Improving the Effectiveness of Sex Education in Schools...

The question is no longer should sex education be taught, but rather how should it be taught. Over 93% of all public high schools currently offer courses on sexuality or HIV. More than 510 junior and senior high schools have school-linked health clinics, and more than 300 schools make condoms available on campus. The question now is, are these programs effective, and if not, how can we make them better? Kids need the right information to help protect them-selves. The US has more than double the teenagers pregnancy rate of any western industrialized country. Teenagers have the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) of any age group, with one in four young people contracting an STD by the age of 21. STDs, including†¦show more content†¦Should we do everything possible to suppress teenage sexual behavior, or should we acknowledge that many teens are sexually active, and prepare them against the negative consequences? Emotional arguments can get in the way of an unbiased assessment of the effects of sex education. Other countries have been much more successful than the US in addressing the problem of teen pregnancies. Age at first intercourse in similar in the US and five countries have teen pregnancy rates that are at least less than half the US rate. Sex education in these other countries is based on the following components: a policy explicitly favoring sex education; openness about sex, consistent messages throughout society, and access to contraception. Reducing the Risk, a program for high school students in urban and rural areas in California, used behavior theory-based activities to reduce unprotected intercourse, either by helping teens avoid sex or use protection. Ninth and 10th graders attended 15 sessions as part of their regular health education classes and participated in role-playing and experimental activities to build skills and self-efficacy. As a result, a greater proportion of students who were abstinent before the program successfully remained abstinent, and unprotected intercourse was significantly reduced for those students who became sexually active. Postponing Sexual Involvement, a program forShow MoreRelatedThis Study Is Designed To Focus On The Effectiveness Of1305 Words   |  6 PagesThis study is designed to focus on the effectiveness of school based sex education programs in order to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). School districts across the United States have been teaching sex education program, however each varies with the type of program that is taught. The number of adolescents who engage in sexual activities has declined in past years. Nonetheless, the UnitedRead MoreEssay on Abstinence-Only Sex Education does work.1332 Words   |  6 PagesAbstinence-only Sex Education does work. Teenage sexual activity has sparked an outcry within the nation. With such activity comes a high price. Studies have shown that there has been a significant rise in the number of children with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), emotional and psychological problems, and out-of-wedlock childbearing. Sex has always been discussed publically by the media, television shows, music and occasionally by parents and teachers in educational context. Teens hear themRead MoreIs Sex Education Bad For Adolescents? Essay1526 Words   |  7 PagesSex education has historically been a controversial topic in the United States. Questions like: Is sex education bad for adolescents? How much should young adults know about sex? And will sex education lead to increased sexual activity? Have been argued about passionately for decades. Parents, politicians, academics, religious conservatives and feminists alike have debated the topic. There is a pervasive fear that sex education leads to higher sexual act ivity that contradicts the popular belief thatRead MoreTeenage Pregnancies And Std Contraction1342 Words   |  6 Pagesin rates of teenage pregnancies and STD contraction. What is it about the US and its approach to sexual education that produces such numbers amongst its youth? The prevailing sexuality education system in the US is abstinence-only sex education programs. Abstinence-only-until-marriage education in schools is highly destructive to its students in multiple ways. Abstinence-only sexuality education does more harm to students than good, and is shown to have adverse effects on its students. The CDC YouthRead MoreTeen Pregnancy And Sex Education Programs900 Words   |  4 PagesMarcia. â€Å"Teen Pregnancy.† CQ Researcher 20. 12 (2010): 267-287. Web. This particular source is an academic journal which goes into immense detail about the high rates of teen pregnancy and sex education programs the United States government provides. The article is informative and supportive of the sex education programs and explains the success rates of these programs in reducing teen pregnancy. Author Marica Clemmitt, former editor for other scholarly articles involving Medicine and Health, keepsRead MoreTeenage Pregnancy825 Words   |  4 Pagesprepare the target population on the negative outcomes of pregnancy. The overall goal should be to reduce the average across the state of Oklahoma to be at or below the national average within five years. This would be reviewed annually for effectiveness and strategies that are working would be reinforced and those less effective would be minimalized. Historically speaking, promoting a change in health behavior as far as sexual risk and family planning have only been mildly productive when mediaRead More Essay Quantitative Article Review1204 Words   |  5 PagesResearch This study intended to examine the effectiveness of initiatives implemented regionally, and determine if the leadership formation activities accomplished their intended purpose of successfully improving the leadership quality and the quantity of future candidates available to fill leadership positions. Research Questions The research question deals with the issue of how to address the critical shortage of qualified candidates needed to fill school leadership positions. Formation experiencesRead MoreThe Importance Of Screening And Treatment Rates For Minors And Policis1278 Words   |  6 PagesPolicies, laws, and programs have been developed with the goal of improving screening and treatment rates. In the United States, the following programs have been established. Minors may be nervous to seek treatment or screening for STIs because they are afraid their parents might find out. All 50 states and the District of Columbia unambiguously allow minors to consent to STI services while maintaining confidentiality. Eleven states require that the minor be of a certain age (generally 12 orRead MoreEssay on The PPACA: Obesity and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs1106 Words   |  5 Pages(Harris Allgood, 2009, p.1314). This population of mothers is more likely to dropout then other adolescents in thei r age group (Harris Allgood, 2009, p.1314). In fact, more than 60% of teens who give birth before the age of 18 will drop out of high school, putting them at a greater risk of being impoverished later in life (Harris Allgood, 2009, p.1314). Additionally, the children of adolescent mothers are more likely to have complicated deliveries that can lead to chronic medical and developmentalRead MoreImproving Access:. I Will Examine Two Of The Most Prominent1656 Words   |  7 PagesImproving Access: I will examine two of the most prominent methods for improving access: universal early childhood education and equivalency/second chance programs for adults. One of the other prominent methods is improving access through information and communication technologies (ICTs). This is a popular idea as remote areas often lack formal and non-formal literacy programs. In these situations, education through technology like television, radio, and the internet is believed to be able to play