The debate over whether sexual education should be incorporated into public school's curriculums has been a lengthy one. Starting in the 1980's, the debate over sexual education has progressed in two different directions: comprehensive sexual education versus abstinence-only. (Planned Parenthood). Lately, due to the rising number of STI's and teenage pregnancy in America, the urgency of the debate has greatly increased, but there is still no resolution (Masland). There are also no federal laws on the matter, but some states have their own. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, as of January 1st, 2015, only 22 states and the District of Columbia require sex education to be incorporated into public school curriculums, and only 19 states require the information to be medically and factually true. The two main opposing views are that of conservatives and liberals. Conservatives favor abstinence-only programs and believe that giving students information about sex will encourage them to experiment with their sexuality earlier. Liberals, on the other hand, feel that sexual education courses should include more detail about sexuality and reproduction (Masland).  With the number of STI's and teenage pregnancies rising in the United States, a detailed sexual education course with accurate and appropriate information about sexual health and sexual activity should be a requirement in every high school's curriculum.

Comprehensive sex education is needed in schools so that when teenagers decide that they're ready to initiate sex, they know how to stay healthy and prevent any consequences. By the age of eighteen, 70% of girls and 62% of boys have already had vaginal sex (Advocates for Youth). With over two thirds of teenagers having sex before they reach the age of twenty, 75% say that they know little to nothing about contraception (Guttmacher). According to the Sexuality Education and Council of the United States (SIECUS), comprehensive sex education, "includes age-appropriate, medically accurate information on a broad set of topics related to sexuality including human development, relationships, decision making, abstinence, contraception, and disease prevention." The reason people are against sexual education being taught in schools is that they are worried the course will convince them they should have sex, but teenagers are going to have sex whether or not they have had this education or not; 66% have had sex by their senior year (Masland). Our society has become slightly obsessed with sex and students are paying attention and being forced to learn about sex from medias that vary in accuracy. Television shows, movies, songs, and even advertisements for Victoria's Secret on the side of the road all tend to convey messages about sex. Tamara Kreinin, president of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, said, "Young people are going to learn about sex and our question has to be where do we want them to learn? From the media? From their friends? Or do we want them to learn from an educated, responsible adult?" (Masland). When no one is there to provide accurate and appropriate information about sex, teens gain all their knowledge on the subject from the media and are even forced to learn "their lovemaking through porn" (Siebold). Because of their lack of correct information, young adults are more likely to be at risk for sexually transmitted infections/diseases and unintended teen pregnancy. The United States has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates all around the world, this number is twice as high as Britain and almost eight times higher than Japan (Chen). A Centers for Disease Control report stated that in 2010, one in five teen pregnancies was not their first child; out of the 365,000 teenagers between the ages of 15-19 who gave birth in 2010, 67,000 were having their second child (Siebold). Learning about contraception is very important because it not only prevents unwanted pregnancies from occurring, but it also prevents STI's. One fourth of all diagnoses of HIV are people under the age of twenty-two (Masland). A recent study has shown that 65% of future STI's contracted will be from people under the age of twenty-four, and the number continues to rise (Masland).  One in every four women is likely to have an STI (Advocates for Youth). Even after knowing all of this, people are still against comprehensive sex education because, again, they believe it will cause their children to want to have sex sooner, but this belief is wrong. The World Health Organization conducted a study of thirty-five sexual education courses around the world and found no evidence proving that these programs encouraged sexual activity among teens (Masland). When teens learn about and are given contraception, it is more likely that they will use it for there first time and continue to use it (SIECUS). One in five teens experiences abuse in their romantic relationship. Girls in abusive relationships have tend to have sex before their friends and take part is reckless and harmful behavior and are less likely to use contraception (Advocates for Youth). Sexual education is a very important factor in keeping today's teenagers healthy.

