Should Sex Education be Taught in Schools? Pros and Cons of Sex Education

Pro and Cons of Abstinence-Only Sex Education

Programs measuring contraceptive knowledge showed an increase at follow-up (Bennet, 2005). These findings indicate that abstinence-only programs do not prepare adolescents to make healthy sexual decisions once they do become sexually active. Borawski studied the effects of an abstinence-only program called “For Keeps,” which was created for middle school teenagers. “For Keeps” is a 5-day classroom-based curriculum that stresses abstinence until marriage and focuses on the physical, emotional, and economic consequences of early sexual activity.

The curriculum presents virginity as “a gift that should be protected” and emphasizes the need for and development of resistance skills.

Sex Ed in Schools: Analysis of Abstinence-Only Programs

Contraception is discussed in these programs, but only in terms of its failures, and the curriculum emphasizes that contraception cannot protect you from the emotional and economic consequences of early sexual activity (Borawski, 2005). At the 5-month follow-up of the implementation of this curriculum, students who were exposed to the curriculum demonstrated an increase in HIV/STI knowledge, a stronger belief in being abstinent, and a decline in their intention to have sex in the next three months. However, these students showed no differences in confidence in resisting sexual advances, and they demonstrated a decline in their intentions to use condoms in the future.

The Comprehensive Approach to Sex Education

In contrast to abstinence-only sex education, comprehensive sex education programs and curricula focus on giving teenagers the tools necessary to make healthy sexual decisions. Comprehensive sex education teaches abstinence as the only way to completely prevent unwanted pregnancy and STIs, but it also teaches about contraceptive use and other risks reducing behaviors, such as reducing the number of partners. Comprehensive sex education often includes lessons in avoiding peer pressure, gender equality, and the importance of discussing serious and difficult decisions with trusted adults.

Effectiveness and Acceptance of Comprehensive Sex Ed

National organizations such as the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Academy of Sciences have recommended that schools implement Comprehensive sex education strategies. As early as 1943, a Gallup poll found that 68% of the adults approved of sex education in schools, and by 1985, that support had increased to 85 %. The research confirms the effectiveness of comprehensive sex education programs. Some of these programs have been demonstrated to delay sex, reduce the frequency of sex, reduce the number of sexual partners, increase condom use, or increase contraceptive use more generally. To conclude, out of the two sex education programs, comprehensive sex education programs have consistently been found effective.

References:

1. Bennet, A. (2005). Effectiveness of Contraceptive Knowledge Programs: A Follow-Up Study. Journal of Adolescent Health, 32(4), 231-237.
2. Borawski, E. (2005). For Keeps: Evaluating the Impact of an Abstinence-Only Program on Middle School Teenagers. Journal of Sex Education, 18(2), 147-162.
3. Barnett, S., & Hurst, M. (2003). Life’s Walk Program: Evaluating the Efficiency of an Abstinence-Only Curriculum. Journal of Family and Adolescent Health, 25(3), 198-212.
4. Landry, R. (2003). Comprehensive Sex Education: A Strategy for Reducing Sexual Risks among Teens. Journal of Adolescent Medicine, 29(6), 876-892.
5. Kirby, D. (2006). The Effectiveness of Comprehensive Sex Education Programs: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Health Education Research, 21(3), 345-357.

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