Sex Education Role in the Teenage Pregnancy Essay Sample

Do you really think it’s ethical for a child to learn about certain topics that go against religious beliefs and take away a parent’s responsibility? According to a national analysis the national library of medicine did, abstinence-only education does not reduce and likely increases teen pregnancy rates. So can sex ed really prevent pregnancies? The senate bill 5395 should not be implemented in Washington state schools.

First of all, the content goes against religious beliefs. “Sexual education, in many cases, goes against beliefs. Also most schools do not teach ‘abstinence’. Instead they focus on having safe intercourse, which many religions and family values object before marriage.” (idosr.org) Schools these days don’t necessarily care about people's religious beliefs. There are people who, because of their religion, don’t want their children subjected to this kind of information. To them it’s considered impure and sinful. It doesn't help that the teachers, because they weren’t properly taught, bring their own personal beliefs and biases into it. This is wrong because a child who is taught that they should wait until marriage, is being taught by an adult that might not share their beliefs, and end up being contradicted.

Next, sex ed intoxicates childrens minds and pressures them. “By educating kids about sex at an early age, it spoils their minds and enhances their curiosity. In other words, when a person is prone to initiate her sexual relationships, receiving sexual information will make her thirsty for more information. It also motivates for initiating sexual relationship.” (bedossier.com) The information here shows that all sex ed does is enhance curiosity and motivates someone to have sex. The bill wants sex ed to start in kindergarten. These kids are far too young to be learning about this content. It might say that kindergarten would only be taught  “boundaries” but these are innocent children. They shouldn’t be feeling pressured, especially once they get into the actual sex part as a teenager, to have sex with somebody because they don’t teach abstinence but how to have safe sex. 

Finally, it takes away a parent's right to teach their kids. “The primary teachers of children are their parents. It is their right and responsibility to teach sexual morality to their children.” This article goes on to say that “The best lesson in sex parents can provide their children is the lover and respect they show for each other.” (catholicparents.org) Parents should be able to teach their kids what they want when they want to. Like the article said, the best lesson a kid could learn is to respect and love others. They shouldn’t have to get that taken away by schools who use it as a week or 2 course when an actual sex talk takes no more than ten minutes. Schools and the teachers in them aren’t properly educated on these topics and don’t know all the kids in the same level a parent does, so they can’t approach that subject in a way a parent could.

Yes it saves parents from the awkwardness of teaching their child but it’s not exactly fair. The schools are essentially deciding to do it without asking the parents, except for the permission slips. It does give an alternative for parents but there are still a lot of people that teach their kids themselves. A poll that Planned Parenthood did in 2014 shows that “82 percent of parents have talked to their children about topics related to sexuality.” They showed that there is a good percentage of parents that talk to their children about sex and don’t rely on the schools to do their lessons. 

In conclusion, the senate bill 5395 should not be implemented in Washington state schools. The bill is all about teaching kids safe sex so they can prevent teen pregnancies, sexual assault, STD’s and STI’s. But do the courses really prevent them, or is it just something they want us to believe? Studies have shown that comprehensive sex education has not been effective in reducing pregnancy and infection rates. The whole point of these programs is to turn kids away from sex when all that they do is make the kids feel like they have to have sex, whether it’s a consensual choice or through force. To prevent pregnancies, assaults, and infections, don’t let your kids take the courses. Teach them yourself because they are more likely to listen to you than a random teacher or staff member.