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Sex Education in Schools - Argumentative Essay

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Sex Education in Schools - Argumentative Essay
English 102
November 7, 2011
Sex education in schools
It seems that Teen Pregnancy has become a trend. With television programs such as “16 and Pregnant” and films such as “The Pregnancy Pact”, sex is not as taboo a subject as it may have been decades ago. Teens are beginning to experiment with sexual activities at earlier ages. Sex education, normally taught in high school, comes in two different forms: abstinence-based sex education and comprehensive sex education. Abstinence sex education stresses the idea of waiting until marriage to become sexually active. Comprehensive sex education instructs students on the use of contraceptives such as condoms and birth control. Comprehensive sex education should be taught in schools because it informs students about possible contraceptives and abstinence, makes students aware of the consequences of unprotected sex, a reliable source of accurate information, and it is more effective in educating teens about sex.
The main benefit of comprehensive sex education is that it informs students that abstinence is the best method for the prevention of teen pregnancies and STD’s (Sexually Transmitted Diseases), while also informing students of contraceptive options such as condoms and birth control for those who decide to become sexually active. Comprehensive sex education is not used to teach young adults that it is appropriate to start engaging in sex, but it gives them the valuable information that is necessary to protect themselves. The comprehensive sex education curriculum is also beneficial to a student who decides to wait to participate in sexual activities, as they are still aware of the dangers and risks of unprotected sex, as well as the means to protect themselves.
The curriculum also puts the valuable information in appropriate forms instead of using vulgar terms and explicit depictions of sexual acts. However, those who believe that abstinence sex education is appropriate feel that, “Contraceptive sex education


Cited: Friedman, Jane. "Teen Sex Do Abstinence-only Programs Discourage Teen Sex?" CQ Reasercher Online. 16 Sept. 2005. Web. 09 Nov. 2011. . Huber, Valerie. "Should Children Be Taught Sexual Abstinence Do Children Have Rights?" Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Web. 10 Nov. 2011. . Malone, Patrick, Rodriguez, and Monica. "Comprehensive Sex Education vs. Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs." Academic Search Complete. EBSCO, 2011. Web. 08 Nov. 2011. . Miner, Barbara. "Children Have the Right to Comprehensive Sex Education." Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Web. 10 Nov. 2011. . "Sex Education." Planned Parenthood Action Center. Planned Parenthood. Web. 9 Nov. 2011. .
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