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Sex Education: Truth or Taboo?

In: Social Issues

Submitted By kendallalyssa
Words 5410
Pages 22
Kendall Hoyt
ENGL 202-13
Research Paper
Sex Education: Truth or Taboo? Each and every year the government spends over forty million dollars to support families that have resulted from teenage pregnancies (“Statistics on Teen Pregnancy” Question 1). However, the government chooses to only fund abstinence programs in schools. If a school chooses to have an abstinence plus birth control program, the government will not present them with any federal funds to help cover the costs of the program (Lindberg, Laura, Duberstein, and Isaac Maddow-Zimet 332). Not only will the government refuse to fund the program, but the parents are also scared such courses will negatively influence their children and churches say it goes against moral conduct. The church argument should be invalid if our country wants to live up to the separation of church and state. The church should not be able to dictate what students learn. However, that is beside the point. Until schools have the backing of the community and parents, this will not be changed. The media also plays a big role in negative influences on teen pregnancy. In my opinion, this is something that classes could change. Deciding on who should receive this education is another debate. Everyone should receive this education. The information is very helpful and useful. When asked about sex education, Helen B. Shaffer had this to say, “while sex education in the schools has become fairly prevalent, much of it still skirts around the very questions on which young people need more knowledge, understanding, and guidance” (Section 1 Paragraph 3). Students may have questions even if they have never had any formal sex education classes. Because sexual activities and unplanned pregnancies have drastically risen among teenagers, sex education programs would not only prepare students, but also help to guide them in making the right choices

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