Good Example Of Should Children Be Taught Sex Education In Schools Essay

For the past several decades sex education has been taught within schools. At the elementary level children in 5th grade are first introduced with discussion about menstrual cycles and puberty. In middle school, sex education is taught separately to girls and boys. At the high school level, students are taught in unisex classes where it is discussed at length, leaving little to the imagination. It is sometimes incorporated in health and physical education classes. It is also part of family-life class curriculums.
Knowledge is power and teaching children sex education in the proper way helps them to gain an understanding about it unlike what they might learn elsewhere. This gives parents the opportunity to discuss sex education with their children. It also provides an open line of communication between children, parents, and teachers to discuss this sensitive topic. Children need to know that there is nothing to be embarrassed about. Further, teaching sex education in schools takes away the taboo that is sometimes associated with sex education because of its contextual meanings.
Some parents are opposed to their children being taught sex education in school. These parents are proponents of teaching abstinence instead. They believe that teaching sex education promotes promiscuity and serves as a means to condone sexual activity when various forms of birth control are discussed. Rather than being a resource in which to educate children, it is viewed as a means of teaching children the art of sexual intercourse. The biggest fear is that as a result children will act on what they have learned; especially with knowing and understanding the preventative measures for avoiding pregnancy.
A survey conducted by Babychild.org (2011), “found that over half of the 1,700 parents surveyed thought that their child should not be taught about sex in school.” Parents felt that it was inappropriate. They also felt that teaching sex education to their children should be left solely up to their discretion and responsibility. To the contrary, parents surveyed also said that contraception should be the primary topic covered in sex education, followed by puberty, homosexuality, and sexually transmitted diseases. Many parents perceive sex education to be a sensitive topic that should be handled carefully and within their jurisdiction in order to protect their children’s best interests.
Sex education in schools has been a hotly debated topic since it was implemented within schools many decades ago. Proponents for both sides have valid reasons for and against it. If it is handled the right way, there is nothing wrong with educating children about sex education. With all the technological advances freely available to children now, (i. e. the Internet), the biggest concern should be that if they are not taught in schools about sex education, natural curiosity may take over. Parental involvement in the process is warranted and necessary to ensure transparency and peace of mind about what their children are learning.

Work Cited

"Parents Oppose Sex Education for Young Children." Perspectives in Public Health 131.5 (2011): 194. ProQuest. Web. 15 Apr. 2015.