Why is sex education so important?

There is a lot of controversy concerning sex education in our public schools. Honestly, I understand the argument - parents should be responsible for teaching their children about sex. I agree with that statement. In an ideal world children would learn everything they need to know about sex from their parents (and possibly their doctors, too). However, that is not the world we live in. It's easy to say that parents should be educating their children, the tough part is actually getting them to do it. The fact of the matter is that most parents are not talking to their children about sex. Whether it is because they are embarrassed, uncomfortable, or simply lacking information, it is not happening. According to a national survey, by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, only 1/4 of adolescents had discussed sex with their parents. That means that 3/4 of teenagers were not learning about sex at home - knowing this, how can we say that children should only be learning about sex from their parents?

I think it's really tragic that parents are either not willing or able to discuss these important matters with their children. In another survey (also by the National Campaign) which interviewed thousands of teens, 88% of them claimed that they believed it would have been easier for them to postpone sex if their parents would have talked openly (and informatively) with them about the subject. By directly bringing up the topic and having open discussion about sex parents can have a major impact on their children's behaviors and views. Unfortunately in the majority of households this is not happening.

That is why sex education is necessary in every school. While it would be ideal for parents to educate their own children, it is not happening. In fact most teens learn about sex from their peers and the media, which means that the information they are receiving is often inaccurate and biased. In this day and age every child should be receiving comprehensive health education, including sex education. With teen pregnancies on the rise again, and the growing number of teenagers and young adults with Sexually Transmitted Infections it is vital for every student to be educated about sex, reproduction, and contraceptives. People who believe that sex education is simply teaching their children that it is okay to have sex (or how to have sex) are gravely mistaken. Sex education is about teaching students to understand their bodies and how they work. It is about teaching students what to do in difficult situations, how to handle peer pressure, and how to stand up for their personal beliefs. It is about giving students the confidence to respect themselves and the choices they make. Educating students gives them all of the necessary tools they need to make informed appropriate decisions. For all of these reasons and more sex education is essential in our schools.