Channel Button

There are 88 articles on this title. You are reading the article ranked and rated #80 by Helium's members.

Education   >

Secondary School Issues

Get a Widget for this title

Does sex education in schools encourage teens to have sex?

I think it's wrong to assume that schools will offer the best sex ed advice to your teens. Taking a proactive approach at home is the best bet. Only a parent truly knows the responsibility level their child has reached, and therefore are the best educators when it comes to a subject as touchy as teen aged sex.

Along those same lines, it is the parents responsibility, ultimately, to guide our children in the best direction, especially where sex is concerned. To bury your head in the sand and pretend that just because you've instilled a good sense of morals and ethics into you child means that sex won't be an option, leaves you wide open for a great deal of disappointment.

The only way to combat and be appropriately prepared for sex among teen agers is to understand the mind set. Teen agers are going to have sex no matter how they were raised, no matter what they've been taught and sometimes in spite of religious beliefs. Once you've set yourself in that mindset, sex talks with your child will flow freely and education can begin and end within the home.

It is no the school's responsibility to teach sex ed, nor is their responsibility to encourage or deny sexual activity among our teen agers. The offering of sex ed within the school systems is simply an addition to what the parent should be teaching at home to begin with. It is an alternative, nothing more, nothing less. Ultimately, it is up to the parents to decide when and how the conversations should occur and how they play out. The school systems can not be held responsible for this type of knowledge and understanding.

The more open you are with your children, the better the communications will be. The less your expectations of your child, and the more understanding you offer rather than judgments and harsh reprimands, the more your teen ager will face these issues with a clear train of though and their own ideals regarding matters such as this will match your own.

One can not condemn the child who seeks out a sexual relationship before their age determines their readiness. The schools systems do not have a right to encourage sexual relationships among teenagers, and yet, they also should not be put in the position of being your child's only education where sexual matters are concerned.

Learn more about this author, Mary Martir.
Contact this writer Click here to send this author comments or questions.


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Does sex education in schools encourage teens to have sex?

  • 1 of 88

    by Paul Lines

    During the past few decades there has been a continuing debate about whether the increase in sex education in schools encourages

    read more

  • 2 of 88

    by Todd Daigneault

    I would say that it is quite the opposite. Take away the seductive, scantily-clad images of half-nude or nude images of mostly

    read more

  • 3 of 88

    by Khadijah Ali-Coleman

    Does sex education in schools encourage teens to have sex. No, not if the sex education program is founded in a non-judgemental,

    read more

  • 4 of 88

    by Claire Brushings

    From my fairly recent experience of sex education within a school environment, it seems to me a little bizarre that parents

    read more

  • 5 of 88

    by Danelle Karth

    My grandma got pregnant with my mom when she was 16. Her parents had told her that kissing would get her pregnant. With that

    read more

View All Articles on:
Does sex education in schools encourage teens to have sex?

Add your voice

Know something about Does sex education in schools encourage teens to have sex??
We want to hear your view. Write_penWrite now!

Helium Debate

Cast your vote!

Should teachers be held accountable for low student test scores?

Click for your side.

90554

Featured Partner

The Sunlight Foundation

Founded in January 2006, the mission of the Sunlight Foundation is to strengthen the relationship between lawmakers a...more

What is Helium? | Buy Web Content | Contact Us | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA | User Tools | Help | Community | Helium’s Official Blog | Link to Helium

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA