A recent Chlamydia outbreak at an abstinence only Texas High School has created controversy as to whether or not sex education should be taught. Sex education is necessary and has been effective especially here at Bernards High School. It was confirmed that at Crane Independent High School there have been twenty cases of the sexually transmitted disease, estimating one in fifteen students have contracted Chlamydia. Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease that affects both men and women and is spread through unprotected sex. The only way to prevent this disease is to abstain from sexual activities and being safe with the use of birth control methods. Chlamydia can lead to serious health issues such as infertility, ectopic pregnancies and infection if not treated right away. At the Texas High School, the school only offers a three day sexual education course once a year that emphasizes abstinence.
The CIHS handbook states, “We present abstinence from sexual activity as the prefered choice of behavior in relationship for unmarried persons of school age. We emphasize that abstinence is the only method that is 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and the emotional trauma associated. We direct adolescents to a standard behavior in which abstinence from sexual activity before marriage is the most effective way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and if included in the content of the curriculum teach contraception and condom use in terms of human use reality rates instead of theoretical laboratory rates.”
With a three day program, a school can not fit that much sex education in, especially considering it is only promoting abstinence. While abstinence is okay, it is not effective for all high school students, soon-to-be college students. Here at Bernards, during freshman year, sex education is taught throughout one whole semester. Three days compared to around sixty five days is a big difference. According to Life Skills teacher Mr. Brothers, the BHS curriculum teaches abstinence, but also covers contraception, male anatomy,female anatomy, fertilization/conception, the mother’s body changes, labor, childbirth, c sections, abortion comes up in class discussions, sexually transmitted diseases, miscarriages, still-births, and all three trimesters, apgars scores, pre-mature births, both pregnancy and delivery complications, and what new borns are like. “Although we preach abstinence, the reality of the situation is that some people may have sex before marriage” says Mr. Brothers. Other students also agreed that sex education is necessary. Sophomore Barbara Mello says “If students did not learn about it, then obviously without the education it will lead to pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.”
Education is a prime source of knowledge. Ignorance of any subject is usually one of the main reasons for the problems associated with that subject. Sex is an important and inescapable part of life, and young adults need to have accurate information so they can prevent themselves from negative consequences whether it is now or in the future.
