The Importance of Educating Children on Premarital Sex

973 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importance of sexual education in school

Many people expect for their children to wait until marriage before they engage in sexual activities. The reality is, today 75 percent of both American men and woman have had premarital sex by the age of 20 (Potter). As teens go through puberty, their hormones increase and make them more likely to want to engage in sex going to have sex regardless of what their parents tell them to do which is why I believe that age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education programs are important to have in school. As I also believe that parents should talk to their children about safe sex as well. Previously being a kid myself, I know that many feel that sex is an uncomfortable subject to talk about with their parents, and the parents may feel the same way, which is why they don’t talk to their kids about it and tell them to wait until marriage. Why risk your child’s health by them potentially contracting a sexually transmitted disease or becoming pregnant solely because you think premarital sex is “unethical”? By the assistance of these programs children learn the importance of contraception, how to have sex through the teachings of a professional and it can help open up better relationships with their parents.
Contraception plays an important role in having sex. Depending on their age, children need to be taught about birth control, including condoms and emergency contraceptives if needed, way before having sex. These versions of contraception can help reduce the risk of women becoming pregnant and help both partners from contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes, which is not curable only treatable. Teen pregnancy is increasing and this because of the teaching of sexual abstinence in schools. Many teens that become pregnant...

... middle of paper ...

...hat Bell included in her article both groups, those who participated in abstinence only and those who didn’t, reported that the use condoms were the same does not justify anything. If I were still an adolescent 9th or 10th grader and an adult asked me if I use protection while having sex I would lie and say “Of course!” because of knowing its wrong and don’t want to be embarrassed. Therefore, I stand by my opinion that age appropriate sexuality programs should be taught in schools rather than waiting until marriage, an abstinence only approach, or none at all. Not only will teen pregnancy rates go down, but also children learn how to protect them selves from sexually transmitted diseases. If parents are trying to equip their children for a better tomorrow, then topic of sex needs to be dealt with in a smart, productive and educational setting by professionals.

Show More
Related

  • Abstinence vs. Comprehensive Sex Education

    1345 Words  | 3 Pages

    It has been almost thirty three years since the first federal funding was put to use in “. . . sex education programs that promote abstinence-only-until-marriage to the exclusion of all other approaches . . .” according to the article “Sex education” (2010) published by “Opposing Viewpoints in Context;” a website that specializes in covering social issues. Since then a muddy controversy has arisen over whether that is the best approach. On one hand is the traditional approach of abstinence (not having sex before marriage), and on the other is the idea that what is being done is not enough, and that there needs to be a more comprehensive approach. This entails not only warning against sex, but also teaching teens about how to have “Safe Sex” (“Sex Education,” 2010).

    Read More

  • Should Public School Students be Given Birth Control Pills?

    696 Words  | 2 Pages

    The second reason for contraceptives being given to teenagers, will help them avoid many dangerous Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) associated with unsafe sexual practices. Studies have shown an increase in unprotected sexuality among teenagers can result in a wide-range of social problems, such as STDs. The topic of birth control in public schools has attracted much support from the American public, according to statistics surveyed. For example, a 2006 Associated Press-Ipsos survey discovered that 67% of Americans support the provision of contraceptives to students. This study also determined that, “About as many - 62 percent - said they believe providing birth control reduces the number of teenage pregnancies” (Associated Press).

    Read More

  • The Influence of Sex Education on the Younger Community

    1734 Words  | 4 Pages

    The “talk” about sex has never been a topic many like to discuss with tweens or teens, but it has to be addressed sometime during their lifetimes. Sex is a natural experience that is used for reproduction and the building of an emotional connection. However, many teens engage in pre-marital sex and have no knowledge about protecting themselves. Sex education teaches about human sexuality and how abstinence should be practiced to prevent sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) and unplanned pregnancies. Yet, sex education classes are mostly for those in college. Sex education is not meant to encourage sex, but hopefully steer students into having safe sex or no sex at all. Becoming aware about the consequences of having sex among the tween and teen community needs to be established and understood. If parents have a hard time giving the “talk” about sex, then the subject should be discussed with a trained individual instead of being avoided. Without knowledge teens will explore things without caution. Sources indicate that the argument to allow sex education within public schools, such as middle or high schools, is whether the benefits of learning about sex at an early age will outweigh the risks of experiencing sex without advanced knowledge.

