Literature Review
Education is an essential ingredient in the development of an individual’s self but still it cannot prevail without the endeavor and pursuit of societal advancement. Sex education is a type of education which provides sexual information to children. A formal sex education serves as instructions for the health and well-being of the adolescents and young adults (Fatima, 2013). While examining the status of sex education in the society, an observer figures out that the tendency of defining sex education is at a broader scale than formerly. Sex education is redefined in terms of emotional and psychological aspects of sex (Kirkendall and Hamilton, 1954). Sex education is a process through which information is delivered to the group of young adolescents and takes into account all the happenings that occur during the period of growth from childhood to mature adults (Esere, 2008). Formal sex education, following a curriculum based plan, is a key strategy for promoting safer sexual behaviors for adolescents (Lindberg and Maddow, 2012). A comprehensive sex education is a very fundamental part of making the young children equipped with essential skills to help them achieve a healthy family life, thus this idea of promoting comprehensive sex education is highly supported by the U.S health professionals (Lindberg et al., 2006). The idea of teaching sex education is supported but the thought process is that which values should be taught and the attitudes towards the teaching of sex education (Marsman and Herold, 1986). After conducting surveys with the adolescents’ parents in the US, results showed that majority of them approved and supported the idea of teaching sex education in the public schools (Alexander, 1984) The wh...
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... training of a sex educator, as it is evident that there is a need of the development of the systematic training programs for the sex education teachers (Carrera, 1971). It is very important to form ones’ own belief and biases before proceeding in the field of teaching sex education. As the teachers had developed their own practical and personal knowledge in their teaching style of sex education and which strategies would they apply. Mostly the teachers reported that in the beginning the implementation of the strategy of presenting cognitive factual knowledge should be done. Once the children are provided with the information at this stage, some teachers stop at this level, while others move on to the socio-emotional and relational topics. This is how the sex education teachers go about in providing knowledge in this field of study to the children (Timmerman, 2009).
Since the HIV/AIDS epidemic began in the U.S. in the early 1980s the issue of sex education for American youth has had the attention of the nation. There are about 400,000 teen births every year in the U.S, with about 9 billion in associated public costs. STI contraction in general, as well as teen pregnancy, have put the subject even more so on the forefront of the nation’s leading issues. The approach and method for proper and effective sex education has been hotly debated. Some believe that teaching abstinence-only until marriage is the best method while others believe that a more comprehensive approach, which includes abstinence promotion as well as contraceptive information, is necessary. Abstinence-only program curriculums disregard medical ethics and scientific accuracy, and have been empirically proven to be ineffective; therefore, comprehensive sex education programs which are medically accurate, science-based and empirically proven should be the standard method of sex education for students/children in the U.S.
Masland, Molly. “The Sex Education Debate: An Overview.” Sex Education. Ed. Kristen Bailey. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. At issue. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.
McAvoy, Paula. “The Aims Of Sex Education: Demoting Autonomy And Promoting Mutuality.” Educational Theory. Academic Search Premier, 1 Oct. 2013. Web. 24 Jun. 2014.
What is acceptable when it comes to teaching kids about sex education? “What Schools Should Teach Kids About Sex” by Jessica Lahey uses more of a logical approach to the issues of sexual education given to adolescence, compared to “Sex Education Is One Thing” by Anna Quindlen which tells more of her personal story and opinion using pathos to connect to the audience. After reading both articles about sex education, it is clear that there are many different interpretations of what qualifies as sex education, who is qualified to teach it, and what should be included in the curriculum. Both writers believe that there should be more sex education taught to high school kids but they go about it in different ways, using rhetorical appeals of logic versus pathos.
Teenage sexual activity is a major problem confronting the nation and has led to a rising incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and teenage pregnancy. The existence of HIV/AIDS has given a sense of urgency to the topic of sex education. The issue of sex education in schools especially in the formative years has been a subject of intense debate among parents, school officials, health scientists and religious authorities worldwide for a considerable period of time. The debate centers on comprehensive sex education versus abstinence-only sex education in school. Abstinence only sex education is a sex education model that focuses on the virtue of abstinence from sexual activities; therefore, encouraging sexual abstinence until marriage. This form of sexual education completely ignores all other elements of comprehensive sexual education like safe sex and reproductive health education issues like the use of contraceptives and birth control methods. Comprehensive sex teaching encourages promiscuous sexual activity as “a natural part of life.” Proponents of abstinence only education activists cite several reasons why this type of education is the best. It focuses on the upholding of moral virtues. They also claim that sex outside marriage hat is “encouraged” by the comprehensive sex education which as a result, has some emotional and physical downfall especially when done at a very young age. They blame the comprehensive sex education for failing to discourage premarital sex especially at this time when the HIV pandemic is busy devouring young people in various parts of the world (Deborah 2). In fairness, both programs were designed to decrease the incidence of STDs...
