Sex education in school

It is good to have sex education in school. It’s good for teens to know what happens when they eventually have sex, the risks and what precautions to take. Parents don’t always talk to their kids about sex, so it’s good if a teacher will educate them.

In Oklahoma there’s a high rate of teen pregnancy. Some teens don’t know the first time you have sex you can get pregnant.”The first time I knew how you got pregnant and about birth control was after I was pregnant, “said a Tulsa teenager. In 1994, the Legislature created the Interagency Coordinating Council for Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Disease.

The agency was looking for better priorities and funding resources. The previous council thought abstinence should be of many topics in the health curriculum, the Chairman Dr.John Crouch thought abstinence should be the main focus. (Pearson, 1996)

“Oklahoma ranks 13^th in US in birthrates for females 15-19.” Gonorrhea is highest among teens there too.

Lots of teens don’t know that STD’s can cause infertility, dangerous tubal pregnancies, miscarriages, premature births, blindness and HIV.

Many schools in Oklahoma are reluctant to have sex Ed, the teachers think it will encourage teens to have sex (like they need encouraging) and shows them how to have sex (as if they don’t know already) (Pearson, 1996)

 Teens with good information about sex are more likely to make educated decisions. Studies have shown pregnancy prevention programs with certain elements result in lower pregnancy rates.

Many agree that abstinence should be stressed, that should be the goal. Lots of teens want to say no to sex they just need to know how to cope and say No. One teen study participant said, “We need to learn how keep from getting into risky situations.”

Teen birth rates show- that other teens will engage in sex, so birth control and STD prevention should be part of the program too.

So teens should be taught about sex in schools. They should now about different birth control pills, condoms and abstinence as well. They should be taught just because you’re in high school doesn’t mean you have to have sex. The more they are taught the less STD’s and teenage pregnancies.

Bibliography

Pearson, J. (1996, February 11). Birth Control//Abstinence Not Only Solution to Oklahoma's Teen Pregnancy Problem;[Final Home Edition]. Tulsa World , p. 3.