So this is what I got done in one day, after my hard drive burnt out with my finished draft on it. So it is not nearly as finished as I would have liked, but feedback would be wonderful! Thanks

Katrina Clough
Bradley Bleck
English 101: Composition
June 1, 2009
Better Sex Education for America’s Youth
Being at the forefront for personal liberties, John Stuart Mill had many innovative and inspirational ideas. Having lasted the last 150 years, one such thought is still utilized today, maybe even only subconsciously is, “Human beings owe to each other help to distinguish the better from the worse, and encouragement to choose the former and avoid the latter” (Mill 86).
Through out history there have been several subjects that seem to have never been able to be agreed upon in Washington D.C., and one such subject that is cause for much debate is sex education in public schools. The majority of federal funding for sex education programs in the public school systems geared towards abstinence only, but it is still up to the state and even more so the district to determine what is taught. With teen pregnancy rates on the rise once again, more and more educators are turning to research these programs and are finding that abstinence only programs have virtually no effect on the students that it is taught to. So if abstinence first does not work, what will? Popping up across the country are programs referred to as comprehensive sexuality programs, where educators are combining aspects of abstinence only theories and the lesser known safe sex theories. Research is showing that with the comprehensive programs, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections are on the decline.
There are other alternatives to abstinence-only education; the major one utilized in the United States is comprehensive sex education. Recognized as “abstinence first” or “abstinence plus” (Sullivan), these programs combine theories into a thorough curriculum that teaches young people about “factual information about birth control and [sexually transmitted infections] with a strong message that kids should wait to have sex” (Sullivan). One such program is located in Anderson County, South Carolina, where the district decided to take matters into their own hands. With the state’s teen birthrate 12 points above the national average, community members contacted a local group called Impact, who had a proven curriculum but was unable to get into the school system to implement it. This particular group brought in an instructor whose sole purpose was to teach middle and high school students about sex. With classes designed for each grade level, and her own classroom, she teaches in-depth about sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, contraception, as well as building self-esteem through role playing encouraging students to delay sexual activity (Sullivan). Education starts in the sixth grade and continues through middle school, and a relationship is maintained with many students throughout high school. Not being officially employed by the school helps build trust, and offers this particular instructor to assist if a crisis comes up, such as scheduling doctor’s visits (Sullivan).
Used by schools nationwide, abstinence-only education includes some of the same curriculum as abstinence first programs, including anatomy and physiology, According the Guidance Regarding Curriculum Content by the Administration for Children and Families, abstinence only education has many criteria to meet, such as teaching “abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems”, that it “teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in the context of marriage is the expected standard of human sexual activity”, and that it “teaches that bearing children out-of-wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child’s parents and society” (Guidance). Generally there is no information included about any type of contraceptive, except for abstinence, and the only information given about sexually transmitted infections are about the consequences of having them.
Currently, the United States Government has budgeted $1.5 million for abstinence-only education, even though there is sufficient evidence that shows that these programs are anything but productive, and public schools are turning down federally budgeted programs for this exact reason (Quindlen). Using “photographs of lesions” as a fear tactic, and virtually being the only information given about sexually transmitted infections, these programs attempt to scare children into thinking that sexual contact is bad (Quindlen). Already confused about what is happening with their bodies, students hear this authority telling them that they need to wait, only makes the defiant nature come out even stronger, and then rash decisions come about. 66% of teens state that they wished they would have waited before their first sexual encounter, so obviously, by learning to “just say no!”, they are not saying no at all. With the abstinence first programs, students are taught that abstinence is the safest choice, not only to avoid sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy, but also to have successful and meaningful relationships in the future. With an “emphasis on skill-building and role-playing, they teach how to use condoms, and they encourage young people not to have sex” (Sullivan).
No Conclusion as of yet.