Antone's Nightclub
Comprehensive Sex Education Is Needed
RECEIVED Thu., April 1, 2004
Dear Editor,
More than half of all television shows contain sexual content. It is inevitable that children are exposed to sexuality and virtually impossible to control their exposure to it. Whether parents approve or not, children are confronted with choices about sex, and they need to be prepared.
According to an article by the health editor for MSNBC, 66% of high school seniors have already had sex. We cannot let them do this ill-prepared and uneducated. Texas needs to do more to help children cope with and understand sexuality by offering a comprehensive sex education program in Texas schools.
A recent study by the Kaiser Foundation found that the vast majority of American parents support comprehensive and medically accurate sex education. Some say this only encourages children to become promiscuous, but a study conducted by the World Health Organization on 35 sex education programs around the world found no evidence supporting this. In fact, sex education helps delay sexual activity, encourages use of contraception, influences teens to have fewer partners, and teaches them about the option of abstinence.
Currently, Texas teachers and administrators can provide only limited information on safe sex. For example, they can only mention contraception in a negative way: Condoms are not 100% effective in preventing pregnancy (instead of they are at least 95% effective).
Attitudes and policies such as these are simply not preparing our children to face life's dilemmas. It is obvious that many teens choose to have sex, risking STDs and unwanted pregnancy. It is our responsibility to help them fully understand the risks and teach them how to protect themselves.
Our children already have too many choices to make to let them face this one on their own. Let's mainstream the discussion and ensure our children make healthy, informed choices.
More than half of all television shows contain sexual content. It is inevitable that children are exposed to sexuality and virtually impossible to control their exposure to it. Whether parents approve or not, children are confronted with choices about sex, and they need to be prepared.
According to an article by the health editor for MSNBC, 66% of high school seniors have already had sex. We cannot let them do this ill-prepared and uneducated. Texas needs to do more to help children cope with and understand sexuality by offering a comprehensive sex education program in Texas schools.
A recent study by the Kaiser Foundation found that the vast majority of American parents support comprehensive and medically accurate sex education. Some say this only encourages children to become promiscuous, but a study conducted by the World Health Organization on 35 sex education programs around the world found no evidence supporting this. In fact, sex education helps delay sexual activity, encourages use of contraception, influences teens to have fewer partners, and teaches them about the option of abstinence.
Currently, Texas teachers and administrators can provide only limited information on safe sex. For example, they can only mention contraception in a negative way: Condoms are not 100% effective in preventing pregnancy (instead of they are at least 95% effective).
Attitudes and policies such as these are simply not preparing our children to face life's dilemmas. It is obvious that many teens choose to have sex, risking STDs and unwanted pregnancy. It is our responsibility to help them fully understand the risks and teach them how to protect themselves.
Our children already have too many choices to make to let them face this one on their own. Let's mainstream the discussion and ensure our children make healthy, informed choices.
Suzanne Scott