Critical Thinking: Sex Education in Public Schools

Grace Weissman
5/5/14
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In order to prevent both teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as
eradicate abstinence-only programs, which are outdated and ineffective, all state legislatures
must require medically accurate, comprehensive sex education for public school children.
Advocates for comprehensive sex education have been fighting against the abstinence-only-until-
marriage movement since the 1960s, winning periodic successes, but conservative groups have
remained steadfast (Pardini, 1). Currently, only 22 states and the District of Columbia require sex
education in public schools, and of those 22 only 19 states require medically accurate sex
education, with that definition ranging from the department of health reviewing the curriculum to
merely basing information off of published authorities upon which medical professionals
rely(NCSL, 1). However, this lack of information has clearly not deterred sexual activity among
teenagers. During the years 2006-2010 rates of heterosexual vaginal intercourse between females
aged 15-19 years was at 42.6% and males was 41.8% (CDC, 1). If over 20,000 of 15-19 year
olds from a national sample are having sex, then it is in the best interest of the country for the
government to inform these young adults and teach them to be safe and prevent the drastic social
and economic consequences associated with teenage pregnancy. Without government required
comprehensive sex education in schools, there is no way to ensure that Americas youth are
receiving the accurate information that they need.
Since the beginning of the 20
th
century, the nation has been debating what to teach children
about sex in schools. Commencing in 1878, Inspector General Anthony Comstock made it
essentially illegal to distribute information about abortion and birth control or anything dealing
with sexual activity under his self-titled Comstock Laws (Campos, 59). Ever since, sex education
advocates have been trying to overcome the stigma the Comstock Laws enforced about sex. In
1912 the National Education Association recommended that teachers receive training to give
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education about sexuality, at the same time that the American Medical Association announced
that education was the best way to prevent sexually transmitted infections and the American
Social Hygiene Association was formed (Campos, 60). Infected soldiers returning from WWI
and WWII escalated concern for sexually transmitted infections, prompting the U.S. Public
Health Service to stress the importance of sex education in schools in 1940. The men coming
home also motivated the American Medical Association and National Education Association to
publish a series of pamphlets that became the basis of most school-based sex education
programs in the 1950s (EBSCO Host Connection, 1). Although the movement was gaining
support, the programs had limited effectiveness, with the range and depth of information
conveyed in the classroom [varying] widely, no national policy on what to teach and how to
teach sexual education and the neglect to mention contraceptives in the curriculum (as in certain
states they were still illegal). Nonetheless, in the 1960s, when the birth control pill was
developed, an equal resistance began to organize against teaching youth about sex, believing that
it was an attack on traditional morals(EBSCO Host Connection, 1). Later, in the 1980s, the
AIDS epidemic brought about more concern over the health of youth motivating the Surgeon
General, C. Everett Koop in 1986, to publish a report calling for sex education, including
information on preventing the transmission of the HIV virus through safe sex, to be instituted in
public schools starting at the elementary level (EBSCO Host Connection, 1). At the turn of the
21
st
century sex ed supporters had made great progress, but with strong pushback from
abstinence-only supporters and no official standards for sex education there are still issues such
as teen pregnancy and STIs to be solved with the requirement of comprehensive programs.
The best way to prevent the social, economic and health issues related to teenage pregnancy is
to correctly inform youth about contraceptives and safe sex. If the government would increase
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teens access to evidence-based and culturally competent clinical services(CDC, 1) then the
adolescents that are inevitably having sex would gain the knowledge and tools to remain healthy
and in control of their reproductive systems and, with that, the course of their lives. Currently,
teen pregnancy rates are over 29 for every 1,000 females age 15-19 (CDC, 1). Unplanned
pregnancies can have negative affects on teenage mothers as well as their children who are
more likely to have lower school achievement and drop out of high school, have more health
problems, be incarcerated at some time during adolescence, give birth as a teenager, and face
unemployment as a young adult (CDC, 1). Their mothers are also less likely to complete high
school, less likely to qualify for a high-paying job, less likely to attend college, more likely end
up on welfare and have a second birth before turning twenty (Do Something, 1). Although
unplanned pregnancies are preventable through birth control, 70% of women ages 20-29 report
that they did not plan to get pregnant (the national campaign, 1). In addition to improving the
health and lives of sexually active teenagers, teaching them about contraception could save
taxpayers the annual $9.4 billion that are spent on teen childbearing, not including the cost of
healthcare for the mothers or abortions (the national campaign, 1). The United States and Europe
have almost equal rates in teen sexual activity, however, European teens are more likely than
U.S. teens to use contraceptives generally and to use the most effective methods; they therefore
have substantially lower pregnancy rates(Guttmacher Institute, 1). In European countries such
as Switzerland, sex education begins at age 10 and teens have easy access to contraceptives,
confidential health care and comprehensive sex education (Agnvall, 1). If America followed a
similar model, providing comprehensive sex education and health care, it would likely decrease
teenage pregnancies and the repercussions associated with them.