    Read More

  • Teen Pregnancy, By Hadi Danawi, Zenobia Bryant And Tala Hasbini

    2078 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...own. Bratsis went onto argue that the reason for the decline could possibly be to public ad campaigns, particularly ones that display the downsides of being a young mother. Bratsis (2015) also argued that 86% of teens claimed that they the last time they had sex they used contraception, namely condoms and birth control (12). The author pointed out that we need to educate teens in the benefits of using long-acting reversible contraception instead of condoms and birth control. Bratsis suggested that we should take away the barriers, increase availability, access and awarenss of this type of contraception because it can prevent pregnancy for three to 10 years depending on which method is used. However, teens do need to be aware that they do not prevent STDs. Bratsis believes that educating teens about this contraception will help reduce the teen pregnancy rate.

    Read More

  • Birth Control: Available to Teens?

    649 Words  | 2 Pages

    Those who disagree think providing birth control promotes promiscuity and premarital sexual activity. In the article “At Issue: Birth Control Availability,” the author argues that access to birth control and other contraceptives for teens would make them think their behavior is acceptable. The author states, “Providing free condoms and other birth control methods sends the message that premarital sexual activity is acceptable” (“ProQuest”). The opposition believes birth control would promote promiscuity and make it seem acceptable. Although some believe that birth control encourages promiscuity, the fact that teens are sexually active has not changed; therefore, access to birth control can only encourage safe sex. Kim Grundy, author of “The Teens and Birth Control Debate,” argues that teaching abstinence wastes time. Wendie Howland, editor of Journal of Nurse Life Care Planning, declares, “Abstinence hasn’t worked for thousands of years as a reliable way to avoid teen pregnancy” (qtd. in Grundy). Howland and Grundy argue that abstinence has not worked in the past, and will continue not to, therefore; birth control should become available to teens.

    Read More

  • Abstinence-Only Sex Education In Schools

    1003 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Each year, U.S. teens experience as many as 850,000 pregnancies, and youth under age 25 experience about 9.1 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs)” (McKeon). These shocking statistics are conspicuous to any ordinary American, yet the United States schools have taken little initiative to teach effective sexual education. Sex education programs in the U.S. mainly fall under two categories – comprehensive or abstinence-only. Abstinence-only sex education programs present abstinence as the only effective means to prevent teenage pregnancy and sexual transmitted diseases and infections; whereas comprehensive sex education programs teach abstinence as a secondary choice, while also informing students about birth control and contraceptives. Comprehensive sex education should be the only sex education method taught in schools because it is the most effective technique to keep students well-informed, prepared, and safe.

    Read More

  • Teen Pregnancy: A Personal Journey

    1024 Words  | 3 Pages

    In an article by choices pregnancy care center, “Reports indicate that there are approximately 1 million teenagers in America that become pregnant each year. Seven out of ten teens have engaged in sexual intercourse by their 19th birthday. Teens have 18% of all the abortions the United States. 78% of teen pregnancies are unintended. Of all the teenage women that become pregnant, 35% choose to have an abortion rather than bear a child” (Choices). In a recent study of schools done by Guttmacher institute, “72% of U.S. public and private high schools taught pregnancy prevention; 76% taught abstinence as the most effective method to avoid pregnancy, HIV and other STDs; 61% taught about contraceptive efficacy; and 35% taught students how to correctly use a condom as part of required instruction. 60% of females and 55% of males are being taught about birth control and other forms contraceptives” (Guttmacher). Most girls believe taking a form of birth control such as the pill will prevent them from becoming pregnant but they are wrong. No contraceptive is 100% effective and there are even case of women getting pregnant with the highest form of birth control which is the IUD. Most boys believe that just because a girl is on a form of birth control that she cannot get pregnant but unfortunately, they are wrong, men still need to wear a form of protection to reduce the chance of pregnancy even more. Of the percentage of girls who get

    Read More

  • Annotated Bibliography: Advocates For Youth By Sue Alford

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... abstinence provides such as a decreased risk in contracting STIs and HIV. Lowen has a B.A in English and attended graduate school for communications at Syracuse University. She also received the Exceptional Merit in Media Award from the National Women 's Political Caucus in 2009. Throughout her piece, she states that abstinence promotes focus in school and decreases a teen’s emotional vulnerability. She also adds that abstinence is free and doesn’t come with any side effects, whereas other contraceptives do such as birth control pills. I will use this source to support my counterargument and to emphasize the importance of abstinence, especially when it is a personal choice. I will also use this information to explain why abstinence and comprehensive education should be taught together in order to have an effective sexual education course in middle and high schools.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Birth Control

