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Sex education is currently a hot topic in the United States of America. This controversial debate is centered on the issue that who should educate pupils about sex-related topics. These topics include relationships, sexual intercourse, contraceptive methods, sexually transmissible diseases (such as AIDS), pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity. As far as my opinion is concerned, I believe that sex education must be left up to the parents or adult siblings and schools or teachers should not have the responsibility of providing information to students concerning the sex-related issues.
In my opinion, school is a place to learn and prepare for the future. It is not a place for children to learn about putting on a condom and have safe sex. It is the duty of the parents to make their children aware about the sexual topics. It is the parents who should decide the appropriate time of educating children about sex, by judging their mental level and capacity to understand sexuality in a mature manner. Teaching the children about sex and contraceptive methods is to give them the concept that if contraception is used, they may not have to face its consequences.
Moreover, there is always a probability that the teachers themselves are not properly informed about sex and may educate kids poorly regarding it. Furthermore, the lack of efficient teaching materials regarding this subject may also affect children if they do not get the right information (Hechinger 143). Every child is different and perceives information differently. It is not possible for the teachers to understand the psychology of every child. The sex education imparted by teachers may be perceived by some students in a negative way. On the other hand, a majority of parents know their children better than the teachers. It must be parents to decide when their children are ready to know about and comprehend sexual relationships and associated matters. It is also important for the parents to have a friendly and affable relationship with their children so that the latter can question them about any sex topic.
There are several high schools in the United States of America where the authorities have taken on condom distribution programs. Such programs are organized with the purpose of reducing the transmission of sexual diseases such as AIDS (Epstein 148). However, I do not think that it is a good practice to distribute condoms to high school students. This is because this activity is an encouragement of the earlier beginning of sexual actions. Providing condoms openly to youngsters at the schools makes them believe in practicing safe sex by using condoms. This kind of distribution also makes them think that engaging in immorality is fine. Condom distribution also supports the idea that engagement in sexual activity is a contemporary norm. It also creates peer pressure due to which youngsters are encouraged by their friends to involve themselves in sex.
Most schools claim that they offer medical and biological education in sex education programs. However, it is not the reality. I strongly agree with Sowell who asserts that a lot of teachers and schools “spend most of their time trying to replace the values, traditions, and inhibitions the children receive from their homes” (149).
Works Cited
Hechinger, F. M. "The First Step in Improving Sex Education: Remove the Hellfire." Reading and Writing Short Arguments. Mountain View, Calif.: Mayfield Pub. Co., 1994. 143-146. Print.
Epstein, P. "Condoms in Schools: The Right Lesson." Reading and Writing Short Arguments. Mountain View, Calif.: Mayfield Pub. Co., 1994. 146-148. Print.
Sowell, T. "Educators Declare War on Traditional Values." Reading and Writing Short Arguments. Mountain View, Calif.: Mayfield Pub. Co., 1994. 148-150. Print.
