Sex Education

This is a debate that has been causing controversy for decades now. Everybody has their own opinions on the matter of whether sex education should be a part of the public health education system, and it does not seem as though the debate is going to come to a close any time soon. I think it is time for us to step back and take a real look at what function public health education is trying to serve. Health education exists so we can teach the youth at an early age about what they can do to live a healthy life. That is the basic goal of a public health education program. The question at this point is, where does sex education fit into a health education program that is teaching people how to be healthier? Below you will find some Pros and Cons for including information about sex within a public health education program.

Pro: America’s youth will be getting important information on safe sex and sexually transmitted diseases during their health education class. Many parents feel uncomfortable breaching these subjects with their children, but with public health education, parents can be sure that their children are learning accurate information about sex from professional educators.

Con: Many people believe that exposing young people to sex at an early age through health education makes it more likely for them to engage in sexual acts. While there is no research to back up this claim, this is a subject that is on the minds of many parents and a main reason why they do not want sex education to be a part of the public health education curriculum.

Pro: There has been plenty of misinformation regarding sex being spread around over the years. If young people were taught about sex during their health education, this would help to eliminate the inaccurate information going around in their school and on the street.

Con: Certain faiths believe that it would be against their religion for their child to be exposed to sex in a public health education setting. Also, what is being taught in a health education class might contradict the teachings of their religion, with the use of contraceptives being an example.

Pro: Premarital sex is going to occur no matter which religion you are part of, that is a fact. Depriving youngsters from sex health education will only put them into danger in the end. If they do not know about how to properly use a condom or the diseases that can be transmitted through sex, their lives can end before they begin. Public health education is not a ploy to destroy the moral fabric of society, it exists to educate citizens about their bodies and how to remain healthy.

As mentioned earlier, this is a debate that is not going to see an end any time soon. It is important that we all try to take a look at both sides of the argument when it comes to public health education though. If we understand where the other side is coming from, we will be able to start a productive dialogue on sex health education.