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The issue of sex education in our schools has been a source of never-ending conflict for decades, with no sign of a compromise in sight. Some say it’s the parents' job to teach their adolescents the facts about sex, others insist the job belongs to the public and private schools. Schools with programs already in place have to deal with the debate over what material should be included in the sex education curriculums. Most conservatives strongly advocate a faith-based "abstinence-only" approach, while moderates and liberals tend to favor a comprehensive program that gives teens all the facts necessary to make an informed decision. Dr. Albert Ellis, in his excellent book Sex Without Guilt In the 21st Century, summed up the sex education debacle perfectly: "We put on determined sex education campaigns–and then see that our young people are so abysmally ignorant that they undergo numerous unwanted pregnancies, unnecessary abortions, forced marriages, gruesome wedding nights, great sex fears, and needless divorces." If anyone can prove beyond a shadow of doubt that this is not the case, please step forward. Is there one right answer to this ongoing problem? Since beliefs and opinions on this critical topic vary from person to person, obviously not. But there is no doubt that some kind of compromise must be reached, unless we want to see future generations of teens making decisions on sexual activity without having the information that is essential in helping them make responsible choices. Engaging in sex in ignorance of the possible negative outcomes is a certain recipe for disaster, in the form of unplanned and unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, as Dr. Ellis and other sex educators continue to point out. Is there any way that these disastrous scenarios be significantly reduced or avoided altogether? One possibility we might consider on a national scale, rather than just an individual or local one, is encouraging and empowering our teens to find out the facts for themselves. Think about it. Every time our teens do a research project in school, parents and teachers help our kids find the sources of information needed to complete their school projects on time. What can possibly be more important than making knowledge about sex accessible as well? Considering that engaging in sex – or not – is a decision that will impact a teen’s life from that point onward, I’m surprised we haven’t considered discussing this alternative on a national level before. But now that it has been raised, let us look to the ways in which we can help them. There is no reason that parents and teachers can't be partners in this goal rather than adversaries, which has too often been the case in the past. Our first priority is letting teens know where vital and objective information about sex can be obtained. Luckily, we have excellent resources available, including our public libraries and the Internet. The last decade of the 20th Century brought about extraordinary developments in online communication, one of which was the availability of informational web sites. Planned Parenthood Federation of America created a website for teens alone, which is appropriately called "Teenwire." What is "Teenwire" exactly? The copy on their "About Us" page says it all, but here are a few quotes to help you get an idea. "Teenwire is the leading web site for teens needing information about sexual health. We are committed to giving you the facts about sex so that you can use this information to make your own responsible choices. We provide honest and nonjudgmental information about sexuality with the hope that you will use this knowledge to reduce your risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections." Sounds like a very intelligent resource to me, but if you still want to get the facts yourself before telling your teen about it, a great place to start is Teenwire’s "In Focus" page. It promises to give you "everything you need to know about sex, birth control, pregnancy, your body and more." When you Continued On Next Page (about, Page 2) ... AUTHOR: Susan Levine  TAGS: Opinion world america Family war Love government US Religion BOOKMARK: Digg it | Add to Del.ICIO | Add to FARK ACTIONS: Comment Save Print Register free acount  |
