Introduction – Sex Education Essay
Sex education involves the process of providing knowledge on sex, sexuality, and relationships. It aims at sharing information with the right age groups about the importance and repercussions of sex. Primarily, sex is associated with risks such as unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.
Therefore, sex education should reveal the importance of sex at the right time; for instance, in marriage. However, the main importance of sex education is to provide education against its risks, and mostly the sexually transmitted disease such as HIV incase of unprotected sex.
Effective sex education should be able to nurture people’s ability to make quality decisions concerning sex, sexuality, and relationships. Sex education tries to clear up all myths and misconceptions concerning sex and sexuality, and giving facts to the recipient mainly the teenagers.
It is also important for people to understand, accept, and appreciate their sexuality, thus discouraging homosexuality and lesbianism in the society. According to Hanson et al (513), 2200 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19 have been reported to acquire HIV/AIDS since its discovery; therefore, it is evident that sex education is important in schools. In addition, alcohol and drugs are mainly associated with sexual activities; thus, sex education should aim at also educating people on the main drivers of unsafe sex.
Importance of Sex Education at School & Work
In schools, sex education should take place in classrooms and it should be mandatory for all students. It is evident that teenagers sometimes get confused about their sexuality due to many myths told by their peers; hence, sex education in school is important as it provides the students with facts on sex.
Primarily, unprotected sex may lead to acquiring sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies that may interrupt their social and school life. Nevertheless, the responsibility of sex education should not be solely left on teachers and educators. Parents should also take up the role and ensure that their children are well informed of the repercussions of unprotected sex, the right age to be sexually active, and the importance of having only one partner in a relationship.
Sex education should be held not only in schools and colleges, but also at places of work. Seminars on sex education should be held without limitation of attendance based on age. With such initiatives, it is possible to reduce cases of exposure to risks such as homosexuality, which contributes to high percentage of HIV transmission (Blake, et al 940).
In addition, sex education can reduce the possibility of abortions brought about by unsafe sex, hence yielding to unwanted pregnancies. Therefore, sex education is the responsibility of government, schools, parents, and the churches, which should be conducted starting from the right ages.
Advantages of Sex Education at School
Sex education is important to all people, since it eradicates false beliefs and myths made up by others. It also provides facts on this important subject of sex. Sex education provides vital information to the recipient who is made to know the reason as to why sex is important at some point in life, for instance, in marriage, the importance of having one partner in a relationship, and the repercussions involved. Hence, one is able to make decisions in a relationship.
For the adolescents in particular, sex education is important, in that, it helps them to understand their changing bodies during puberty, information on birth controls, as well as contraceptives and their importance and effects, and the various types of relationships that exist. Information on abortion is also important as it elaborates the negative effect of abortion and how to practice safer sex in order to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.
Sex education at an early age reduces chances of sexual practices from the teenager and if any, it increases the use of condom. Earlier information to teenagers normally proves important at a later stage of their lives.
Therefore, parent and teachers should always find time to talk to their students and children on important information related to sex, as most young people find themselves in trouble of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases as a result of lack of vital information.
Effective sex education results to reduction in risky sexual behavior and avoids negative effects that arise from misconception. According to Sharma (18), sex education yields to the prevention of sexual problems such as STDs and assists one in choosing the right partner.
Conclusion
Sex education is very important for everyone. In cases of growing children mainly adolescents, it is important that their parents and teachers share this important information with them. Most teenagers find themselves in compromising situations of unwanted pregnancies and even sexually transmitted diseases due to lack of information.
This proves that sex education is important in schools and at home, since it covers all topics from reproduction, sexuality, contraceptives, and relationships among others. Therefore, parents should not shun away from discussing sex education with their children, as this information would mould them and prevents them from making negative decisions that could affect their lives.
Works Cited
Blake, Susan et al. “Preventing Sexual Risk Behaviors among Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Adolescents: The Benefits of Gay-Sensitive HIV Instruction in Schools.” American journal of public health, Vol. 91, No. 6. 2001. Web.
Hanson, Glen et al. Drugs and society. New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning Publisher. 2006.
Sharma, Shyam K. Tips on Sex. New Delhi: Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd Publisher. 2006.