by Krystle Hernandez

Created on: April 14, 2009   Last Updated: April 19, 2009

The debate over sex education has been on going for the past several decades. While many parents feel that their children should get their information about sex from their parents, other parents welcome the opportunity for having their children educated about sex at school. So, the question remains: should sex education be taught at home, at school, or both?

Sex Education at Home

A large percentage of parents feel that sex education should be taught exclusively at home. These individuals feel that it is up to the parents' discretion to determine what information is appropriate to relay to their children given factors such as age and maturity level. Many parents are concerned because they fear that their children will learn inaccurate details about sex from their misinformed peers at school. However, parents can ensure that their children receive accurate information if they take it upon themselves to teach their kids about sex at home.

In addition, many schools will feature sex education curriculums that focus solely on promoting abstinence. While encouraging teens to wait and remain abstinent is certainly a good idea, the reality is that many teens will become sexually active; therefore, it is crucial that they are educated about methods of birth control and STD prevention. When parents teach their children about sex at home, they can guarantee that their children will be receiving pertinent information that school curriculums may overlook.

On the other hand, some schools may not even mention abstinence, focusing instead on educating children on the use of condoms or other methods of birth control rather than encouraging them to wait to have sex. When parents teach their kids about sex at home, they are given the opportunity to take into account religious or moral concerns when it comes to sexuality. These parents can instill values, morals, and religious doctrines in their children that schools may be unable to ingrain.

Another important advantage to teaching children about sex at home concerns privacy and comfort. Children who have been able to establish close bonds with their parents may find it easier to talk about "private" issues like sex within the comfort and safety of their own homes. Whereas these kids may not feel comfortable asking questions to a teacher or a stranger, or speaking up in a class of peers, being alone at home with their parents may give them the courage to ask the questions that they may be afraid to ask otherwise. Moreover, parents will

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