Sex education has been the major topic of discussion ever since the Sexual Education Act of 1970 was passed. The Sexual Education and Rights Act define sex education as “the information regarding all aspects of sexual life, whether possible, probable, desirable and potential”. This was undoubtedly one step forward in establishing a healthy culture of sex education in the country.
However, the progress made in this regard has been very slow and one wonders how much further sex education can go until people accept the fact that sex is a basic biological need. Sex education has been the object of constant attack from various Right wing Christian and right-wing secularist forces. Recently, in the state of Tennessee, an organization called “Tennessee Parents for Marriage” has been working actively to circulate a petition that would have the state law prohibit sex education in the schools.
According to this petition, “The current statutory language and case law are insufficient to provide for meaningful and effective sex education programs in our state. Efforts to incorporate holistic concepts of child development, parental expectations and skills, and informed consent have been met with significant resistance by schools and by some parents.” It is evident from this that the drive towards compulsory sex education has been driven not by social needs but by religious and conservative sentiments. In fact, it seems that the only reason why there is a push for comprehensive sexuality education programs is to create a sense of moral responsibility among people, particularly the young ones.
Sex education programs are designed to impart information about the hazards of unprotected sex, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and the risks of using contraceptives. It aims at informing both young adults and teenagers about healthy relationships, how to respect one’s body and one’s partner, how to establish and maintain long-lasting bonds, and how to prevent teen pregnancy, STDs, and pregnancy. However, these programs have also been criticized on the grounds that they do not teach about healthy relationships and how to deal with sexual problems like depression, anxiety, and mental health problems. On the other hand, sex education programs are seen as a vehicle by which religious groups and conservative politicians can scare young minds against discussing sex and obtaining sexual health education.
Most school districts have also adopted curriculums that promote abstinence and discourage sex education. In fact, the only thing that states have done to promote sex education is to pass laws requiring schools to inform students about birth control methods, sexually transmitted diseases, and the effects of using contraceptives. However, the implementation of these laws has been inadequate since it is difficult to convince teens to abstain from sex. At the same time, the majority of children brought up in Christian homes remain sexually inactive. This means that comprehensive sexuality education will not only fail to prevent unplanned pregnancy but may even foster the attitude that sex is tolerable and acceptable.
For an effective comprehensive sex education, it should teach about the biological and psychological foundations of human sexuality and the impact of cultural assumptions, such as those regarding masturbation, unwanted sexual touching, and exhibitionism. Comprehensive sex education should also incorporate methods and strategies to reduce the likelihood of sexually active adults having multiple partners. It should provide information about the negative consequences of premarital sex and the likelihood of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. It should also emphasize the legal and social penalties for sex outside marriage and the likelihood of childbearing by teenage girls in developing countries. Most importantly, sex education should provide information on the risks of contracting AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Unfortunately, most schools still fail to implement comprehensive sex education programs despite increasing societal pressure and the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases. Some schools have introduced sex education courses as elective activities and as elective courses that are taught by teachers without any mandate from the parents or the government. At present, only 20 states require public schools to offer comprehensive sex education. Only a few states have adopted a policy requiring public school teachers to offer information about abstinence and safe sex.
At a personal level, the best way to ensure that your teen is receiving adequate sex education is to ensure that he or she is well-informed about sex and pregnancy. Teach your child at an early age the biological benefits of abstinence and the negative consequences of engaging in sexual intercourse. Give him or her a realistic understanding of his or her reproductive abilities and explain to him or her the possible benefits of engaging in abstinence and of using contraceptives.
