Point: What Is The Most Appropriate Setting For Sex Education?

Not having complete sex education in schools is not just a political issue. It is dangerous and negligent.

Parents bear the brunt of responsibility for educating their children about sex and its consequences; however, parents vary in their beliefs and their teachings. Universal education about sex itself, the consequences, and how to protect oneself is crucial to promoting common sense in today’s teenagers.

In no way do I think that sex education should be taught to elementary school kids. The obvious level of psychological capability is very important, especially in pre-puberty. Post-puberty is the issue here.

Comprehensive sex education involves several components. The choice of abstinence is explained, as well as how to protect yourself if you make the decision to have sex. Teaching both is logical.

Those that are going to be abstinent, are still going to be abstinent whether or not someone exposes them to how to put on a condom. It is about personal choice, upbringing, and self-esteem.

The history of child-to-adolescent psychology is riddled with debate over maturity. Not all children reach the same milestones at the same time, and what we are exposed to environmentally definably affects us.

It bothers me to my core when religious activists condemn those who have had premarital sex, just as much as it bothers me that someone from Alabama is judged as less intelligent than a Californian. It is all subjective.

I fully understand that the Bible says that premarital sex is wrong. I also fully understand that teenagers have biological hormones and the need for peer validation, and often do things that pose threats to their futures.

For many teenagers, sex is going to happen, and it is the responsibility of their educators, whether they are parents or teachers, to provide enough information for teenagers to make decisions.

Education in a school or at home doesn’t determine the choice a person will make more so than personal choice. Imperatively, self-esteem should be taught in schools from day one. Self-esteem and self-respect are the crucial components of personal choice and need to be reinforced at home and at school.

As a psychology major I cannot stress to everyone that reads this that when you have children to tell them that they are beautiful and listen to them speak, because if you don’t, they will find someone that will and you might not like what comes of it. It starts with you.

In comprehensive sex ed, fidelity and intimacy need to be emphasized. If the connection to love and sex is reinforced rather than just talking about hormones and biological science all day, then perhaps our paradigm will change about sex.

Sex can not be painted as a selfish act; it needs to be shown as an intimate act, which is something that has not been happening across the board.

Locally and conservatively, condoms are looked at like sex toys, and no one seems to know that Trojans are better than Lifestyles because the conversations are so taboo to have. They need to be had.

Someone you care about might one day be proven human and have sex out of wedlock.

Would you rather them have a condom or be on birth control than end up with chlamydia or a baby? Don’t they deserve the full story rather than just an empty speech on morality?

In the heat of the moment, people don’t think. Today’s teenagers should be fully aware of the consequences of their actions, and abstinence-only education will leave them ignorant with educators to blame.