Should Sex Education be Mandatory in High Schools - Research Paper Example

s: Should sex education be mandatory in high schools? Sex and sex education isnot a new topic to many in the country today. This is one topic which has hit the headlines for quite some time now. Many are for sex education in high schools and at the same time, the number advocating against such actions is not in short supply. It is a debate that draws mixed reactions whenever it is brought up for discussion. Many are the tikes that emotions flare up between the conservatives and those who are of the same. It is, however, necessary to state the facts about sex education in high schools and specifically, teenage sex as it is so that at the end of the day people makes an informed opinion on this matter. Sex education in high schools is something, which should be embraced because of the value that this topic creates among those children who undergo such trainings. It is necessary that the correct information be available for the young minds so that they do not lose track as they try to experiment things on their own. It is common knowledge that the media nowadays have a lot of influence on the mindset of the teenagers. Most high school children are teenagers and they have access to the media, programs which portray sex as the best way out. There is a high level of influence also from the internet with sites that have pornographic materials and contents yet with no restrictions, meaning that these young children can access the same with a lot of ease. Denying the vulnerability of our children and refuting sex education a chance in high schools is like turning a blind eye to the young minds and leaving them in a state of confusion. This paper asserts that sex education in high schools is necessary so that the future of the country can be saved. It is impossible to have a good future if the young minds are not taught good morals. The best time to change and shape the character of an individual is when the person is still young. The high school children are still young and with the correct information about sex, these children are likely to grow up into responsible individuals with good sexual behavior. Sex education is necessary in high schools because the young children in high school engage in sex due to influence. According to David Campos, sexual activities are rampant with 2 out of every 10 high school children engaging in some sexual activities. The statistics are shocking, but it remains a fact that, however much religious leaders and other pundits deny this issue a chance in high schools, the damage is done. High school children also engage in sexual violence with the young girls being the most affected by the group. Many young boys in high school are exposed to the high street pornographic films and movies where sex is seen as “cool” and due to influence they imitate the actors in real life. They engage in sex without proper information on the topic creating a lot of problems for them (Campos, 45). In the long run these young boys and girls end up becoming frustrated if they lack the sex and the end result is violence as they engage in crimes of passion such as rape. Juveniles in the country serving their terms in correctional facilities due to sex-related crimes are increasing by the day and unless sex education becomes part of the curriculum, then the situation are not likely to improve any time soon. Information is power and what lies in one’s brain becomes a lifelong asset. Sex education information is necessary because the children in high schools today, learn about sex through the wrong channels. There are a lot of sexual orientations in life and the media, both print and digital exhibit all these types of orientations. The young minds lack the capability to sieve what is right, and what is wrong and in the process, they end up taking anything to mean sex even when such is not the case. Sexuality and sex education is complex and there is many scientific knowledge that the children need to understand before engaging in sex. Some children in high schools are not even aware that unprotected sex may give rise to health complications and unwanted pregnancies. They engage in the activity without knowing the consequences, and the end result is regret and at times even some commit suicide according to Carroll (Carroll, 56). Carroll goes ahead to assert that sex education should cut across all diversity. It is necessary to teach sex education in schools, regardless of the race, religion, ethnicity or even economic background. In her work, she argues that sex affects all, despite the differences that may exist among us. Children in high schools are no exception. When a child engages in an unprotected sex, whether a Muslim or a Christian the chance that the child gets an infection if the partner is infected has nothing to do with their religious affiliations. Therefore, all should embrace sex education in high schools to allow children get the correct information and improve on the health of the children in general. Sex has become a good tool of trade for the teenagers who come from poor backgrounds. These children, despite the fact that they go to school and study the same curriculum with other children are vulnerable to sexual advances by their seniors who take advantage of them due to their economic status. These children engage in such activities simply because their parents and guardians are not able to provide for them. They end up getting infections and some even get pregnant. The situation worsens when the children are forced to drop out of school. This is a mistake that has remedy. According to Cohen, many black youths in America fall in this category. She tackles several social issues, among them sex education in schools and how it is important to students when she interacts with the Black Youth Project members in New York. In her discussion, the members acknowledge the importance of sex education not only in schools but to the entire society. They claim that with sex education in high schools, the number of unwanted teenage pregnancies and infections among the teenagers would drastically go down (Cohen, 35). It is necessary that the government help spread the gospel of sex education in schools and especially, high schools because these children engage in sex yet do not know the danger. The net effect spills into the general society as the population ages, the next generation is wiped out with infections or they end up becoming illiterate as they drop out of school in large numbers. When people shy away from sex