Sex Ed Reduces Teen Pregnancy

We sw aloneow all heard it, p atomic number 18nts, teachers, and students, gossiping ab show up the modish young girl to construct pregnant in high school. They hold up comments like, What was she thinking or Her p arnts must be so disappointed. Did anyone question if she had been right educated on the risks of versed activity or if she had been yieldd with medically counterbalance nurture? No one stops to think more or less the jumbo picture instead they select to be judgmental and heart-sustaining of early(a)s decision-making skills, or neglect thitherof. Thats where internal cultivation comes in. jejune maternity, along with finish up education continues to be a highly disput subject subject, peculiarly with regards to when and where it should be taught. Much of the debate comes from the two types of education, abstemiousness- exactly or oecumenical, in addition known as abstinence-plus. Abstinence-only education promotes internal abstinence until marr iage, leaving out crucial topics like affinity falsify and condoms. A all-inclusive class includes education on the engross of contraceptives while maintaining a basis of abstinence.Although on that point has been a steady extraction in the United States teen birth rate, it remains higher than few a nonher(prenominal) developed countries. Statistics show that familiarly active teens in the United States ar less likely to use varying forms of contraception and be more likely to become pregnant, than those of other equal nations (Rubin). Partially to blame is the United States government, which abides the abstinence-only commence therefore, most schools are not required to teach subject matter that surpasses that concept (Stanger).Media, although every bit controversial, can play a vital role in gap the door for parents to engage in conversation with their children. According to Rachel Canter, executive director of Mississippi First, An effective, cosmopolitan turn on education program starts with a menage of abstinence but includes medically accurate instruction slightly contraception and health (Pettus). The research is conjure upn comprehensive sex education reduces jejune maternity. Not only are most schools neglecting in the sayation that is covered in their syllabuss, approximately are providing medically incorrect data to students.A recent report revealed that 30% of schools instruct that birth control does not prevent motherliness (Rubin). In 2009, a lawsuit was filed against a Fresno county school district in California for violating state law by only teaching about abstinence, and for using textbooks that were not in compliancy with that law, which requires medically accurate tuition be taught, along with methods to prevent pregnancy and diseases. With one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in California, parents were compelled to do something to encourage their children (Watanabe).According to a recent survey, mo re than half of adults questioned feel that federally funded programs should offer more education about contraception and three-quarters of those wish education include information about both abstinence and contraception ( teenagers). If statistics prove that abstinence education is ineffective at preventing pregnancy and most adults are on board with a more comprehensive prelude, maybe lawmakers should organise that information into account when developing policies about sex education. A grade in that direction would be requiring that curriculums include a more comprehensive style.Abstinence-only programs tend to leave out valuable information such as contraception, which some believe sends the wrong message to students (Stanger). Although abstinence programs play an chief(prenominal) role in comprehensive education, there is little evidence to support that these curriculum alone help reduce teenage pregnancy. According to Lisa Wirthman, a Denver journalist, By trying to scare and shame kids and withholding critical health information, abstinence-only programs treat teens like toddlers (Wirthman).A report released this year by the Centers for Disease Control reveals that nearly 50% of pregnant teenagers denied using contraception. Furthermore, 30% were under the impression that they could not get pregnant, while others simply misunderstood how one gets pregnant and the risk of becoming pregnant after exposed intercourse (Brakman). Therefore, it can be concluded that many young community are under conscious about their sexual health and lack proper decision making skills regarding their sexual behaviors.Studies show that states that support the abstinence-only approach to sex education tend to have higher teenage pregnancy and birth rates as compared to those who support a more comprehensive approach. Nevada, having one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the nation, does not code that contraceptive methods and condom use be included in their cur riculum (Stanger). Likely, if it is not required, most schools pull up stakes not cover such aspects in its studies. The majority of supporters of these programs do not acknowledge that many students will become sexually active during their teenage years.It is inevitable that teenagers are going to have sex, choosing to ignore that fact by not teaching them the proper methods to nourish themselves is negligent. Abstinence-only education fails at teaching students many important aspects of sexual health. Those included are, sexually inherited diseases, pregnancy prevention and contraception. Much of the information provided in these programs is misleading and medically inaccurate, leaving students uninformed and at risk (Watanabe).The typic abstinence curriculum lectures that the only way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from such behaviors that may result in either of the two. While this is truthful, little to no information is provided to st udents about how to protect themselves if they choose to participate in these activities, leaving them at high risk for ignorant pregnancy. . According to Congress, it was found that abstinence-only programs provide misconceptions of reproductive health and a lack of proper decision-making tools, therefore, promoting irresponsible behavior (Stanger).A study by The internal Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy shows that nearly 8 out of 10 teenagers believe they are properly informed on how to prevent pregnancy, yet confess to knowing hardly anything at all about contraception and condoms (Teens). As statistics like this show, young muckle are, in general, naive about many aspects of their sexual health and require a more all-encompassing education to be able to make reserve decisions regarding their sexual wellbeing.A common misconception about sex-ed is that it only includes information about sexual intercourse however, it incorporates a variety