Why Condoms Should Be Available At High Schools - Research Paper Example

Condoms Should Available At High Schools There has been extensive debate in the United s regarding exactly when and how or if teenagers should be informed about the intricacies of sex, principally as it relates to the control of unwanted pregnancies. It is argued that teaching teens to abstain from sex will stop them from being curious about sex and will persuade them to avoid it. However, sex is a reality. It is shown, or is hinted at everywhere in today’s society, so not discuss it in school is not an effectual way of dealing with the subject. In today’s world, teenagers should know about contraceptive options so if they choose to have sex, they can at least diminish their chances of pregnancy until the time they are ready to be parents. Abstinence-only programs are constantly being demonstrated to have a detrimental impact upon the lives of healthy teenagers. According to a study by Ceci Connolly (2004), “youngsters taking the [abstinence only] courses frequently receive medically inaccurate or misleading information, often in direct contradiction to the findings of government scientists.” Misleading or simply incorrect information such as the suggestion that simply touching another person’s genitals can cause pregnancy or that AIDS can be spread via tears and sweat has been found in programs utilized by at least 69 organizations throughout 25 states. Not only do these lies work to psychologically threaten teens for their future years, but these propagandizing techniques also prevents them from obtaining the knowledge that would protect them. (“Knowledge” 2006) Studies that rate the value of abstinence-only programs used in place of programs that emphasize abstinence but also teach contraception have unquestionably demonstrated that contraception should be taught to the country’s teenagers. Statistics have shown that during the past 20 years, contraceptive use among teenage women has been gradually increasing as teenagers become more educated regarding how to protect themselves from STDs from condom the use. There has been a considerable reduction in the number of teenage pregnancies during this same period. (Murphy, 2000). Fewer unwanted pregnancies mean fewer abortions, a connection those opposed to condom programs choose to ignore. Those groups opposed to sex education have forced their will on the bulk of society and its teens and unwanted children who have suffered for it. Sex education classes in America’s public schools which offer free condoms have been scaled back so as to not upset the vocal minority. Parents want their teens to learn safe sex including the importance of condom use but what is being taught at school falls very short. Parents merely want their kids to understand the potential dangers of intercourse and how to avoid them, just as parent would in any other aspect of their teen’s lives. “Contrary to common wisdom, when it comes to sex education, parents want it all, from abstinence to homosexuality,” said Steve Rabin, senior vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation (Levine, 2000). Additionally, parents also want schools to discuss abortion, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy and the importance of using condoms. As with the other subjects parents wish to be covered in school, the more knowledge, the better off their kids will be. The study by the Kaiser Foundation surveyed over a thousand high school teens, parents and sex-education teachers in addition to more than 300 school administrators. Unfortunately, these vital aspects of sexual education are greatly lacking in high schools despite parental desires and in opposition to what studies have indicated is in the best interests of teen-aged kids. (“Sex Education” 2000) According to Ramon Cortines, former chancellor of New York City public schools, “Educators should teach what students need to know, not please the advocates or the politicians who scream the loudest” (Levine, 2000). Teenagers themselves have said that the best method to keep them from having unsafe sex is to give them the knowledge and equipment they need. “The best way to teach teens to make the right choice for themselves – ­whether that means abstaining from sex or practicing safer sex – is to give them honest, accurate information. Being fully knowledgeable about the physical and emotional consequences of sex helps teens to make the decision that’s right for them” (Elizabeth Marchetta cited in “Knowledge”, 2002). Of the 14 teenagers aged 15-18 cited in the article “Knowledge is the Best Protection”, none of them indicated that contraceptive instruction or making condoms freely available would encourage them to partake in sexual intercourse but would instead act to remove the mystery of sex thus better prepare them to make smarter decisions for themselves and their futures. Parents usually have a firm opinion on whether condoms should be available at school or whether sex should be taught in schools at all. Whether for or against, these opinions are generally based on what parents believe is the responsible choice for not only their own teens but for all high school students. What is the responsible choice? Those that oppose condom handouts being part of the sex-ed curriculum insist that it would encourage sexual promiscuity. That’s it. That’s where the logic begins and ends. ‘If they have condoms available they will surely have sex.’ It’s no shock that the far right religious factions are repeating this concept. This is hardly the intellectual faction of society. Their reactions are usually fear based and not knowledge of common sense based. Here in reality land if teenagers are to be actually protected from early pregnancy and dangerous STDs, they should be well-informed enough to make good decisions. This includes the distribution of condoms at school. Teenagers who are curious about sex will experiment, whether they have condoms or not. Discreetly giving them out at school is the intelligent choice. Works Cited Connolly, Ceci. “Some Abstinence Programs Mislead Teens, Study Says.” Washington Post. (December 2, 2004), p. A4. May 11, 2011 “Knowledge is the Best Protection.” Sex Etc. (November 1, 2006). May 11, 2011 Levine, Jeff. “Parents Want More Comprehensive Sex-Ed, Survey Says.” Web MD. (2000). May 11, 2011 Murphy, Jenny. “Should Teenagers be Taught Sex Education Over Abstinence?” SpeakOut. (January 29, 2000). May 11, 2011 “Sex Education in America: The View from Inside the Nation’s Classrooms.” Menlo Park, CA: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. (2000). Read More