Besides preventing unwanted infections and pregnancies, sexual education also has many other benefits. A sex education course affects multiple behaviors and helps achieve positive health impacts (Advocates for Youth). It has been proven that sex education helps in delaying the initiation of sex and reduces unprotected sex. It also decreases the frequency in which teenagers have sex and reduces the number of their sexual partners (Advocates for Youth). Comprehensive sexual education has benefits such as teaching teenagers how to make informed decisions and build healthy relationships while also stressing the importance and value of abstinence. Sex education encourages more family communication between parents and children about sex and educates young people how to avoid unwanted verbal, physical, and sexual advances especially in the presence of alcohol and drugs (SIECUS). Also, sex education programs is not targeted towards one audience; they "worked for both genders, for all major ethnic groups, for sexually inexperienced and experienced teens, in different settings, and in different communities" (SIECUS). 

While many people are starting to support comprehensive sexual education, many others still favor abstinence-only program, but these programs tend to not be completely effective. Section 501(b) of Title V of the Social Security act defines an abstinence- only program as, "teaching the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity ...  teaches that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems ...  teaches that sexual activity outside the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical side effects ...  teaches that bearing children out-of-wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child's parents, and society ...  [And] teaches the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity" (Advocates for Youth). Since 1997, the federal government has wasted $1.5 billion into ineffective abstinence-only programs, despite what the majority of the public prefers (Advocates for Youth). Only 36% of the population believes public schools should only teach abstinence only, but that is enough to not allow comprehensive sex education to be taught (Bleakley). People in favor for abstinence-only programs say that sex education is a "fundamental flaw in giving kids more information about risky behaviors that they should simply be taught to avoid" (Masland). Catherine Weiss, director of ALCU's Reproductive Freedom Project, says that abstinence-only programs are like "trying to prevent kids from riding motorcycles by forbidding them to wear safety helmets" (Masland). The World Health Organization conducted a study showing that comprehensive classes that include abstinence and safe sex information are much more effective than abstinence-only (Masland). Studies have shown that teens between the ages of fifteen and nineteen who received comprehensive sex education and fifty percent less likely to become pregnant than those who received an abstinence-only education (Advocates for Youth). Although abstinence does teach teenagers the value of sex and the effects it can have, it doesn't give them the information they need when they decide they do want to have sex. A trial was conducted on a class that was only taught abstinence with these guidelines, and it did its job of delaying sex among teenagers, for three months; six months after the abstinence-only course was taught, the effects of it disappeared (Bleakley). Despite the fact that abstinence-only programs are ineffective, some also teach false and misleading information. In 2004, the minority staff of the House of Government Reform Committee observed thirteen abstinence-only curricula, and it was found that only two of these curricula included completely accurate information. Some of the false information that the other eleven included were that HIV can be spread through sweat and tears, pregnancy can be caused just by the touching of each other's genitals, and around ten percent of women who have an abortion then become sterile. These curricula are being taught in about sixty-nine organizations in over twenty-five states (Advocates for Youth). A study conducted on a group of young adults who took a "virginity pledge" showed that 88% of them broke this pact (Advocates for Youth). While abstinence is the perfect solution in preventing STI's and unintended teenage pregnancy, many teens are going to initiate in sex, which I why abstinence-only programs are so ineffective. 

