Sexeducation

REA 223 Jassim Al-Saiqal 28-2 Sex Education My presentation will be about sex education in schools, some of the problems society faces in regards to it, pros and cons, its effects on young students, and will take a comparative look at the way it is addressed in different cultures, as well as discuss some solutions. What is sex education? Sex education is a broad term used to describe education about human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, contraception and other aspects of human sexual behavior. The Problem Sex education is a major issue all over the world. The most widely debated point is whether to educate children about sex. Why do children need to know about sex? Should children learn about sex? At what age should they learn it? All of these questions are hotly debated. This topic has its pros and cons like any other topic, but which arguments are the most convincing? Let’s take a look at the way sex education is handled in two different cultures: American culture and Arab culture. Most people in the United States learn about sex in school, but in Arab culture they are more likely to learn from their parents. I think that makes a big difference. Where and how young people first learn about sex is very important. Bad sex education at an early age could lead to many problems. Fortunately, there is a solution. When introducing young people to a new idea, it’s important to be cautious and make sure they are ready. For example, you shouldn’t teach a five-year-old about the specifics of sex that he isn’t yet ready to understand any more than you would try to feed a baby solid foods before he is able to chew them. Kids should be guided into the topic at a pace that they can understand. It’s important to teach kids about sex carefully, in small steps. In the United States, six in ten teenage girls and more than five in ten teenage boys have had sexual intercourse before they turn eighteen. Of the approximately 750, 000 teen pregnancies that occur each year, 82% are unintended. More than one quarter end in abortion. This is largely due to bad sex education in schools and lack of sex education in the home. However, between 1995 and 2002, the number of teens aged 15-17 who have had sexual intercourse declined by 10%. The rate of unintended pregnancies in women and girls aged 15-19 has declined steadily—from 117 pregnancies per 1, 000 women in 1990 to 75 per 1, 000 in 2002. This change can be attributed to a push to improve sex education and involve parents in their kids’ education about sex. We live in a culture that sends all kinds of messages about sexuality through the media. Kids can’t get through the day without seeing, hearing, or reading about sex on TV, in magazines, in music, and on the internet. It can be hard for children to understand what they are seeing, and there is plenty of opportunity for them to learn bad messages about sex. This is why sex education needs to begin in the home. Parents need to become proactive in teaching their kids about sex. It’s very important that parents make sure kids get the right messages about sex, and learn about their parents’ values. Schools alone can’t give kids perfect sex education. Study after study shows that kids who learn about sex from their parents first are much less likely to become sexually active at a young age, become pregnant as teens, and get an STD. It may be an uncomfortable topic for parents, but for the sake of their children, parents need to take responsibility for their children’s education about sex, before the media does it for them.