Sex Education
Perhaps one of the most controversial issues arising today is that of sex education in America's public school system. In today's world, where information travels at the speed of light and mass media is part of our everyday lives, teenagers are more exposed to this world than ever before. In this country, teens have access to television, newspapers, and of course, internet. Sometimes, teenagers can misinterpret what they see in the media regarding sex and make unwise decisions, such as having unprotected sex. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and teenage pregnancies is a growing problem in the U.S. Every year, one million girls aged 15 to 19 become pregnant each year in this country alone (Schools Skimping... 13). Sex education was introduced to help solve the problem of STDs and teen pregnancies by giving teenagers real facts and correct information about sex. Teenagers can therefore make wise and safe choices about sex. However, there are major flaws in sex education. While it is extremely important to educate teenagers about sex and sexuality, putting sex education in the American educational system in not the correct solution. Sex education is flawed in that it is ineffective when it
Professor Linda A. Berne, of the Department of Health Promotion and Kinesiology in the University of North Carolina, brings a point about the effectiveness of sex education in Europe. In the Education Digest, she claims that in certain parts of Europe where sex education is taught, the rates of pregnancies amongst teenage girls are two to seven times lower than the teenage pregnancy rate in the U.S. (Berne 27). The point she is trying to make is that if sex education is such a success in Europe, it should be effective in the United States as well. Argument. Ed. Annette T. Rottenberg. Boston: Bedford Books, 1996 Rosoff, Jeannie. "Helping Teenagers Avoid Negative Consequences of Sexual Activity." "Schools Skimping on Sex Education." USA Today. Aug. 1998: 13 Krauthammer, Charles. "School Birth-Control Clinics: A Necessary Evil." Elements of
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Approximate Word count = 1621
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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