Sex Education

“What?”; “shut up”, “NO way”; “How do you dare to talk about sex”; Sex is taboo”. That’s how the half of the world’s population react when they hear about teaching sex in schools.Sex is considered to be controversial topic; especially in the eastern culture, which is totally governed by religious doctrines and old traditions. Sex is one of the most famous taboos in many cultures. Many people get embarrassed when they hear about sex because it is affiliated to the genital parts of the body. However, sex is vital for the maintenance of life (L., 2017); therefore, sex education should be taught in schools as a normal topic.

Sex education in the educational curriculum covers all the sexual aspects of the human body like pregnancy, usage of contraception, anatomy, abortion, puberty, sexual diseases, birth control, and many other topics.  (Bridges & Hauser, 2014)

During puberty, teens are exposed to deal with a variety of sexual, emotional, and psychological changes, which affect their life .Sexual developments starts at this stage of teens’ life. Teens become more interested to learn about different sexual aspects. In addition; they start showing affection to the opposite gender.  (Sexual Attraction and Orienation, 2015)                                                                          The risk of having sexual affairs and unintended pregnancy increases at this level because teens don’t have enough background information about sex. (Tulloch & Kaufman, 2013)

Talking about sex education in school is really significant because it holds many advantages for the pupils and the community as well.

Based on the proceeding, sex education should be taught in schools due to:                           
First, sex education leads to healthy life. Having unprotected sex can increase the transmission of HIV disease (Kibry, 2018). According to University of California, 25% of the HIV patients In the United State of America had HIV when they were teenager due to their early sexual activity. Sex education can increase the use of condoms and contraception by 40% which reduce the rate of unprotected sex by 60%.Also, it decreases the rate of unintended pregnancy (Reducing Teenage Pregrancy, 2013) .The U.S teen birth declined from 62%to 41% between 1999 and 2004 due to the use of contraception and condoms (Comprehensive Sex Education:Research and Results, 2009). Condoms abstains the transmission of any sexual infection by 98%.  (Condom Efectiveness)

In addition, it helps the pupils to know and understand their body through teaching them about puberty. During puberty, the adolescent exposes to a variety of physical, sexual and emotional changes. At this stage, teens may have intense anxiety; they don’t what’s happening to their body.Sex education can provide the students with scientific explanations of all the changes which prepares them to have a healthy life.

However, many people believe that sex education encourages teens to have early sexual activity; thus increases the rate of unintended pregnancy (Ten Good Reasons to Oppose Public School Sex Education, 2001). A study was conducted by the National Campaign to End Teen and Unplanned pregnancy; found that sexual programs delay the teens’ sexual intercourse by 40%. In addition, Sex education encourages the teens to abstain from having early sexual activity at a younger age.

Second, it increases the quality of learning. According to a study done by United Nations Population Funds, sex education arouses students’ intellectual and critical thinking; through giving the pupils chances for  discussions and sharing different points of view; hence, it stimulates their self-esteem and self-confidence .Also, according to Dr.Ali Khawaleda, a Jordanian writer, teens intend to grab information about sex from their friends or from the media. Some of this information is wrong .Sex education provides the students with adequate and accurate information about sexual life, human rights and gender equality (الخوالدة، 2014).                                                                                           Nethertheless, sex education fosters students’ academic achievements. A recent study conducted by advocated for youth, shows that healthy sexual programs in school help the students to succeed. Students’ health and success are linked together.Sex education teaches the students how to be healthy, that’s why it affects positively on their academic achievements. (Emily Bridges, 2010)

However, many people think that sex education is embarrassing topic to discuss .Students and teachers might feel discomfort (Pound, 2016).That might be true, but in education there is nothing to be embarrassed about. School is the only place where the students can develop their intellectual thinking. The main purpose of teaching sex education in school is to teach the students how to avoid sexual risks. No one can deny that sex is important in peoples’ life. That’s why students should have background information about sex.

Thirdly, sex education in schools reduces sexual violence. According to the University of Colorado, effective sexual education programs help to reduce sexual issues like rape, sexual harassments, and sexual assaults (A Focus on Human Rights and Gender, 2014).  Sexual awareness can prepare the students to speak up if they were abused by offender (Self esteem,health,and comprehensive sex education, 2017). In addition,          it introduces the students to a wide range of human rights laws which help them combat any sexual violence; thus; it empowers them in case they are sexually abused. (L.Raitz, 2015)                                                            

What is the appropriate age for sex education in school?

