Schools sex education policies can be confusing and very controversial. This is because, in schools, sex education is a touchy subject. Parents and the community in general often have very different views about the topic of school sex education. For this reason, most schools have developed a pro-abstinence stance in teaching sex education.
But, what exactly are schools teaching kids in sex education? Schools sex education policies can vary widely. For example, some schools choose not to teach sex education courses at all. Instead, they leave this discussion and the responsibility of education their children to the parents.
Yet, in other schools, sex education is taught in the form of teaching students about the human body and its reproductive organs. This is where the majority of schools lie in their sex education policies. In these schools, students are taught about both the female and male reproductive organs. They are taught how a baby is made and they are taught about the entire childbearing and childbirth process. In some schools, students even watch movies showing the process, in which they can see the actual delivery of the baby.
Schools that choose to teach students about the reproductive system also often teach students about sexually transmitted diseases. These diseases include herpes, AIDS, and more. In addition, these schools often discuss the difficulties teenage parents face in trying to raise a child. In these schools, abstinence is preached as the best way to avoid getting a sexually transmitted disease or getting pregnant. Here, there is no discussion of contraceptives or other means of preventing pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease.
In a few schools, however, sex education also includes discussion of birth control and ways to prevent sexually transmitted diseases other than abstinence. This is rare because sex education in schools is such a controversial topic. Many parents do not feel it is the school's place to discuss these issues. Still other families do not believe in contraceptives for religious reasons or for other personal reasons. This is why most schools play it safe by simply discussing abstinence.
In schools where birth control methods are discussed, students learn about contraceptives for use by both men and women. Students are taught how to properly use these birth control methods. They are also taught ways to avoid catching a sexually transmitted disease, such as by using a condom.
In all schools that teach sex education, students learn how to take care of their bodies. They are taught to have regular check-ups to monitor their own personal health. They are taught how to look for irregularities or areas of concern, such as lumps in the breast. Students are taught to respect their bodies and to be respectful of other people's bodies, as well.
No matter a parent's position on sex education in schools, it is important that our youth be accurately taught about sex and how to protect themselves and keep themselves healthy both physically and emotionally.