education, then the society ends up with no morals at all. The neighborhood gangs in the various shanty residences in the world use women as sexual toys. It is, however, sad to note that some of these women offer their bodies willingly to these gangs in return for some material provisions. The saddest part however is the fact that some of the so called women who join these gangs are young adolescent girls who are at their school going age. Dietrich in her book talks of Chicana adolescent girls who double up as whores for the neighborhood gangs and at the same time school girls (Dietrich, 72). These girls end up pregnant and some drop out of school. The girls are not to blame, but the society for failing to give them the correct information on sex education. It is time that the government asserts its authority and makes sex education mandatory in high schools or else America will go the Chicana way. The American society cannot hide from the reality on the ground. The stability of the nation lies in good morals and this has been the norm since the 1940’s and 1950’s in the country. Susan Freeman explores the issue of sex education as it was in the past and then goes ahead to explain to the readers why the nation should embrace sex education in the current situation. Susan states that the girl child in the past used to have good morals since sex education was taught back then and the situation is quickly changing because sex education is missing in the curriculum of the American society (Freeman, 102). Susan is worried that sex education in high schools is necessary if not, then the society will crumble when it comes to morality in the near future. Sex education affects children and especially those in high school. American society claims democracy for all in the society and children too need to be given their democratic space. The issue of sex education should shift from just unwanted pregnancy and the sexually transmitted diseases to the issue of choice and democracy among teachers and students. According to Kendall, teachers and students in high school need an opportunity to decide whether they want sex education or not (Kendall, 80). The leaders and groups who deny the children an opportunity to learn about sex education are undemocratic and what requires to be done is the introduction of sex education in schools. This will allow for democracy so that children and teachers can choose what they want to learn or not in sex education. Kendall goes ahead to argue that high school children are sexual beings and undergo a lot of sexual developments in their life and to be fair to them it is only necessary that they learn about sex. Children in high schools are human beings who have to make decisions in life. Among the decisions that they have to make in life are those to do with sex and sexual activities. Their decisions are purely out of guesswork and peer influence, especially when they have no correct information on the subject of sex. Sex education is necessary to help in informing decisions relating to sex among high school children. The lack of information leads to poor decision making leading to adverse negative effects on the children, which may include unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS (Magoon, 28). Kekla opines that the best way to handle this issue is through the introduction of sex education in high schools. In his article, Roland advocates for sex education and lauds New York City for starting the program on sex education in schools. He argues that despite the denials sex is real and falls as number three behind taxes and death. He argues that parents who only advocate for abstinence are pretending and shying away from the reality. Many children in middle school are engaging in sex, even if it is oral sex (S. Martin, n.p.). The situation is worse if these children do not get the right information about their actions. He goes ahead to say that sex is just biology taking a notch higher. Parents should allow their children to learn about sex from all perspectives be it abstinence or the real sex and how to keep safe. It is time the society embraces reality and deal with issues squarely without sitting on the fence or making denials. It is time to introduce sex education in schools. Sex education is controversial by all standards and sensitive for that matter, but school principals and education leaders should come up with ways to deal with the issue and introduce it in schools. The principals and education leaders should look at the Hatch Act that gives dialogue and joint initiatives a chance when introducing controversial issue in schools (Stewart, 52). Teachers and education experts should disseminate the correct information to the parents to allow for introduction of sex education in high schools. It is true that as a nation the level of morality is low due to the influence of poor sex information in the society. People have itemized sex and it has become such a casual affair today. This notion is slowly sinking into the minds of the young children in high schools. This situation is worsening by the day and the society is losing the necessary morals so fast. Sex education is the only way out of this mess and the best time to administer this is when the mind is still young. High school children have young minds and if fed with the correct information then they will definitely grow into responsible sexual adults. Works Cited Campos, David. Sex, youth, and sex education a reference handbook. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO, 2002. Print. Carroll, Janell L. Sexuality now: embracing diversity 4e. 4th Ed. Australia: Wadsworth, 2013. Print. Cohen, Cathy J. Democracy remixed: black youth and the future of American politics. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print. Dietrich, Lisa C. Chicana adolescents: bitches, "Ho”s, and schoolgirls. 1. publ. Ed. Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 1998. Print. Freeman, Susan Kathleen. Sex goes to school girls and sex education before the 1960s. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2008. Print. Kendall, Nancy. The sex education debates. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2013. Print. Magoon, Kekla. Sex education in schools. Edina, Minn.: ABDO Pub. Co., 2010. Print. S. Martin, Roland. "Sex Education Should Be Mandatory in All Schools." by Roland S. Martin on Creators.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Apr. 2014. . Stewart, G. Kent. Public Relations for Schools: A Resource Guide for Principals. New York: Information Age, 2005. Print. Read More