Sex Education in Schools

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Sexually transmitted disease and unexpected pregnancies are an increasing problem in America. Many public school systems have been working to mitigate these problems through the teaching of sexual education in school. However, many schools are still using an outdated and ineffective system known as abstinence-only programs. These abstinence programs are set on an unrealistic goal to stop everyone from having premarital sex. In addition, those who go through abstinence-only programs are put at greater risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases and getting pregnant unintentionally. Abstinence-plus programs, which teach contraceptive uses in addition to abstinence, would greatly reduce the risk to those who have premarital sex while still discouraging it. Abstinence-plus programs are even developed better than abstinence-only programs in that they are more effective in discouraging student from having premarital sex. This efficiency may be why a majority of the American population is in support of the teachings of contraceptive uses.
A report by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy stated that seventy-four percent of adults believe that young people should learn about contraceptive uses in addition to the benefits of abstinence (Albert 7). So why do some schools still teach abstinence-only programs? It is clear that these abstinence-only programs are outdated and unwanted. In addition, it is common knowledge that many people will have premarital sex.
It is an unrealistic goal to believe that abstinence-only programs could stop premarital sex completely. According to a study published by Public Health reports, ninety-five percent of American men and women have had premarital sex (Finer 73). How do abst...

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...on is going to have premarital sex, so the most responsible solution is to at least teach them how to be safe when doing so. Not teaching students contraceptive uses can be extremely harmful.

Works Cited
Albert, B. “With One Voice 2012: America’s Adults and Teens Sound off About Teen
Pregnancy”. Washington, DC: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. (2012) Web. 4 April 2014
Finer, L. Public Health Reports, January-February 2007; Vol. 122: pages 73-78. News release, The Guttmacher Institute n. pag. Web. 5 April 2014
Rosenbaum JE. “Patient teenagers? A Comparison of the Sexual Behavior of Virginity Pledgers and Matched Nonpledgers. Pediatrics. Vol.123 pages 110-20 (2009) Web. 5 April 2014
Santelli J. et al. “Abstinence and Abstinence-only education: a review of U.S. policies and programs”. Journal of Adolescent Health. (2006) Web. 4 April

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