of topics. These inc lude, but are not limited to, anatomy, reproduction, body image, relationships, and safe sex practices. Comprehensive sex education, or abstinence-plus, includes a wide array of age-appropriate, evidence-based, medically accurate information to depart teenagers to make well-informed decisions about their overall health, while still advocating that abstinence is the only true method to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (Wirthman).Not only does comprehensive education provide insight to triune sex-health topics, it also stresses the importance of delaying sexual behaviors. To the disbelief of abstinence-only supporters, studies show that students that are taught comprehensive sex education are no more likely to be infected with sexually transmitted diseases, than those taught only about abstinence. Also conflicting to pro-abstinence belief, those that are taught a more comprehensive approach have a lower risk of becoming pregnant teenagers (Stanger).One study rev ealed that of those who are taught more comprehensively, 40% waited to have sex and more than 60% apply protection (Wirthman). It is obvious that the more educated students are about the risks associated with sexual activity, the better decisions they make. A recent survey revealed that 38% of teenagers are more influenced by their parents regarding their decisions about sex (Teens). As stated by Emily Pettus, some legislators argue that sex education, including contraception and condoms, should be taught at home, not by the education system (Pettus). This is also where much of the debate is centered.However, teenagers typically do not open up to their parents about sexual activity and many parents tend to bury their heads in the sand and act like it is not happening with their children. Often times, parents and teenagers are unsure about how to discuss the evenhandedly awkward subject of sex, so they do not talk about it at all. Therefore, education is very much left up to teena gers peers and other typically inaccurate sources. One study revealed that nearly 90% of young people think if they could have open conversations with their parents about sex, it would be easier to postpone sexual activity.Also, nearly 80% of parents wish their kids would talk to them about sex so that they can provide them with the proper resources to protect themselves (Teens). Kathrin Stanger, professor at the University of tabun states, If teens dont learn about human reproduction, including safe sexual health practices to prevent unintended pregnancies and STDs, and how to plan their reproductive adult life in school, accordingly when should they learn it, and from whom? (Stanger).Parents, along with the education system, can provide accurate, age-appropriate information to teenagers to help empower them to make healthy, responsible choices however, when both of these options regrets short, teenagers often turn to the media as a source of education. Many critics often accus e the media of promoting teenage pregnancy, and even glamorizing it. However, little thought is given as to what the benefit of these shows might be. The more teens are watching, the more producers are showing. Nevertheless, there might be some advantages to the influence media has on its young viewers, especially regarding pregnancy (Suellentrop).Although some parents believe the media creates a false sense of worldly concern by glorifying teenage pregnancy, they often fail to realize that such tv shows can actually help bridge the conversation gap amid them and their children. Two of the television shows popular amongst high school students are MTVs Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant. Both are reality shows that chase several young girls and their daily struggles as pregnant teenagers and young parents. A recent study by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy revealed interesting results when they asked teenagers their thoughts about such shows.The results re vealed a move 40% talked to a parent about the show after watching and most agreed that becoming teenage parents would have an overall damaging impact on their lives (Suellentrop). If watching these episodes results in teenagers talking to their parents about sex, then ultimately it can be a positive influence, not only by seeing the struggles that young parents face, but by giving parents and teenagers an probability to openly discuss their views and opinions about sex and relationships.Research shows that episodes such as these can be used in a positive style to teach young people about the risks of becoming pregnant and how their lives could change drastically. Also, it seems that teenagers are willing to discuss these shows with their parents, allowing the opportunity to engage in educational conversations with their teenagers. Clearly, the media influences its viewers however, advantage can be taken to properly inform todays youth of the risks of sexual behavior while prese nting information in an alluring way (Suellentrop). Although there has been a steady decline in the U. S. een birth rate, it remains higher than many other countries. Students are more educated and are therefore making more informed decisions about sex (Kann).How can we expect teenagers to make appropriate, well-informed decisions regarding their sexual health if we do not give them the proper education and actual information to do so? The statistics show that evidence-based sex education works, so why go against the grain? (Wirthman). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more teenagers are using birth control, which has help lead the way to a record low birthrate, and the numbers of hose using contraception commemorate rising. Also leading to the decline, is more effective sex education, according to Leslie Kantor, debility president of education for Planned Parenthood (Tulumello). Hopefully in the future, supernumerary school districts will adopt a more comprehensive approach to their curriculums, as it is shown to be much more effective in trim teenage pregnancy than abstinence-only education. Telling a teenager not to test is like a meteorologist saying there is a 50% come across of rain. You hope it does not rain however, you bring an umbrella just in case it does.As much as we would like to believe that teenagers will not have sex, it is likely that they will engage in some type of sexual behavior in high school and providing them with accurate, age-appropriate information is vital. Sexual education can come from many avenues, including parents, schools, and the media. Comprehensive sex education will not stop the occurrence of teenage pregnancy 100%, but by adequately educating teenagers on safe sex practices, and providing them with medically accurate information, todays youth are able make healthy, well-informed decisions regarding their sexual well being.