Some researchers believed that sex education in school should starts at age ten where they can learn about puberty .At age eleven and twelve, the pupils should know about sexual issues like rape, sexual assault. At age thirteen and fourteen the teens are supposed to know more about abortion and birth control. However, at elementary age, the pupils should take a basic anatomy lesson which prepares them to know about the genital parts of the body. (Sex Ed Classes Should Start As Early As Age 10,Researchers Recommend, 2014)

As a summary, learning is power. The students have the right to know about everything; especially sex education.Sex education doesn’t teach the student how to practice sex; in contrary, it provides the pupils with scientific explanation of the physical changes that occur in their body at a certain age. In addition it teaches them how to embrace themselves, and defends their own rights (Serenko, 2014).Furthermore, it arouses their critical thinking, and it enhances their academic achievements as well.

                         

 

References:

A Focus on Human Rights and Gender. (2014). Retrieved 12 23, 2017, from UNFPA Operational Guidance for Comprehensive Sexuality Education: www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/UNFPA_OperationalGuidance_WEB3.pfd

Bridges, E., & Hauser, D. (2014, May). Sexuality Education. Retrieved 1 6, 2018, from Advocates for Youth: www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/publications-a-z/2390-sexuality-education

Building a Foundation for Sexual Health is a K-12 Endeavor. (2016, June). Retrieved 1 3, 2018, from Future of Sex Education: www.futureofsexed.org/buildingfoundation.html

Comprehensive Sex Education:Research and Results. (2009, September). Retrieved 1 6, 2018, from Advocates for Youth.

Condom Efectiveness. (n.d.). Retrieved 1 4, 2018, from Aids Chicago: https://www.aidschicago.org/resources/legacy/condoms/ltoyw_facts.pdf

Emily Bridges, S. A. (2010, August). Comprehensive Sex Education and Acadamic Success. Retrieved 12 6, 2017, from Advocates for Youth: www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/1745-comprehensive-sex-education-and-acadamic-success

Kibry, D. (2018). HIV Transmission and Prevention in Adolescents. Retrieved 1 1, 2018, from HIV Insite: hiviinsite.ucsf.edu/inSite?page=kb-07-04-03

L., G. (2017). Why Sex Education is Important? Retrieved 12 6, 2017, from Stay teen: stayteen.org/sex-ed/article/why-sex-education-important

L.Raitz, K. (2015). Youth Empowerment in Sex Education. Boulder: University of Colorado.

McKeon, B. (2006). Effective Sex Education. Retrieved 12 23, 2017, from Adtevocates for Youth: www.advocatesforyouth.org/component/content/article/450-effective-sex-education#references

Pound, P. (2016, January 2016). What do young people think about their school-based sex and relationship education? p. 43.

Reducing Teenage Pregrancy. (2013, July). Retrieved 12 29, 2017, from Planned Parenthood Federation of America: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/6813/9611/7632/Reducing_Teen_Pregnancy.pdf

Sexual Attraction and Orienation. (2015, 10). Retrieved from Teens Health: kidshealth.org/en/teens/sexual-orientation.html#

Sex Ed Classes Should Start As Early As Age 10,Researchers Recommend. (2014, August 5). Retrieved 1 1, 2018, from Think Progress: https://thinkprogress.org/sex-ed-classes-should-as-early-as-age-10-reserachers-recommend-6126894c226c/

Self esteem,health,and comprehensive sex education. (2017, September 1). Retrieved 12 6, 2017, from Expat Health: https://expathealth.org/features/self-esteem-health-and-comprehensive-sex-education/

Serenko, A. (2014, March 30). Sex Ed:Barriers and Benefits. Retrieved 12 23, 2017, from Global Citizen: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/sex-ed-barriers-and-benefits/

Ten Good Reasons to Oppose Public School Sex Education. (2001). Retrieved December 7, 2017, from Catholic Parents: https://www.catholicparents.org/ten-good-reasons-oppose-public-school-sex-education/

Tulloch, T., & Kaufman, M. (2013, January). Adolescent Sexuality. Aap News and Journals Gateway, 34(1).

الخوالدة, ع. (2014). التربية الجنسية في المدرسة:اهميتها وضرورتها. In ع. الخوالدة, عمون.