Young adults are at high risk for acquiring sexually transmitted infections, STIs, or sexually
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transmitted diseases, STDs, as they usually take little caution preventing them. Adolescents are
more likely to contract an STI if they have multiple sexual partners, have unprotected sex, or
take part in other high-risk sexual behaviors(Office of Adolescent Health, 1). Untreated STDs
can cause great health risks including organ damage, pregnancy complications, infertility and
even death (Office of Adolescent Health, 1). With 9.5 million young adults ages 15-24 diagnosed
with STDs annually, there is a significant lack of protection use and knowledge of safety among
teenagers (Office of Adolescent Health, 1). Popular rumors conclude that STIs can only be
contracted through intercourse, however most teenagers are simply unaware that contact with
cuts, tears, sore or infected areas on the skin as well as oral and anal sex can also infect others
(Kids Health, 1). Comprehensive sex education would provide key information such as this to fill
the gaps in teenagers knowledge.
The last step in ensuring sexual health among adolescents is to eliminate abstinence-only-
until-marriage programs and the false, ineffective information they provide. Abstinence is a
healthy option for teenagers, however implying that it is the sole option for adolescents is
scientifically and ethically problematic (Santelli et al., 72). Using an 8-point system that isnt
based in evidence-based, public health and social science research the foundation of the
abstinence-only education has no credibility (Advocates for Youth, 1). A 2004 investigation by
the House Government Reform Committee into 13 abstinence-only curricula found that 11 of
them, which were taught to millions of students, blurred religion and science, and contained
unproven claims and subjective conclusions or outright falsehoods regarding the effectiveness of
contraceptives, gender traits, and when life begins with such outlandish claims such as A 43-
day-old fetus is a thinking person and HIV can be spread via sweat and tears(Advocates for
Youth, 1). Additionally, abstinence-only programs often provide inaccurate and alarmist
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misinformation about the effectiveness of condoms, contraception, and safer sex (Planned
Parenthood, 1). The abstinence-only programs were further discredited by a Congressionally-
mandated study in 2007 which found these programs ineffective in stopping or delaying teen sex,
reducing the number of reported sexual partners, reducing sexually transmitted infections or
otherwise beneficially impacting young peoples sexual behavior(Human Rights Campaign, 1).
However, for the years 2010-2014, the Obama administration has allocated federal funding of
$50 million dollars annually for these hindering programs, money spent that perpetuates
ignorance and a lack of safety among many adolescents, as opposed to providing medically
accurate information to support the realities of teen sexual activity (SIECUS, 1).
In order to eliminate the misinformed abstinence-only programs and provide the medically
accurate information necessary to promote healthy sexuality and decrease dangerous teenage
pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, the government must require comprehensive sex
education in all public schools. There are many factors that influence the sexual habits of
teenagers, however sex and HIV education programs have multiple goals: to decrease
unintended pregnancy, to decrease STDs including HIV and to improve sexual health among
youth(Kirby, 1). Failure to teach Americas youth about contraception will continue to result in
a cycle of poverty and cost taxpayers billions. Sexually transmitted infections can be easily
prevented with open information about how they are acquired. As the five-year fund for
abstinence-only programs runs out, it is necessary to completely remove their distorted
curriculums. However as the nation moves forward, one thing is clear, as found by the
Guttmacher Institute, "societal acceptance of sexual activity among young people, combined
with comprehensive and balanced information about sexuality and clear expectations about
commitment and prevention childbearing and STDs [sexually transmitted diseases] within
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teenage relationships, are hallmarks of countries with low levels of adolescent pregnancy,
childbearing and STDs" and with government support, one day the United States can be one of
those countries (Agnvall, 1).

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Works Cited
Agnvall, Elizabeth. "In Western Europe." Washington Post [Washington, DC] 16 May 2006: n.
pag. The Washington Post. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2006/05/15/AR2006051500809.html>.
"Background on Teenage Pregnancy." Do Something. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
<https://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/background-teenage-pregnancy>.
Campos, David. "A Historical Perspective of Sex Education in the Twentieth Century." Sex,
Youth, and Sex Education: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2002.
