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Sex Education The Importance Of Essay

Here again, the importance of sex education is imperative. I decided to talk about the importance of sex education because sex education is not readily available in our schools today. Many schools integrate sex education classes into their curriculum, some schools focus on abstinence-only sex education classes, but many schools are also discouraged from having sex education classes due to parental pressure. Many parents assume that it is the responsibility of parents to educate their children about sex and sexuality. But while the parents share the responsibility of educating their children, as a powerful agent of socialization, schools also need to teach sex education. School environment is important for children and youngsters' development of attitudes toward sex. Many young people learn about sex from their peers, and that is partly the reason why they so often have misleading and false assumptions about sex. "I have been asked questions such as 'Can you get pregnant from anal sex' (13 years old), 'Am I not a virgin if I've given a blow job' (6th grader), 'How will I know if I am pregnant' (8th grader) etc.," a school teacher points out. "As a teacher these questions break your heart because you ask yourself why have you not been explained these things? Where are you getting your information from?" (Blosser). Sex education classes can help children understand these important questions at their early age.

The most recent polls show that the attitudes of parents have also changed. Most parents today support some form of sex education...

An NPR, Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government conducted recently a poll about the importance of sex education at schools. Only seven percent of surveyed parents showed opposition to school sex education. Fifteen percent of Americans believe that children should only be taught about abstinence, while not providing any information about contraception and birth control. Forty six Americans said that they support what the research calls "abstinence-plus" -- the suggestion that abstinence is preferred, but some teens just do not abstain, so it is important that schools educate them about contraception and birth control. "Thirty-sex percent believe that abstinence is not the most important thing," the study says, "and that sex ed should focus on teaching teens how to make responsible decisions about sex" ("Sex Education in America").
The importance of sex education cannot be underestimated. Our society today is highly sexualized. And unless children and adolescents are properly educated about sex, sexuality, and sexual relationships as well as the consequences of irresponsible sexual behavior, the existing societal problems will only worsen.

Works Cited

Allerston, Sue and Graham Davies. Sex Education. Cheltenham, Nelson Thornes, 2001.

Blosser, Rianna. "The Importance of Sex Education." 8 Aug. 2007, Web 21 Feb. 2011

Magoon, Kela. Sex Education in Schools. Edina, MN: ABDO Publishing Company, 2010.

"Sex Education in America," NPR, Web 21 Feb. 2011

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Allerston, Sue and Graham Davies. Sex Education. Cheltenham, Nelson Thornes, 2001.

Blosser, Rianna. "The Importance of Sex Education." 8 Aug. 2007, Web 21 Feb. 2011 <http://www.helium.com/items/513271-the-importance-of-sex-education>

Magoon, Kela. Sex Education in Schools. Edina, MN: ABDO Publishing Company, 2010.

"Sex Education in America," NPR, Web 21 Feb. 2011 <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1622610>
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