A sexual education course should be incorporated into all public high school curricula and should include specific and accurate information about sexual health and activity. First and foremost, teenagers should learn about the reproductive system and their sexual anatomy. Contraception should be a main component of any sexual education course, for it almost completely prevents STI's and pregnancy. Students should be taught how to correctly use and put on a condom. Also, they should learn what birth control is, what is does to a females body, the different types of birth control, and the risks of taking it incorrectly or missing a day. In a sex education course, STI's and pregnancy should be discussed in detail. Factual information should be given about how STI's are contracted and their ramifications. Students should learn about how easily it is to become pregnant and how fertilization works. Female should also learn the options they can take if they do become pregnant, such as adoption and abortion. It is obvious that most of the curricula should center on how students can be sexually healthy, but time should also be dedicated to matters such as sexual orientation and how the psychological and emotional effects sex can have. Learning in depth about gender fluidity and homosexuality could help lower discrimination and bullying. Although many conservatives are against homosexuality and different sexual orientations other than heterosexuality, the United States is entering a generation where more and more people are become open about their sexuality. Teens going through a rough time with their sexual orientation need to be taught that being gay is not immoral but just a part of being human. Sexual orientation is a spectrum, not something to be ashamed of and one's sexuality is a part of their identity. Also, losing one' virginity can take an emotional toll on some and students should be aware of this before they initiate in sex. Intercourse is not just about pleasure, it can be about love, shame, or anger, but sometimes in the heat of the moment teenagers forget about this. A very important factor that should definitely be incorporated in a sex education curricula is how to say no. Part of the course should strongly enforce the meaning of consent and how alcohol and drugs can alter your choices when it comes to sex. Boundaries need to be respected when it comes to sex and the meaning of no needs to be taught thoroughly. Another thing that should be taught in a sex education course is that sex does not reflect anyone's value as a person. In society, women who have sex are sluts and those who don't are prudes, while guys who have sex are rock stars and those who don't are geeks. These perceptions cause teenagers to make pressured decisions, which may result in severe consequences and unhealthy choices. One last thing that should be taught in class is how men and women experience sex differently and how their sex drives differ. Schools should also find a way to incorporate parents in their sexual education courses, for parents are one of the best resources for a teenager. While classes provide information in a more formal way, parents are able to give some of this information early on and are able to provide support. Parents are so concerned with what is being taught to their children in sex education classes, but by being involved, they are able to be notified about what is being taught and make their own contributions. It is important that teenagers receive contributions from every setting in their lives. Schools and parents are a great way to gain information, but also there should be community-based opportunities that provide more information for teenagers.  NPR gives examples such as welfare services to provide advice and support, and mass media can spread awareness (Siebold). Schools and parents are a great way to gain information, but also there should be community-based opportunities that provide more information for teenagers (Chen). The more students know about their bodies and how they work, the more they can take care of themselves.

In order to keep today's teens healthy and safe sexual education need to be incorporated into public school's curriculum and soon. While all this debate is going on, teenagers are left vulnerable and are caught in the middle (Masland). Liberals believe sex education should be detailed while conservatives favor abstinence-only. Teen health is constantly being used a statistic in these arguments but is anyone actually taking it into consideration? No impacting action has been taken in trying to change sex education and teenagers are the ones suffering the consequences. The only common ground that has been somewhat found is an organization called Project Reality. Project Reality is a program that educates teens on STI's and contraception while strongly encouraging abstinence. Scott Phelps of Project Reality says, "We recognize the problems of STDs and teen pregnancy, but there are also other risks, such as links to depression and suicide" (Masland). Many people in this debate are not against the teaching of abstinence, only the sole teaching of it. Catherine Wiess has said, "Programs in abstinence are very valuable ...  It's programs that don't provide any information that we're against" (Masland). The people who are against sex education being taught in schools fear that being exposed to sexual content in a classroom will introduce their community's children to things they previously weren't thinking about. the people who tend to blur the lines of church and state. Religion should be respected at all times, but when it comes to the education of how to keep teenagers healthy it should be set aside. With today's generation and society being as sexualized as it is, change in sex education needs to occur, for without it federal dollars are going to continue to be wasted and teenagers are going to continue to have unsafe sex. Sexual education is important because it teaches students how to make healthy and knowledgeable decisions, and more states should require sexual education programs in their public high schools that give clear and accurate information. Abstinence-only programs teach only abstinence, but the majority of teenagers are not going to abstain from having sex, which renders these programs ineffective. No abstinence-only programs have been proven to delay the initiation of sex for a significant period of time. Receiving and having appropriate and accurate knowledge about sexual activity is key in keeping today's teenagers healthy. 