Google Books. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
<http://books.google.com/books?id=FKmVUwbUlGgC&pg=PA60&lpg=PA60&dq=191
2,+when+the+National+Education+Association+sex&source=bl&ots=a2V9np4bAN&sig
=fiRDmdmQ85jWGwYSClN3As2AuY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=isI1U9WYDLPlsASc24GYA
g&ved=0CEkQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=1912%2C%20when%20the%20National%20E
ducation%20Association%20sex&f=false>.
"Counting It Up: The Public Costs of Teen Childbearing." The National Campaign. The National
Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
<http://thenationalcampaign.org/why-it-matters/public-cost>.
"Effective HIV and STD Prevention Programs for Youth." Center for Disease Control and
Prevention. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 July 2011. Web. 9 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/sexualbehaviors/effective_programs.htm>.
"Facts on American Teens' Sexual and Reproductive Health." Guttmacher Institute. Guttmacher
Institute, June 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-
ATSRH.html>.
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Hirsch, Larissa, ed. "About Sexually Transmitted Diseases." Kids Health. Nemours Foundation,
Jan. 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/stds/std.html>.
"History of Sex Education." EBSCO Host Connection. EBSCO, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
<http://connection.ebscohost.com/education/sex-education-schools/history-sex-
education>.
"Implementing Sex Education." Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood Federation of
America, 2014. Web. 8 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.plannedparenthood.org/resources/implementing-sex-education-23516.htm>.
Kirby, Douglas. "What works best in sex/HIV education?" Center for AIDS Prevention Studies
at the University of California San Francisco. U of California, Sept. 2006. Web. 30 Mar.
2014. <http://caps.ucsf.edu/factsheets/sex-education/>.
McKeon, Brigid. "Effective Sex Education." Advocates for Youth. Advocates for Youth, 2006.
Web. 9 Mar. 2014. <http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications450>.
Pardini, Priscilla. "The History of Sexuality Education." Rethinking Schools. Rethinking
Schools, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.rethinkingschools.org/sex/sexhisto.shtml>.
"A Portrait of Sexuality Education and Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in the States
(Fiscal Year 2010 Edition)." SIECUS. N.p., 2010. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.siecus.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=487&parentID=4
78>.
"Repealing Ineffective and Incomplete Abstinence-Only Program Funding Act." Human Rights
Campaign. Human Rights Campaign, 24 Mar. 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
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<http://www.hrc.org/laws-and-legislation/federal-legislation/repealing-ineffective-and-
incomplete-abstinence-only-program-funding-act>.
Santelli, John, et al. "Abstinence and Abstinence-only Education: A Review of U.S. Policies and
Programs." Journal of Adolescent Health 38.1 (2006): 72-81. Science Direct. Web. 30
Mar. 2014. <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1054139X05004672>.
"State Policies on Sex Education in Schools." National Conf. of State Legislatures. National
Conference of State Legislatures, 14 Feb. 2014. Web. 9 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-policies-on-sex-education-in-schools.aspx>.
"Trends in Teen Pregnancy and Childbearing." Office of Adolescent Health. U.S. Department of
Health & Human Services, 20 Dec. 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-health-topics/reproductive-health/teen-
pregnancy/trends.html>.

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Annotated Bibliography
Agnvall, Elizabeth. "In Western Europe." Washington Post [Washington, DC] 16 May 2006: n.
pag. The Washington Post. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2006/05/15/AR2006051500809.html>. Provides perspective on the
effects of sex education in Europe and the lack thereof in America. Cites the Guttmacher
Institute, written by a frequent contributor to the Health section the Washington Post.
"Background on Teenage Pregnancy." Do Something. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
<https://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/background-teenage-pregnancy>. Includes
statistics and repercussions of teenage pregnancy. A board of directors, founders and
CEOs of various successful companies support the organization.
Campos, David. "A Historical Perspective of Sex Education in the Twentieth Century." Sex,
Youth, and Sex Education: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2002.
Google Books. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
<http://books.google.com/books?id=FKmVUwbUlGgC&pg=PA60&lpg=PA60&dq=191
2,+when+the+National+Education+Association+sex&source=bl&ots=a2V9np4bAN&sig
=fi-
RDmdmQ85jWGwYSClN3As2AuY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=isI1U9WYDLPlsASc24GYAg&
ved=0CEkQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=1912%2C%20when%20the%20National%20Educ
ation%20Association%20sex&f=false>. This book has a detailed timeline of the history
of sex ed in America and includes a bibliography.
"Counting It Up: The Public Costs of Teen Childbearing." The National Campaign. The National
Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
<http://thenationalcampaign.org/why-it-matters/public-cost>. Has several data sheets
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outlining the cost of teenage pregnancies in the whole country and state-by-state. The
National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy is a non-partisan, non-
ideological organization that publishes research relevant to teen sexuality.
