In most Texas high schools it is not unusual to see a young girl walking around school pregnant. Many schools have taken the “shame” approach, where the girls take separate classes from their peers in order to learn how to be a fit parent. What sixteen year old is truly ready to raise a child, often times, by themselves? This is a problem that is easily avoided. The Texas education system seems to think that the method of strictly teaching abstinence is effective, however how can it possibly be effective if nearly an 8th of the nations teen pregnancies are coming from Texas? If Texas diverged from the traditional “moral” based sexual education program and began to teach contraceptives, like other innovative states have done, there would likely
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Sexual education in Texas is supposed to be provided in a mandatory health class that is most commonly taken in the early years of high school. The sex-education unit typically lasts a few weeks. However, many teachers brush over this topic so that they do not have to deal with the uncomfortable conversations that arise. When teaching this unit, contraceptives are forbidden to be spoken about. Texas educators are not allowed to discuss any type of birth control method, they can only discuss abstinence. Often times the abstinence stigma is seen as a joke by the students because they are not oblivious what sex is or the fact that our education system is too ignorant to teach us how to safely have it. This outdated rule has led to many angry students and teachers in health classrooms. If the topic does come up, contraceptives are supposed to be shown in a negative light. Texas Governor Rick Perry, who has promoted legislation to revoke funds from Planned Parenthood Organizations, recently said that abstinence is an accurate form of preventing pregnancy. While Texas has experienced a drop in teen pregnancy since the all time high in the 90’s, the drop is far behind the national rate.4* Teens are naturally rebellious and the more we teach that abstinence is the only option, the more curious they will become to sex and why adults frown upon it so much. Teenagers need guidance that is helpful. Contraception should be taught in schools because Teens need to know when, how and why to use contraception. A knowledge of contraception will stay with students for the rest of their lives. By age 19 70% of teens have had sex, a knowledge of contraceptives is vital for college and adult years to prevent unwanted
Sexual education in Texas is supposed to be provided in a mandatory health class that is most commonly taken in the early years of high school. The sex-education unit typically lasts a few weeks. However, many teachers brush over this topic so that they do not have to deal with the uncomfortable conversations that arise. When teaching this unit, contraceptives are forbidden to be spoken about. Texas educators are not allowed to discuss any type of birth control method, they can only discuss abstinence. Often times the abstinence stigma is seen as a joke by the students because they are not oblivious what sex is or the fact that our education system is too ignorant to teach us how to safely have it. This outdated rule has led to many angry students and teachers in health classrooms. If the topic does come up, contraceptives are supposed to be shown in a negative light. Texas Governor Rick Perry, who has promoted legislation to revoke funds from Planned Parenthood Organizations, recently said that abstinence is an accurate form of preventing pregnancy. While Texas has experienced a drop in teen pregnancy since the all time high in the 90’s, the drop is far behind the national rate.4* Teens are naturally rebellious and the more we teach that abstinence is the only option, the more curious they will become to sex and why adults frown upon it so much. Teenagers need guidance that is helpful. Contraception should be taught in schools because Teens need to know when, how and why to use contraception. A knowledge of contraception will stay with students for the rest of their lives. By age 19 70% of teens have had sex, a knowledge of contraceptives is vital for college and adult years to prevent unwanted