Educating adolescent about abstinence is very good and important but we have to realize that in today's modern age our children are not practicing abstinence only. Sex education needs to be taught because children from age 13 are getting pregnant or practicing unsafe sex. We have to educate, provide choices and resources to adolescent in order for them to make a better choice. When i was in high school 10 out of 30 students were pregnant or already have kids. My high school had the highest rate of teen pregnancy and when they decided to start educating students about sex almost half of the students were pregnant or already have kids. Parents play an important role in the development and choices children make. Sex education should start from home and resources in school should be a reinforcement. Many parents do not want their child to be educated about sex which i think it is a bad idea because media reinforces it, the Internet, movies and peer pressure. It is hard for adolescent to ignore sex or other practices when it is being considered cool. When i was in high school, they sent a letter home about providing the students with condoms my parents were upset and they came to school to protest and that is because they think our culture and tradition will save their child from making a mistake. Many parents do not know what is going on in their children's life and they assume they do not know anything about sex which is wrong. Parents should have an educated conversation with their children and also allow the school to educate them about sex. We can not ignore the fact that teen pregnancy and unsafe practices exist but we have to work together to educate and provide adequate resources for children starting from age 13. Sex education is not only about sex but it is also a way to discuss about STD'S/STI and their prevention.
Reference(Picture)
Dave Harding. (2006).
http://www.progressohio.org/page/community/post/daveharding/C2km
Educating adolescent about abstinence is very good and important but we have to realize that in today's modern age our children are not practicing abstinence only. Sex education needs to be taught because children from age 13 are getting pregnant or practicing unsafe sex. We have to educate, provide choices and resources to adolescent in order for them to make a better choice. When i was in high school 10 out of 30 students were pregnant or already have kids. My high school had the highest rate of teen pregnancy and when they decided to start educating students about sex almost half of the students were pregnant or already have kids. Parents play an important role in the development and choices children make. Sex education should start from home and resources in school should be a reinforcement. Many parents do not want their child to be educated about sex which i think it is a bad idea because media reinforces it, the Internet, movies and peer pressure. It is hard for adolescent to ignore sex or other practices when it is being considered cool. When i was in high school, they sent a letter home about providing the students with condoms my parents were upset and they came to school to protest and that is because they think our culture and tradition will save their child from making a mistake. Many parents do not know what is going on in their children's life and they assume they do not know anything about sex which is wrong. Parents should have an educated conversation with their children and also allow the school to educate them about sex. We can not ignore the fact that teen pregnancy and unsafe practices exist but we have to work together to educate and provide adequate resources for children starting from age 13. Sex education is not only about sex but it is also a way to discuss about STD'S/STI and their prevention. 
Reference(Picture)
Dave Harding. (2006).
http://www.progressohio.org/page/community/post/daveharding/C2km
I agree. My sister, who is in the eigth grade, was surprised to know that a girl in the seventh grade was pregnant. I also found it a surprise. These days, it seems as though girls are becoming pregnant at a younger age. Alot of these children do not realize the effects and risk associated with pregnancy. Often times the mothers of these children are left to provide and take care of these babies. I think that if parents were to talk to there kids about abstinence or safe sex, pregancy rates would signifigantly decrease.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more with your post. I feel that alot of parents are doing their jobs and educating their kids at home but for the kids who have parents who don't talk openly with then, those kids are hearing and seeing stuff that they might not fully understand and doing things they think they are ready for without knowing all the consequences. If we start at home and reinforce at school or church we can stop some of the problems that have gotten out of hand.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post and agree with you on sex education except for the age. I think 13 is too late. I believe we need to start younger than that. I remember when I was in 8th grade my health teacher told us that the average age of young people getting pregnant was 11 years old. That was back in 1969. I think we need to start teaching our children to love and respect themselves and to take care of their bodies. I think it is something we should teach from birth just like we teach them to walk and talk. It is a part of life. Waiting until we think kids are old enough is obviously not working, we need a new plan.
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