Capitol University Parliamentary Debate Society SEX EDUCATION

This discussion starts from the point of view that sexual education classes should be given at schools. But does this mean that so-called safe sex should also be promoted within these lessons? Safe sex is the practice of sexual activity in a manner that reduces the risk of infection with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as Chlamydia and HIV/AIDS, typically by use of condoms. Safe sex also includes sexual practices that do not involve penetration. Traditionally sexual education lessons have focused on covering the biological facts about human reproduction, and warnings against unsafe sexual practices. Often today sex education is combined with relationships education, in an attempt to place sex in a broader emotional, social and family context. But now every day more and more people talk about safe sex and how teenagers should be more informed about protection against STDs. Despite the worries some people have about whether sex should ever be seen as entirely risk-free, every day this so-called "safe sex" is promoted more and more as a solution for the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases amongst teenagers. But what if the promotion of "safe sex" has the opposite effect for which it was introduced in Sexual Education classes? Opponents argue that today sexual education and promoting safe sex are mostly considered the same thing, while it isn't and shouldn't be. They say it is one thing to inform teenagers about sex and it's risks, and quite another to promote and encourage them to use "safe sex" as prevention. Pros Cons Parents dont have absolute rights over their It isnt the place of schools to sexualize our children, society has an important stake in their children in this way. Many people believe that upbringing and this is primarily carried out sex education should be left to parents, who through the school system. The costs and social are best placed to decide what information impact of unsafe sexual practices that result in their children need and when the best time to STDs and teen pregnancy are carried by society tell them is. Even if human reproduction has a as a whole, not just the parents of those place in the biology classroom, that is very involved. So education about safe sex is entirely different from courses of safe sex education justifiable. In any case, many parents do not feel that promote promiscuity in a way that often able to talk to their children about sex, leaving undermines the values parents are seeking to them in a dangerous state of ignorance. impart at home. Safe sex should be promoted in all schools; the Instead of continuing with the promotion of more teens who are informed the better. Not all safe sex, why dont schools just give schools promote safe sex and a few schools teenagers sexual education and tell them dont even give sexual education, so is it right to about the options like condoms and pills, say that the amount of STDs amongst instead of actively promoting them and making teenagers and pregnant teens is due to the them every time more and more attractive to promotion of safe sex? It might also be good to use? Shouldnt they be promoting the best consider that the amount of pregnant teens and and most secure options? The best way to teens with STDs are due to lack of information prevent STDs and pregnant teens is given to all teenagers in the whole nation. After ABSTINENCE. So why dont schools start by all, the Netherlands, famous for its very frank promoting that? Not strictly abstinence until sex education, has both a higher age of first marriage, but just abstinence. If students wait sexual experience, and much lower rates of at least until their bodies are done developing teenage pregnancy and STD infection than fully and until they are not in puberty, the countries such as the USA and the UK. And amount of STDs will be reduced dramatically, research shows that abstinence education often not only because the human body is better fails inevitably many teens who sign chastity developed for sex at an older age, but also pledges do end up having sex, and because because we are more mature when we are in they have not been taught about safe sex any kind of relationship. methods, they are much more likely to become pregnant or infected as a result. We have to accept that for a wide variety of Condoms, while better than nothing, should social reasons teens are now more sexually not be promoted so much in schools. It is one active than ever a development which thing to inform children of their options and a preceded widespread sex education and which complete different thing to promote safe sex cannot therefore be blamed on it. Keeping as a lifestyle. By making the idea of safe sex children in ignorance about sex will not stop more attractive to teenagers you are also them having sex, but it will mean that the sex making sex itself more attractive. You are in a they have is riskier, resulting in unplanned way telling them that they can be safe having pregnancies, abortions and STD infections. sex and this has an encouraging effect to Condoms, while not perfect, are widely start. By making them feel that by using these recommended for the prevention of STDs. They products they are protected from any risks it have been shown to be effective in reducing only makes them more eager to start having infection rates in both men and women. So it is sexual relations. They are physically not important to make the idea of safe sex more prepared for that and the medical reasons for attractive to these teenagers to prevent STDs why they are at greater risk is specifically and for teens to get pregnant. This is why at related to females. A 15-year-old girl has a 1schools teenagers should be told and in-8 chance of developing pelvic inflammatory encouraged to use condoms if they are going to disease simply by having sex, whereas a 24have sex. year-old woman has only a 1-in-80 chance in

Sex Education at School Huemer O. Uy

Capitol University Parliamentary Debate Society SEX EDUCATION

that situation. And pills and condoms are not as effective with teenagers, mainly because teens are more apt to forget to take the pill or to tear a condom. Between 9% and 18% of teenage girls using the contraceptive pill become pregnant. In the USA one out of every four teenage women between the ages of 14 and 19 have at least one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (not including AIDSinfected teens). That is 3.2 MILLION WOMEN, according to research into the most common STDs amongst teenagers that was presented last year at the National STD Prevention Conference for the first time. Ignorance is not a solution and therefore teens should be better informed and learn more about how to have safe sex. A good way to inform them is through their education. This is why safe sex should be taught at schools. There is without a doubt an STD epidemic amongst teenagers at the moment, but for quite some time the media and schools have been teaching these teenagers about how to have safe sex. We must now take a hard look at the message of safe sex which is being taught to these teens. People believe that if the teens can be taught how to have safe sex, the number of pregnant teens and the rate of STD infection will reduced dramatically. But they've been teaching them this for some time now and the statistics and our own common sense tell us something different. What if the increasing number of teenagers that are sexually active and that have STDs are actually the consequence of promoting safe sex to them? Safe sex education promotes values and practices that are offensive to many religious groups. For example, most safe sex education focuses heavily on condom use, which is directly counter to Catholic teaching. And promotion of alternative sexual practices can encourage people to see homosexuality as normal, which is offensive to many Christians and Muslims. In this way safe sex education forms part of a wider liberal attack on religious belief. Not only is this unacceptable to many parents and local communities, it is also an assault on teenage believers who are forced to sit through these classes.

Safe sex education is a right, regardless of your religious background. Religious groups should not be able to dictate the curricular of statefunded schools. Teens must have access to a range of viewpoints on human sexuality, including biological, religious, ethical, and health perspectives, in order to help them make up their own minds as to the right way to act. A choice for chastity until marriage is much more meaningful, and much more likely to be kept, if it is a positive and informed decision.

Motions: That safe sex education should be a right for every student This House believes safe sex should be promoted in the classroom This House believes ignorance is no protection

Source: http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/ topic_ details.php?topicID=887

Sex Education at School Huemer O. Uy