In an age when information about sex is easily accessed by people from their favorite search engine, it’s surprising that there are still so few schools teaching sex education. In fact, in some areas, there is now a legal requirement for sexually oriented instruction in public schools. These laws were put in place as a reaction to the ignorance of some school districts regarding sexual issues. The lack of sex education in schools is shockingly low, especially compared to the rates found in the general population. Some parents don’t even know that the age old practice of teaching children at a young age about sex has been banned in many states and is not even taught anymore in most public schools.
It’s shocking that even in a country as progressive as the United States, sex education hasn’t caught up with the rest of society. Perhaps it’s because it is something that is not discussed as much as it should. Adults feel that they can talk about sex any way they want, so why should parents be expected to do the same? Even more disconcerting is the idea that some school districts have actually removed lessons about sex from the curriculum altogether. It’s hard to imagine how this could happen in a country that takes pride in its social norms and encourages a free exchange of ideas and open communication.
Although there are certain aspects of sex education that some parents feel is too intrusive, many of them agree that it’s important to teach kids about sex at an early age so that they can decide on their own if they feel comfortable with it or not. If you have a son, it’s very likely that you have taught him about sex at least once, whether it was through your words or his own questions. Whether he likes it or not, young teenagers have to learn about sex, so it’s better if he has the knowledge before he experiences it.
There are a lot of myths out there about why a teen should learn about sex in the first place. Some parents believe that it will dull their son’s interest in sports and other things that they might otherwise enjoy. Others think that teen sex education encourages promiscuity and casual sex. There is nothing progressive or pornographic about teaching a teen how to have sex. On the contrary, it’s quite the opposite-sex education teaches teens how to become better individuals, both physically and socially.
What you should know is that sex education doesn’t include anything about how to have sex on someone else’s body. Don’t get the idea that your teen wants to date people of the opposite sex; most teens know how to have fun on their own. The purpose of this type of educational program is to help teens make healthy decisions. Promoting healthy sex instead of promoting masturbation or casual sex encourages healthy relationships between children and their parents and teaches kids how to respect their bodies.
Many schools teach sex education in the same way that they teach vaccinations-by having the children take a pill every year or so. The problem with this approach is that it doesn’t teach kids about healthy sexual behaviors. And if nothing else, it certainly doesn’t provide information about how to have fun!
A good way to encourage healthy sexual activity among teens is to have them take a class about sexual health. This kind of class would teach teens how to use safe sex practices and to understand the emotional and physical risks that having premarital sex can entail. If your son or daughter wants to date, these classes will show them how to be assertive and responsible about it. These classes also teach kids about the benefits of being faithful and how to take care of their sexual relationships. This information is essential for your son or daughter to know and use in their own relationships.
Another approach that some schools teach sex education is through encouraging the use of contraceptives. This approach has shown to be effective in decreasing the rates of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS. It can lower the rates of pregnant women becoming infected with HPV, as well. But the problem with this approach is that it doesn’t teach kids about healthy sexual practices. It only deals with preventing pregnancy, which could have many negative effects on young adults. Encouraging teens to use contraceptives may not provide them with information about other healthier ways to make love and have fun.
