Research Paper (Essay #4)

THESIS: Sex education programs in high schools should support abstinence but also teach children how to protect themselves from unexpected pregnancy. 

 Sex education classes (More of protecting against pregnancy, less on abstinence.)
  Teens are going to have sex.

• Mostly focused on abstinence.
• As much as classes teach teens abstinence is best students are going to continue having sex.
• Teach about abstinence but add in how to prevent pregnancy.
• Teens need to learn about birth controls.
• Teens should be encouraged to abstain, but should also get information about contraceptives, sexually transmitted diseases, and how to prevent HIV. (http://www.life123.com/parenting/tweens-teens/teens-sex/the-pros-and-cons-of-abstinence-only-education.shtml)
• Studies show that providing information about contraception does not increase teen sexual activity. At the same time, teens who received only abstinence education were no more likely to abstain. And when they did stray, without education about birth control, they were more likely to get pregnant. (http://www.life123.com/parenting/tweens-teens/teens-sex/the-pros-and-cons-of-abstinence-only-education.shtml)
• Sex ed proponents say that teens should be given facts, information and tools to deal with sexual matters in an informed way. Such as:
• Teaching teens about all types of contraception and how each prevents babies.
• Being truthful about the risk of STDs, how to prevent them.
• Acknowledging that majorities of high school students have been/will continue to be sexually active and that hoping that they abstain doesn’t work. (http://www.life123.com/parenting/tweens-teens/teens-sex/the-pros-and-cons-of-abstinence-only-education.shtml)
• Studies show that the majority of Americans support sexuality education, but also want teens to get a strong message of abstinence from society. (http://www.life123.com/parenting/tweens-teens/teens-sex/the-pros-and-cons-of-abstinence-only-education.shtml)
•  There has been a drop in the number of teen pregnancies, births and abortions in recent years. However, whether this drop is due to abstinence education or educating teens about contraception, is not clear. (http://www.life123.com/parenting/tweens-teens/teens-sex/the-pros-and-cons-of-abstinence-only-education.shtml)