Sex Education is Needed in Florida Schools

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When it comes to monitoring and ensuring the well being of school-aged children, the agendas of most our nation’s parents, teachers, and public education policy makers seem to be heavily focused on topics such as bullying, drug awareness, and social development. Although each of these issues is very important and deserving of the attention it receives, there is one topic-sex education in the public school system-that holds just as much relevance amongst today’s youth, and yet it continues to be denied the same consideration. With underage sex being one of the nation’s long lasting taboos, one would assume that effective Sex Ed programs in the public school system would be geared towards today’s youth. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be the case, especially for those residents of the state of Florida.
Reflective of the predominantly conservative mindset of the early to mid 1900s, the sex education programs in the Florida education system seem to focus primarily on “abstinence-only-until-marriage” (Support SIECUS). In other words, these programs preach that completely abstaining from any sexual activity is the only way to avoid potentially devastating consequences, such as teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Although this idea may be true, it is based on the faulty premise that all teens will adhere to such a policy, therefore, eliminating the need to educate them on other precautionary measures, such as contraceptives. Unfortunately, such hopes have proven to be unrealistic, resulting in the need for these programs to be readdressed.
As with all issues, there are many evident stakeholders who are continuously affected by Florida’s lack of an effective and standardized sex education program within it...

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... Deutch has even stated that “abstinence is the important message to start, but it’s not simply enough to hope that’s the only message that’s necessary” (Support SIECUS).
Although tax payers may not directly experience the effects of sex educations programs as much as the teachers, parents, and students, it is important that they’re assured their tax dollars are being used to support a program that better provides the youth with the knowledge and resource to practice safe sexual endeavors.

Works Cited

Pease, Jill. "Sex Education in Florida Schools Varies Widely, Not Available to All Students." University of Florida News UNIVERSITY of FLORIDA (2007): n. pag. News. 5 Nov. 2007. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. .
"Support SIECUS!" SIECUS. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. .

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