Knowledge Is the Best Defense!

Knowledge is the best defense!

What comes to mind when reading the words, public schooling? Regardless of what classes or people we can remember, the fun times had both in and out of classes should eventually pop up. Not all, but many of us lost our virginity during those fun times. Now, skip forward a decade to present time where the debate of sexual education in our public schooling systems is highly prevalent. This topic is fitting for our times with evidence showing that each new generation is becoming sexually active earlier than the previous generation. As well as the statistics stating unplanned teen pregnancy is accounting for 24% of the children born in this country every year, we can agree that this is a problem needing attention. With the exception of the patented 'birds and the bees' speech used by many parents, which is intentionally vague, there really isn't much information explained to children in the aspects of a sexual education. With that said what place is there left for children to be taught such things like a sexual education?

The abstinence only approach has a widespread yet strong support system. Including the endorsement of previous presidents and since 1997 has received direct funding from the U.S government, totally $1.5 billion in revenue received thus far. With all this support, obviously there are very strong points brought forth by a "just say no" approach. To name a few, this research paper conducted on "Teenage Sexual Abstinence and Academic Achievement" by Robert Rector, and Kirk Johnson, Ph.D. states that gathered scientific data shows "..that teens who abstain from sex do substantially better on a wide range of outcomes. For example, teens who abstain from sex are less likely to be depressed and to attempt suicide; to experience STDs; to have children out-of-wedlock; and to live in poverty and welfare dependence as adults. Finally, teens who delay sexual activity are more likely to have stable and enduring marriages as adults." Some of these may seem obvious as facts. For instance, experiencing STDs, and having an unplanned pregnancy out of wedlock resulting in living below the poverty line. Clearly, one who doesn't have sexual encounters could easily not worry about such things. The one that stands out the most is the reduced risk of being depressed and attempting suicide. Schools don't get any nicer with age and with the recent outbreak of suicides due to bullying any effort to keep ammo out of their hands is as beneficial as it is crucial. The child that chooses to abstain from any sexual encounters in school is subjected to less emotional conflicts and suffers from fewer psychological distractions. This will result in more time applied to academics, where all the children should have their minds anyways instead of worrying about what is said in the hallways! Secondly, how abstaining from sexual encounters until marriage results in more stable and enduring marriage also makes clear sense. If that certain moment is saved for that special someone, it's easy to conclude that a deeper connection would evolve between the significant others that experienced it together. This would lead to a more enduring relationship than many of us will get to experience, simply from lack of not sharing that same experience with our significant others. These, coupled with some others not mentioned are a great reason to want an abstinence only education provided for children.

On the other side of that same coin, the current rebuttal reads that the "just say no" approach doesn't actually change a child's opinion, or help those child safe that will say 'yes'. With some recent statistics showing that half of the student populace loses their virginity by the age of 17, with a quarter of them eventually contracting an STD. Scary numbers, but now it's easy to see why those wanting a comprehensive approach and reform have steadily gained a stronger support system as well, including support from the current president. Recently removed from government funding by the Obama administration was abstinence only initiatives in response to the debt crisis, as well as allocating funds to programs like comprehensive sexual education. These programs would teach a number of things, here I quote from the AdvocatesForYouth.org website stating "Comprehensive Sex Education teaches about abstinence as the best method for avoiding STDs and unintended pregnancy, but also teaches about condoms and contraception to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy and of infection with STDs, including HIV. It also teaches