Avoiding Contraception and Sexual Education in America’s Schools

Avoiding Contraception and Sexual Education in America’s Schools

“These are dark times for balanced,responsible sexuality education.”(Donovan 2). The cost of contraception education is less monetarily than the long term effects teenage pregnancy has on the economy. Teenage pregnancy as a whole causes problems in society such as a strain on government resources, increases the poverty population for future generations, lack of education and can increase the crime rates in communities (Akella, Jordan 41). Statistics prove that abstinence only programs fail proved by the increased amount of teenage pregnancy and childbearing in the communities that implement them (Peterson-Beadle web). Historically, contraception availability has been controversial.  As early as the turn of the 20th century, feminist activists have fought to make contraception available to women that need it. Women and their families have suffered in impoverished communities when no contraception was available (Goldfield,Abbott, Anderson, J.Argersinger, P. Argersinger,Barney 609).  A required contraception education and accessibility program in America’s public school system arguably has to be implemented in order for America to gain control of the American teenage pregnancy epidemic.

        The negative impact on America’s economy and drain on government resources is one effect from teenage pregnancies and childbirth. In 2008, the government estimated that 12.5 billion dollars was spent as a result of unwanted teenage pregnancies (Akella,Jordan 41). Two thirds of young, unmarried mothers are living in poverty and 25% of those mothers go on welfare within three years of giving birth (Akella, Jordan 42). Teenage mothers are less likely to finish their high school education or continue on to higher education like college (Akella,Jordan 42). Teen fathers are not an exception to the poverty statistics. Research shows that the majority of teenage fathers live in poverty (Akella,Jordan 41). These men are usually less educated as well and make less money per year (Akella,Jordan 41). Since teenage mothers are already at a disadvantage by having the burden of being a young mother they tend to suffer emotionally as well (Farber 282). There are other social factors that result from children being born from teenage pregnancy and being raised in poverty (Akella,Jordan 42).  The social factors that result from a teenage pregnancy can be violence,gang involvement, alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence, illiteracy and lack of education(Akella,Jordan 42). Children who are a product of teenage pregnancy are more likely to become teenage parents themselves (Akella,Jordan 42).  Preventing teen pregnancy in America can be one way to break the cycle of poverty (Akella,Jordan 42). If contraception programs are introduced to public school systems in America, this would provide support and education to teenage men and women that is necessary. They would be able to learn about STDs and preventing pregnancy. Providing these types of resources would help end the cycle of poverty and underachievement among young adults.

         Research shows that teenage pregnancy rates are higher in states that promote abstinence only programs (Beadle web). Mississippi continues to have the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in America (Beadle web). In Mississippi, sex education in schools is not mandatory.  When it is provided, abstinence only programs are the standard (Beadle web). In 1997, a school in North Carolina was asked to remove information about sex, sexually transmitted diseases and curriculum about AIDS cut from of their textbooks (Donovan web). Their new law instructed teachers to provide information about abstinence only education and these sections of the textbook did not comply with their new law (Donovan web). The students were only taught about the negative outcome of sexual activities and not the full truth about transmitting sexually transmitted diseases (Donovan 2). Many school districts were under pressure at the time to teach abstinence only sex education which is teaching only the negative outcomes of sexual activity (Donovan 4). The goal for sex education programs in school is to not only provide information about sex but to learn to prevent sexually transmitted diseases(Donovan 4 ). Opponents of sex education programs argue that they are immoral (Peterson-Beadle web). As the early 1970’s progressed, some groups fought to remove sex education programs removed from schools (Peterson-Beadle web). Studies show that after sex education was taught the number of teens who had sexual intercourse did not increase (Peterson-Beadle web). The students were taught about sexually transmitted disease, sex education and contraception education (Peterson-Beadle web). Programs like these actually increase the chances that contraception will be used properly and may also delay teenagers from becoming sexually active (Peterson-Beadle web). Research shows that abstinence only methods could even deter teenagers using some type of birth control method (Peterson-Beadle web). This could lead to unwanted pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases (Peterson-Beadle web). Contraception accessibility and education will not increase the likelihood of teenagers to have sex. Statistics prove that preventing sex and contraception education increases the likelihood that teenagers will have irresponsible sexual activity and suffer the consequences (CDC web).  

        Reproductive health of teenagers should be viewed and addressed from a logical perspective. The fight for contraception availability can be traced back to the early 20th century. One historical figure who pioneered for reproductive rights was a public health nurse by the name of Margaret Sanger. In 1873, The Federal Comstock Act prohibited the distribution of information regarding birth control (Bone web). Throughout her experience as a public health nurse to the poorest communities in New York Margaret Sanger witnessed firsthand women who had no access to birth control and the consequences of their unwanted pregnancies (Goldfield,Abbott,Anderson,J.Argersinger,P.Argersinger,Barney 609). She witnessed many tragic events as a result of their unwanted pregnancies such as death from self-induced abortions, suicidal women who were fatigued from multiple births and children who were unfortunately born as a burden to their parents (Bone web). She made it her personal mission to promote and fight for birth control accessibility for women (Goldfield,Abbott,Anderson,J.Argersinger,P.argersinger,Barney 609).  As a public health nurse, the patients she served were mainly large families that were unable to sustain themselves financially (Bone 1).  Sanger began to write articles and stories in a “storytelling” form about sexual reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases (Bone 3). The medical community began to come under “fire” for not teaching the public about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases (Bone 11).The stories of many women who have suffered with venereal diseases and unwanted pregnancies outraged the public as Sanger wrote these stories and some supported her argument to share information about reproductive health. Her push for contraception availability upset some people who felt that birth control was “morally wrong”(Goldfield,Abbott,Anderson,J.Argersinger,P.Argersinger,Barney 609). Sanger was famous for saying “Women cannot be on equal footing with men until they have full and complete control over their reproductive function.”(Goldfield,Abbott,Anderson,J.Argersinger,P.Argersinger,Barney 609). The accessibility of contraception to the teenage population in our public school system should be viewed similarly to the events of the early 20th century and from a logical perspective.  As early as the 1900’s, Margaret Sanger and the National Birth Control League campaigned to change laws restricting adult women from having access to birth control and contraception (Goldfield,Abbott,Anderson,J.Argersinger,P.Argersinger,Barney 609). Times have evolved and the epidemic of teenage pregnancy is proof that logical views on birth controls should be reevaluated. Contraception was banned for distribution and even for discussion as early as 100 years ago (Bone web).  It is time contraception should be readily accessible for all women and men including teenagers. They should have access to it from their public school system.