From a young age, children are bombarded by images of the rich and the famous engaging in torrid public affairs or publicly discussing their increasingly active sex lives. No longer is sex education left to teachers and parents to explain, it is constantly in our faces at the forefront of our society. Regardless of sex education curriculums and debates about possible changes, children and teenagers are still learning everything they think there is to know about sex from very early on in their young lives. However, without responsible adults instructing them on the facts about sex, there are more likely to treat sex in a cavalier and offhanded fashion. According to Anna Quindlen’s essay Sex Ed, the responsibility of to education children about sex is evenly distributed between teachers and parents.
Sex education in public schools has been a controversial issue in the United States for over a decade. With the HIV and teen pregnancy crises growing, sex education is needed.
It is evident sexual education in schools can provide students with substantial knowledge and skills to make informed decisions for sexual behaviours (Mueller, Gavin & Kulkarni, 2008). That being said, there is a significant lack of acceptable sexual education being provided to adolescents throughout the school system. This in turn requires the majority of adolescents to turn to their peers and family members for information and guidance. The film The To-Do List demonstrates the shortage of sexual education provided in schools, and results in the main character having to seek external sources for information. The problem with turning to outside sources for information is that is tends to be unreliable. Without formal information and proper facts being provided, students truly do not understand most components of sex. This unawareness could result in unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections as well as other sexual health concerns.
Sex and relationship education (SRE) is supporting children through their moral, physical and psychological aspects of growing up to be an adult, and making sure they have knowledge on relationships, sex, human sexuality and sexual health (Sex Education Forum, 2010). There are three main elements in SRE, the first element is attitudes and values, which is about developing positive values and be able to consider moral issues before they make their decisions on having intercourse (Kirby, 2007). The second element is personal and social skills, which is about teaching children to have the confidence to value themselves and others to become respectful for individual conscience and the skills to judge the kind of relationship they want; the third element is about accessing the knowledge and understanding of human sexuality, reproduction, sexual health, emotions and relationships (Kirby, 2007). The potential effect of SRE should be seen in these three areas, which includes reduction in teenager pregnancy, and the chances of getting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and being sexually assault, etc. As SRE can either be given at home to the child by parents, in school by teachers, or in youth organizations, alternative educational institutions, or youth offending organizations by Shine staffs or trained peer educators and volunteers (Levy 1992). This essay is mainly going to focus on the teacher-led SRE given in school and discuss whether it is beneficial or not, with the support of the positive outcome of children having SRE in relation of STDs, pregnancy and peer violence, and also the actual fact of SRE being not useful, supported with the data of teenagers not receiving the knowledge they should have been taught in SRE, and high te...
How much sexual knowledge adults should give to adolescents has been discussed for decades to decrease teenage pregnancy and sex related diseases. According to The National Campaign to prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy (2013), the U.S. has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy among developed countries, and about sixty eight girls per thousand became pregnant in 2008. To change this situation, the U.S. provides two kinds of sex education: abstinence-only sex education and comprehensive sex education. In contrast, Japan has one of the lowest rates among developed countries. Summing up the birth and abortion dates, at least 34,220 girls became pregnant in 2011 (Japanese Ministry of Health, 2011). Even though Japan has less teen pregnancy, lack of practical sexual knowledge has caused several tragic incidents in recent years. To give sexual knowledge to children, Japan provides fact-based sex education. Moreover, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are becoming serious problem recently. According to World Health Organization, 490 million people get STIs yearly (2013). To avoid teen pregnancy and STIs, sex education plays an important role for adolescents. However, because there are several programs, what adolescents learn is different depending on the kinds of sex education. Among the three kinds of programs provided in the U.S and Japan, comprehensive sex education is the most effective one. This paper focuses on the sex educations in the U.S and Japan and describes their features and effectiveness.
...ive amount of research, it is obvious that sex education in the United States is an important topic to teach in schools. This is something that can affect not only the students body, but also their future. It must be taught. Students not only need to know the consequences of having sex, but also how to protect themselves and their partners. The comprehensive approach has been proven to be the most effective method on adolescents. In closing l, comprehensive sex education keeps students safe and well informed. Comprehensive sex education covers everything about sex and not just abstinence only. Empowering students with the knowledge to protect themselves from any situation is one of the most important aspects of sex education. Comprehensive sex education not only prepares students, but helps society grow as a whole by preparing American adolescents for their future.
Sex education should be increased in schools. Nearly one million women under the age of 20 get pregnant each year. That means 2800 women get pregnant each day. If students are educated about the effects sex has on their lives, it lessens their chance of having children at an early age. Knowledge about sex can also lessen the chance of kids receiving STDS.
Whereas, the Sexual Education program promotes safe sex and knowledge of the sex and it’s consequences. The motto would be, “Knowledge is Power.” As a result of this program has decreased the rate of unplanned pregnancy and sexual disease outbreak. This is why it is argued that Sexual Education should be taught in the public school system.
First, sex education gives the children general knowledge about the sexual side of life, such as the differences between boys and girls and puberty. Teachers must clearly and intelligibly ...
Shah, Amna T. “Sex Education: Its Importance and Need in the Society.” Ezine @rticles. 6 Dec.