Sex Eduction

WHY THE CURRENT SEX EDUCATION DOES NOT WORK

CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS I

EDUCATION 565

TAKU IKEMOTO

DR. KIRSCHMANN

APRIL 24, 1995

Introduction

Since acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first reported with great surprise and fear in 1981, it has influenced not only on the medical world, but also any other fields, including education. Schools, as a result, were obliged to reconsider the sex education that had been practiced so far, and given a new mission, which was to prevent AIDS - though their roles were only a part of whole prevention program. However, as shown by various statistics, the current sex education at schools, in spite of their much effort, does not work. In this study, after reviewing the purpose of sex education, the reason why the current sex education does not work will be discussed.

Purposes of sex education

Sex education has two main purposes, namely prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and prevention or preparation of pregnancy.

STDs are infectious disease spread primarily through sexual contact. They are the most common infections in the United States, affecting an estimated 30 million people (the Macmillan Health Encyclopedia, 1993). STDs include more than 20 diseases, some of which may cause chronic pain, sterility, cancer, or death. Another research shows, on the past two decades, there has been an explosion in the number of STDs. Twelve million people are infected each year; 63 percent of them are under 25 (Lickona, 1993). The most effective way to prevent them is not to engage in sexual activities, that is, abstinence. Another preventive measure is mutual monogamy (the Macmillan Health Encyclopedia, 1993).

Even though pregnancy, in general, is natural consequence following sexual intercourse, teenage pregnancy is regarded as one of the most serious problems. The number of teenage pregnancy varies by each survey. More than 1 million teenage pregnancies occur each year, and many of them are unplanned and...