Public school systems have been

implementing sexual education into

their classrooms as a regular part of
instruction for decades. Controversies
are abundant when dealing with such
delicate issues and there are many
pros and cons to sexual education
being taught in the public schools. It
seems that most parents are either
strongly against or strongly in favor of
sexual education classes, but very few
parents are in the middle ground. And,
in fact, there are more parents that are
in favor of sexual education classes.
Results of recent polls have estimated
that less than 7% of the population
does not believe that sexual education
should be a requirement in schools.
This is 93% who are in favor of this
subject matter as a part of the regular
curriculum. However, there are pros
and cons that must be considered by
parents when dealing with sexual
education classes that one would not
have to consider with a less
controversial topic such as math or
reading. In general, a parent needs to
be aware of his or her own family or
religious beliefs and values and know
their child's intellect and maturity
levels.
With so much of the population on the
affirmative side there must be some
pros to this curriculum. Such
advantages might be:
* Classes are gender exclusive. This
saves embarrassment amongst
students and teaches them only what
is necessary to know based on their
gender.
* Taught properly, sexual education
could become a regular course such as
Human Anatomy or Biological Science
complete with tests and grading that
goes towards their graduating credits.
* Student's can be taught the correct
terms of the reproductive system,
sexually transmitted diseases and

birth contraceptives rather than the

"street lingo."
* Myths surrounding intercourse can
be dispelled (such as not being able to
get pregnant the first time).
* Studies show that many teenagers
become sexually active before the
inclusion of the educational classes.
Early inclusion of classes has proven to
help students remain either abstinent
or to at least be responsible if they are
active.
* Appropriate sexual education can
have an impact on preventing sexual
problems in adulthood.
However, there are disadvantages that
can cause the validity and
effectiveness of the material to be in
question, and if it cannot be delivered
effectively it should not be delivered at
all. Some disadvantages might be:
* Students may still suffer from
embarrassment or get excitable by the
topic matter. This can cause for out-ofcontrol classrooms if students take to
giggling or making inappropriate
remarks.
* Most sexual education classes are
taught as a brief interlude during a
physical education or a health class.
This is not a long enough time to
effectively relate such serious
material.
* Often, sexual education can go
against an individual's moral or
religious beliefs. Many schools do not
teach "abstinence only" but teach how
to have intercourse safely, whereas
many religious and family values
stress marriage before intercourse.
* Sexual education is often viewed as a
"recreational" course and not a serious
subject (this is a direct correlation to

the fact that there are no grades or

scores to be derived from class).

beliefs or morals into the subject

matter rather than stick with the facts.

* Teachers are not always trained how

to properly teach sexual education
courses and may transgress their own

as opportunities to become more

informed and involved in their
childs learning process.