Literature Review

Shaner 1
GraceAnn Shaner
Prof. Stalbird
ENG 1201
March 28, 2020
Why is Sex Education so Important in Schools?
Sex education in schools has been a controversial topic for years. Whether it should be
taught to all students, or completely banned all together. Most schools that decide to “teach sex
education” teach abstinance, the act of waiting until marriage. As studies have shown, this does
not work well with adolescents, especially teenagers. Many believe abstinence-only programs in
schools are worse than not teaching anything at all. Why should we teach everything in sex
education and not just abstinance?
It is not unknown that teenagers are curious about sex, have sex, think about sex, and
more. It is, however, widely ignored and frowned upon in society. As many studies have shown,
simply ignoring these teenagers’ curiosity and impulses will do more harm than good. This
eventually leads to many more cases of teen pregnancies, HIV/AIDS, STDs, and more.
Organizations, such as Planned Parenthood, have come forward to advocate for sex education in
schools and some have even created programs that have proved effective numerous times.
A study done in 2011 showed that the need for sex education scored a 75%, meaning ¾
of the students included in the study felt or showed a lack of understanding in sex education.
Teenagers with a lack of understanding have been proven to be more impulsive, leaving them to
be more susceptible to teen pregnancies, STDs, and more. The result of this study led to the
conclusion that programs to teach sex education instead of abstinence only programs were
necessary for the overall health of adolescents.

Shaner 2
Some people claim that abstinence-only programs are the most effective in reducing teen
pregnancies and raising the percentage of high school students who are not sexually active. The
statistics given to help prove this claim came from sources such as the CDC. These statistics
show, in 1991, that 46% of high school students were not sexually active while in 2016, nearly
60% of high school students were not sexually active. Abstinence-only programs had risen in
number between these years, creating the idea that the amount of students that were not sexually
active was due to the programs. While this may seem logical, studies have shown that
abstinence-only programs don’t reduce risky behaviors. In fact, withholding information about
proper protection and the consequences of being sexually active is extremely dangerous. This is
because even though lots of teenagers are not sexually active, those who are will not know how
to be safe and will result in STDs, pregnancies, emotional issues, and more. Not only that, but
not teaching everything there is to know in sex education is a violation against people’s rights to
health and wellness. Teenagers need to know this information so that they can make safe and
smart choices.
Overall, while abstinence-only programs may seem to be effective and the most accepted
in society, they are not the best choice for teenagers. Allowing teenagers to know about
consequences, being safe, and their sexual health is a part of their rights to understand how to
take care of themselves. Teaching abstinence-only will not decrease risky behaviors and could
even increase them. Sex education should be taught in every high school to every student by not
only explaining abstinence as an option, but all the ways they can protect them selves and stay
safe to prevent consequences.

Shaner 3
Works Cited
Parenthood, Planned. “Goals of Sex Education for Teenagers: Youth Health Services.” Planned
Parenthood, www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/for-educators/what-are-goals-sex-
education-youth.
Oas, Rebecca, et al. “Abstinence Education Works, Condoms Don't: New Teen Pregnancy Data -
Shaner 4
C-Fam.” C, 30 June 2016, c-fam.org/friday_fax/abstinence-education-works-condoms-
dont-new-teen-pregnancy-data/.
Perry, Susan, et al. “Abstinence-Only Programs Don't Delay Teen Sex or Reduce Risky
Behaviors, Research Finds.” MinnPost, 25 Aug. 2017,
www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2017/08/abstinence-only-programs-dont-delay-teen-
sex-or-reduce-risky-behaviors-resear/.
“Why Schools?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 17 July 2019, www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/about/why_schools.htm.
Yang, Ya Ki. “A Study on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Need for Sex Education in High School
Students.” Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing, vol. 18, no. 3, Sept. 2012, pp.
159–169. EBSCOhost, doi:10.4069/kjwhn.2012.18.3.159.

Literature Review

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Literature Review

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Literature Review

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Shaner 1

March 28, 2020

Why is Sex Education so Important in Schools?

education and not just abstinance?

necessary for the overall health of adolescents.

safe to prevent consequences.

C-Fam.” C, 30 June 2016, c-fam.org/friday_fax/abstinence-education-works-condoms-

Behaviors, Research Finds.” MinnPost, 25 Aug. 2017,

Prevention, 17 July 2019, www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/about/why_schools.htm.

159–169. EBSCOhost, doi:10.4069/kjwhn.2012.18.3.159.

You might also like