Sex education in schools may be an uncomfortable subject to talk about, but it is very good and will helpful in the quest to educate young people and tell them what they need to be told. There are several options that are available through which this should be done and for this reason (Weill 63). All of them need to be brought on board because in one way or another they complement each other. Safe sex, abstinence and use of contraceptives should be taught hand in hand s that the youth are given options from which they can choose from. It is realistic to give safe sex as an alternative to abstinence; it is equally all right to give contraceptive education to both abstinence and safe sex. Teens need to be guided, be supported and be given an education on what sex really is and how to go about it.
Comprehensive teaching on abstinence and sex education is mandatory in any curriculum. This is so because sex education is considered mandatory in any moral upbringing of a child. When abstinence is given prominence it means that it is a means of totally avoiding sex and sexual related activities in order to avoid the repercussions that are associated with engaging in sex at an early age (Magoon 8). Some of the results of early sex which need to be avoided include unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV and AIDS. Together with abstinence it is imperative that safe sex and use of contraceptives also be given priority so as to cater for the needs of those who may have already stated engaging in sex prematurely.
There are quite a number of benefits that come with the incorporation of abstinence and sex education in the curriculum. On the other hand there are quite a number of health gains that are attributed to the teaching of it (Magoon 9). This begins with the psychological attributes that are realized by the learners because once they have learned of the importance of avoiding sex before marriage or even playing it safe, then the youth and the learners in general will achieve a healthy lifestyle. It is of utmost importance that the youth and the learners in general to know that being faithful to oneself and to one partner is mutually fulfilling and that this is the right context of sexual activity. This means that one should abstain from engaging in sex until marriage which is a policy spearheaded by abstinence (Magoon 18).
Sexuality information has been regarded as a comprehensive way of educating the young on the benefits of abstaining from sex and sexual activities at an early age according to Magoon. The youth should also be taught on how to deal with their sexual impulses and to avoid instances that will be deemed tempting. As is evidence, sex education is very important much as it is one of the areas that have drawn a lot of criticism. It should be remembered that it is the only way with which to deal with the issue of sex before marriage because given options such as contraceptives and safe sex will in the long run achieve good results.
It is the job of the educators, parents, the school and the society in general to keep teens safe and this call for proper education in literally everything including sex. It is better that this is done early enough. Considerations should be given to the fact that different levels of children in regard to age and development level should be considered so that every age group has the right information for them (WebMed). This means that the right information should be given to the right groups so that the teens are not given information that is not good for their age. For instance, sixth graders should be given the right kind of information that they can absorb easily which is right for their age as is seventh and eighth graders. Sixth graders should not be given information that is appropriate for eighth graders.
Ideally, parents should be tasked to the role of being the very first teachers of their children on issues on morality and this is where sex education comes in. parents are therefore supposed to teach their children from a very early age about being honest with themselves and to society, how to behave with integrity and also self value. This will lead the children into making wise decisions without necessarily being influenced by others (Lewin). If only parents would introduce sex education to their children, bit by bit and never feel embarrassed in answering the innocent questions that the children could be asking then there will be problem of the school and educators trying so hard to introduce more education on sex as the children grow. At this point the children can even run home and tell their parents on the new things that they are learning about sex for instance use of contraceptives and safe sex.
Just as it is important to teach these teenagers on the importance of safe sex and use of contraceptives, it is as good to teach them about abstinence especially in this era of HIV and AIDS. If a female teenager has been put on birth control, it is not obvious that she will be safe because chances are that she can contract sexually transmitted diseases. But before it gets there, it is right that a child is given an option of knowing that abstinence is also as good (Martinson 48). This will not only teach a child to be responsible of her behavior, it will instill in a child a value that can go a long way in saving her or him a lot of heartache and trouble. This is so because in a way, safe sex and knowledge on the use of contraceptives may give them permission to engage in sex anyway, because they will think that they will have taken precautions.
In today’s world, sex is normally seen as an okay thing. This is because everyone else seems to be engaging in it. When one raises the issue of abstinence, he or she is seen to be an extremist or better still a deeply religious person (Thomas 85). It does not take deep religious roots to abstain because all in all, it is a practice that is optional to religious people and those who are not. But it is always good to give abstinence a chance and if it fails to be practical to a teen and then other options can be introduced. This kind of approach should be given in a home setting from a parent to a teen, at school from a teacher to a student and even in church from a church minister to a congregation of youths. Sex educations does not have any limits as to where it should be taught and if abstinence can be taught to a teen a by a parent or counselor. Teaching about abstinence to teenagers can be very hard but if this is done from the point of the repercussions of sex then may be, the teenagers might understand the reasons why they should abstain.
Without denying it, most teenagers spend most of their time fantasizing and thinking about what sex really is. This is so and they are not to blame because it is their hormones that drive them into thinking about sex (Moran33). For their physical as well as mental growth, it is good that they give sex some thoughtfulness. When this happens, they need to be guided and be taught about it. It is at this stage that sex education should be done more than ever. Sexual awareness needs to be done at this point in time because this then makes them feel responsible for their actions. This is the time when they want to explore what really makes it pleasurable to be involved in sexual activities, but, at the back of their minds, they also need to be told what is right and what is wrong.
In this age and time, it can be really hard for teenagers to be controlled because sex is all around them, from the media, from their friends and even in their own neighborhoods. The teenagers therefore need to be given the right information concerning sex. Safe sex is very important because they need to know how to do it if they cannot control their sex drive. The primary reason why there is sex in the first place is for reproduction (Moran 24). Failure to know how to go about sex if one is engaging in it will lead to unplanned pregnancies not only to teenagers but also to all groups of people. Teenagers should therefore be empowered with knowledge about safe sex because that way they will not reproduce. This will help teenagers evade the burden of becoming parents at a tender age therefore prevent the burden of raising families prematurely.
Giving teenagers the right information that they need to know is very important. This way teenagers will able to be responsible with themselves instead of just making them feel like they are denied to right to engage in sex because whoever is concerned about them not engaging in sex will be assumed to contravening their rights to sex (Lewin). Through having the right information about sex, the youth will even try not to mess up themselves because they will have been given the information that they need to know about how to go about it. It is one thing to have the right information and another not to have it because information will liberate the teenagers from teenage ignorance and make them self empowered to make useful and important decisions.
Many people assume sex education involves educating teenagers about, sex, safe sex and use of contraceptives. In a nutshell, sex education has got more than meets the eye because it teaches on issues that deal with sexual health, sexuality as well as sexual reproduction. It is therefore very important that when teenagers are given sex education, all areas about their sexuality be tackled from how to take good care of them upon the onset of adolescence as there are very many changes that they go through at about that time.
Research indicates that when teenagers receive a proper education on sex, there are very high chances for them to know how to deal with sexual problems when it comes to adulthood. For instance, during a sex education class, teenagers will be taught to immediately seek medical attention if they realize anything funny going on with their bodies more especially in their private or sexual parts (McKeon). There are high chances that with such a background, these people will not ignore a single sign of a problem in regard to their sexuality and this way they will learn to deal with any kind of problem that they may encounter. With a good background of sex education, there are very high chances of dealing with sex related problems quickly and in a good manner.
Whenever a subject about whether it is appropriate that teenagers be taught sex education, many parents and other stakeholders have always been positive since sex education has proven to be very helpful in the bringing up of children more so adolescents (WebMed). This has led to the rise of organizations and other forums that have been really helpful in the whole matter. It is clear that if all stakeholders do not read from the same script then the required results may never be achieved and for this reason, even the government has been at the fore front in promoting sex education. True to this cause, the inclusion of sex education in the curricula has proven to be very helpful in helping teenagers abstain or play safe for those who are sexually active.
There are quite a number of appropriate places where sex education and even abstinence needs to be taught. This is so because in those places there are chances of a number of teens congregated. Many people assume that it only needs to be done at home or in schools. Aside from these two places, there are a lot more other places and many other ways through which this kind of education can be disseminated. One major place is the church or in a religious group. If a religious group has an organization that focuses on youths thereby forming youth groups, it is appropriate that sex education can be provided there (Weill 62). Although many of them focus on ethics and even moral conduct some capitalize on abstinence. This is a very good and convenient place where the teens can be taught the basics more so when they both boys and girls are separated in order to get in depth discussions.
Counselors can also be a good source of sex education. They can be sourced and be given sessions in different settings. One of the places where their services are commonly used is in schools. Here, they are called to a school and are given a chance to talk to the teens. At times, some parents have sought the use of their services at home where they are asked to guide and counsel children at home and they can also be used in a church setting. This means that when counselors are used, they also have a better chance of talking to the teens (McKeon). Many a time, the teenagers get to listen to the same teacher, their parents and church leaders and it is good to get someone from outside to get to speak to them. With a little change of a speaker, there may appear impressive results because these youths may not want to listen to the same person or people over and over again.
Sex education is a very important strategy that can be used to deal the many problems that are plaguing the world these days. In order to combat some of these problems, the youth, teenagers and children need to receive proper education and the right information. Problems that are associated with sexually transmitted diseases among the youth can only be dealt with if the youth have sufficient information. The case of HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases can best be dealt with of only children get the right information at the right time. This can lead to controlling of their spread. Another are that will have been covered in all this is the prevention of having teenage parents (WebMed). Teenage parents are as a result of young boys and girls getting sexually active therefore leading to teenage pregnancies. If the teenagers are given a good education on safe sex then this will have been prevented.
Lack of knowledge is the cause of many problems that are experienced in the world today. Ignorance is the disease that has gotten into many homes in the world which has led to many young people missing out on important issues in life. When it comes to the area of sex education, lack of it can lead to devastating realities and it is for this and many more other reasons that the younger generation needs to be empowered with the right sex education. Home and family need to be helped out in the education of teenagers (Lewin). It is for this reason that all the stakeholders need to play their role and the expected results will be achieved. Low cases of premarital sex, no cases of unwanted and teenage pregnancies, and no incidents of transmission of sexually transmitted ailments together with HIV and AIDS as well as healthy sexual living will be the narrative that will be told. If only the teenagers are liberated, there will be no future of the world as a whole.
In a nutshell, sex education is very important in the world today. Its results will be far reaching than we all think. Modern times are characterized with technological advancements such as the internet and the media (Weill 9). This can be a very powerful tool that can be used together with other stakeholders to disseminate abstinence and sex education. Teenagers are exposed to media and the internet even more than their school work and it is for this reason that they should be used in this endeavor. At the same time, teenagers should not be left on their own in exploring these avenues because to a large extent they are the source of the motivation behind teens involving themselves in sex. If well used. These avenues will go a long way in influencing the youth to be responsible citizens who are able to act properly.
Self control should be given an upper hand in the whole subject of sex education. This is so because if teenagers will be knowledgeable about this skill, they will easily know who to go about dealing with the urge to engage in sex as well as peer pressure. All stakeholders should give this priority because through it a teenager can be able to control himself or herself when it comes to involvement in sexual activities (Moore & Rosental 28). The teacher, a counselor, parents and the church have got each a role to play if this is to be realized. All the possible avenues such as use of contraceptives, safe sex and abstinence should be taught so that the teens have several choices to choose from.
Works Cited
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