    919 Words  | 2 Pages

    In today’s day and age, people are becoming sexually active at younger and younger ages. Without proper education, people do not know better and in turn have more unprotected sex. Many parents become outraged at how early their

    Read More

  • Teen Pregnancy Prevention

    2297 Words  | 5 Pages

    The rise of the teen pregnancy rate has caused us to question the effectiveness of the prevention programs that are offered to adolescents. There have been several programs focused on preventing teen pregnancy from abstinence-only to more comprehensive sexual education programs. Abstinent-only advocates believe that abstaining from having intercourse is the only way to prevent unwanted teen pregnancy. While practicing abstinence is the only 100% secure method of reducing this rate, it is not a logical view. Adolescents will continue to have sexual behavior, and it is important in teaching them more precise education when it comes to sex education. With-holding important information and facts about sexual behavior can change an adolescents’ life forever. Whether it be from teen pregnancy or from a life threatening STD.

    Read More

  • Sex Education For Public Schools

    1534 Words  | 4 Pages

    The government likes to pretend that if high school students get taught the “abstinence-only” method they would never think of taking part in sexual activities. Statistically this is incorrect. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “56 percent of high school students are virgins”(Martin). For the 56 percent abstinence only is doing them well, but there are still 44 percent of high school students engaging in sex without knowing the precau...

    Read More

  • The Issue of Sexually Active Young Teens

    700 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sex before marriage has always been a major issue. Teen pregnancy seems to double yearly: with no sign of stopping. Some teens use contraceptives and birth control incorrectly. They think pregnancy just can’t happen to them. In a lot of cases their embarrassed to buy protection or just simply unsure of how to use them. Many unplanned pregnancies happen beca...

    Read More

  • Teenagers Need Safe Sex Education

    1128 Words  | 3 Pages

    Three million teenagers will contract a sexually transmitted disease and one in three women will become pregnant before they are twenty years old. Teens are contracting sexually transmitted diseases and getting pregnant at an alarming rate causing the government, schools, and parents to scratch their heads. America is the country with the highest teen pregnancy rate in the world. Many are wondering what can be done to stop this. A debate has been going on about whether abstinence only education is doing any good for high school students in America. Abstinence only education teaches teenagers to abstain from all sexual acts until they are married. It does not teach about pregnancy or the different types of contraceptives that are available to prevent pregnancy. On the other hand, there is safe sex education. Safe sex education teaches teenagers facts about intercourse they need to know, acknowledges the potential consequences or risks of sexual behavior, and helps them make better decisions to protect themselves and their bodies.

    Read More

  • Sex Education : A Hot Topic Of Debate

    911 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sex education in our schools has been a hot topic of debate for decades. The main point in question has been whether to utilize comprehensive sex education or abstinence-only curriculum to educate our youth. The popularity of abstinence-only curriculum over the last couple of decades has grown largely due to the United States government passing a law to give funding to states that teach the abstinence-only approach to sex education. But not teaching our children about sex and sexuality is not giving them the information they need to make well educated decisions. Sex education in our schools should teach more than just abstinence-only because these programs are not proven to prevent teens from having sex. Children need to be educated on how to prevent contracting sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies and be given the knowledge to understand the changes to their bodies during puberty. According to the Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Kindergarten-12th Grade from the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), comprehensive sex education “should be appropriate to age, developmental level, and cultural background of students and respect the diversity of values and beliefs represented in the community” (SIECUS).

    Read More

  • The Lack Of Sex Education

    1318 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Forty-one percent of teens ages 18-19 said they know nothing about condoms, and seventy-five percent said they know nothing about the contraceptive pill” (Facts on American Teens). Even if schools taught just abstinence it still would not be enough. “In 2007, a study showed that abstinence only programs have no beneficial impact on the sexual behavior of young people” (Facts on American Teens). Sex education is not taken as seriously as it should be in schools, it is treated like it is not a big deal. Schools should require a sex education class that specifically teaches students about sex and goes into depth of all the possible consequences because of the high pregnancy, abortion, and virus rates.

    Read More

More about The Importance of Educating Children on Premarital Sex

Open Document