! damn thats just stupid!! have a great day!

Answer 9

I think so too, sex ed should be a priority in schools, the abstinice only program doesn't work and it has been proven not to work. I was 15 my first time, a freshman in highschool and if my mom hadn't put me on birth control, I probably would have ended up pregnant because they never taught anything about it in school.

Answer 10

I go to a private school and we had a scientfic sex ed class in seventh grade along with a more laid back one... I'm 14 and have never had sex. I think they should have sex ed in schools 'cause frankly it scares the kids... all the talk of std's and pregnancy rates really freaks the kids out not to mention it helps them noe how to protect themsleves if they do decide to have sex. and as to the preson above me my schoool is catholic and it doesn't say no sex ur school is way to far in ur personal business.