"Effective HIV and STD Prevention Programs for Youth." Center for Disease Control and
Prevention. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 July 2011. Web. 9 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/sexualbehaviors/effective_programs.htm>. The
Center for Disease Control and Prevention website has several sources regarding
Adolescent and School Health. Specifically, an overview of how STD prevention
programs are effective. This webpage contains a list of credible reference sources.
"Facts on American Teens' Sexual and Reproductive Health." Guttmacher Institute. Guttmacher
Institute, June 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-
ATSRH.html>. An in depth fact sheet with comparisons to other countries and statistics +
graphs. From the institute striving to "advance sexual and reproductive health and rights
through an interrelated program of research, policy analysis and public education
designed to generate new ideas, encourage enlightened public debate and promote sound
policy and program development"
Hirsch, Larissa, ed. "About Sexually Transmitted Diseases." Kids Health. Nemours Foundation,
Jan. 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/stds/std.html>.
Has simple information covering a wide variety of ways to contract STD's. Published by
Nemours Children's Health System.
"History of Sex Education." EBSCO Host Connection. EBSCO, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
<http://connection.ebscohost.com/education/sex-education-schools/history-sex-
education>. This article includes decade by decade information regarding the history of
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sex education. It is a quality database with premium content providing credible
information.
"Implementing Sex Education." Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood Federation of
America, 2014. Web. 8 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.plannedparenthood.org/resources/implementing-sex-education-23516.htm>.
Planned Parenthood provides information about the meaning of comprehensive sex
education, the ineffectiveness of abstinence only programs and why sex ed is important.
It is a reputable source because the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. as
well as their 68 affiliates is the nation's leading reproductive healthcare advocates.
Kirby, Douglas. "What works best in sex/HIV education?" Center for AIDS Prevention Studies
at the University of California San Francisco. U of California, Sept. 2006. Web. 30 Mar.
2014. <http://caps.ucsf.edu/factsheets/sex-education/>. Provides basic information into
what comprehensive sex ed is and its goals. Kirby has a PhD and works for the Center for
AIDS Prevention Studies at the University of California San Francisco.
McKeon, Brigid. "Effective Sex Education." Advocates for Youth. Advocates for Youth, 2006.
Web. 9 Mar. 2014. <http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications450>. The sex
education fact sheet contains information regarding everything from abstinence programs
to effective sex education programs. The entire document is cited with 27 different
reference sources.
Pardini, Priscilla. "The History of Sexuality Education." Rethinking Schools. Rethinking
Schools, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.rethinkingschools.org/sex/sexhisto.shtml>. Provides a detailed description
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of significant events in the history of sex education. Is part of a publication attempting to
provide resources for reforming public school system.
"A Portrait of Sexuality Education and Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in the States
(Fiscal Year 2010 Edition)." SIECUS. N.p., 2010. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.siecus.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=487&parentID=4
78>. Contains organized charts and articles showing funds for abstinence-only programs
throughout the years. SIECUS is the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the
United States.
"Repealing Ineffective and Incomplete Abstinence-Only Program Funding Act." Human Rights
Campaign. Human Rights Campaign, 24 Mar. 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.hrc.org/laws-and-legislation/federal-legislation/repealing-ineffective-and-
incomplete-abstinence-only-program-funding-act>. Includes additional input into the
problems with abstinence-only programs and is recently updated with information
regarding laws and these programs
Santelli, John, et al. "Abstinence and Abstinence-only Education: A Review of U.S. Policies and
Programs." Journal of Adolescent Health 38.1 (2006): 72-81. Science Direct. Web. 30
Mar. 2014. <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1054139X05004672>.
This article has a valuable summary articulating the fundamental reasons why abstinence-
only programs are not only ineffective but also harmful. Written by professionals with
credentials.
"State Policies on Sex Education in Schools." National Conf. of State Legislatures. National
Conference of State Legislatures, 14 Feb. 2014. Web. 9 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-policies-on-sex-education-in-schools.aspx>.
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This organization is the nation's most respected bipartisan organization providing states
support, ideas, connections and a strong voice. It has statistics on sex ed legislature in
each individual state and information on why sex education is important.
"Trends in Teen Pregnancy and Childbearing." Office of Adolescent Health. U.S. Department of
Health & Human Services, 20 Dec. 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://www.Office of
Adolescent Health.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-health-topics/reproductive-health/teen-
pregnancy/trends.html>. Contains statistics on nearly everything regarding teen
pregnancy, all sourced. Winner of the Web Health Awards in 2012.