Although many parents dislike the idea of sexual education in schools, the fact of the matter is that children are taught it in public schools.
While it is difficult to control what children are taught in public schools, parents do have the right to be present in their child’s classroom during these lessons. It is not a comfortable experience to be away from your child when they are learning such sensitive topics.
Problems with abstinence-only curricula
Federal funds have been a powerful incentive for schools to implement abstinence-only curriculums. Since the 1980s, federal abstinence-only funding has fluctuated, peaked at the end of the Bush Administration, and then declined significantly under President Obama.
However, there are some concerns about abstinence-only curriculums. They are unscientific and often lead to the teaching of erroneous information. They fail to teach the use of condoms and contraception and omit important information about sex.
The American Medical Association, American Psychological Association, and American Public Health Association, among other organizations, have argued for comprehensive sexuality education in schools. Other organizations support comprehensive sexuality education, including the Child Welfare League of America, the National Council on Family Relations, the National School Boards Association, the Office of Family Ministries and Human Sexuality of the National Council of Churches, and the Alan Guttmacher Institute.
Abstinence-only curricula have numerous negative effects on young people. They fail to teach about the harms of unprotected sex, undermine the role of contraception in disease prevention, and undermine the autonomy of minors.
Problems with a comprehensive approach to sex education in schools
A comprehensive approach to sexual education in schools is an important aspect of promoting equality and respect for human rights. It provides children with knowledge and skills to make responsible choices for themselves. Comprehensive sexual education should cover five key areas: sexual and reproductive physiology, sexual health and rights, contraception and values.
Despite its potential benefits, comprehensive sexual education is difficult to implement in school settings. Resources are scarce and competing priorities can hinder implementation. Nevertheless, numerous large school districts have successfully integrated CSE into their curricula. Concerns about parental disapproval are unfounded and should not deter school leaders from implementing comprehensive sexual education in schools.
Opponents of comprehensive sexual education in schools have tried to halt or ban the program. School board members typically make final decisions on curriculum. Unfortunately, some school board members engage in secret campaigns, resulting in a lack of transparency regarding their positions.
Alternatives to sex education in schools
Alternatives to sexual education in schools are increasingly available to educate young people about sexuality. Social change-minded entrepreneurs have developed online programs and smartphone apps to fill a gap in our educational system and help youth understand the consequences of sexual activity. These programs help students become aware of the benefits of a healthy and responsible relationship, how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases, and how to build positive relationships.
Many students are dissatisfied with traditional sex education in schools. They report a lack of relevant information and fear-based lesson plans. Moreover, students report that their education is not comprehensive and useful. The majority of high schools only cover three of the 19 essential topics about sexual health. Moreover, fear-based lessons and content do not address the issues that young people are most likely to face later on.
A comprehensive sexual education curriculum is difficult to implement in a school setting due to competing priorities and limited resources. Although the program has been shown to reduce the number of school dropouts, it is not easy to implement. However, there is some hope for school districts that wish to make this program a priority. Some large school districts have integrated it successfully into their curricula. Despite the challenges, CSE is beneficial to young people.