Sex Education In Schools -- Failing Our Kids

From what I heard tonight on 16 and Pregnant, I think it is time to revamp sex education program in city schools.   Kids come out of this environment of sex ed classes not learning what is most needed --  how to prevent pregnancy    In truth, parents are responsible for educating their offspring with regards to sex and pregnancy avoidance but I am sure other like me did not know they were not receiving this information in school.    

Dr.  Drew Pinsky, who hosted the reunion shown of 16 and Pregnant, asked the cast members what they had used for birth control before getting pregnant and since their children have been born.   It is very surprising to me that two couples were not using any birth control at all.   The doctor advised them strongly to immediately get on birth control.   Who would not be on birth control after having a baby so young?  

On the same topic of method for birth control, two cast members,  one female and one male (not a  couple) replied they did not know about birth control before getting pregnant.  He asked them if they had sex education in school.  They all said yes but two of them commented that they were taught abstinence and not given needed information on birth control methods. 

Kids think that nothing such as a pregnancy could happen to them.  It is similar to people who smoke but do not think they will get cancer.   As an age group teens have raging hormones and a sense of invincibility.  Link that with no information on how to be prepared in case they do have sex and it is a wonder why more teens are not pregnant.    

I asked one of my kids about sex education in the primary grades and for high school.  I did have to sign a permission slip allowing my children to attend these sessions.    Classes in grammar school were more about the body, both male and female.  They had diagrams with correct names used for reproductive organs.   As you can imagine at this age there were more laughs and snickers and very uncomfortable red faced kids.  For the age group involved this was enough in my eyes. 

High school level sex classes were never discussed with parents.  I did not even know my children had this type of class.  I did know they had health classes and apparently this was another name for sex education classes.

It seems that these two teenagers on 16 and Pregnant were correct in saying they were taught abstinence only.  No mention of different types of birth control was presented.    The message of abstinence does not work.  Schools seem to have percentages for all type of data and I for one would be curious what percentages of kids taking these classes become pregnant.

It is time to revamp this program at the school.  If one teen becomes pregnant that is one too many.       Send out permission slips to cover their bases so parents can say yea or nay.  In addition, get a spokesperson from Planned Parenting to come in and discuss all the birth control choices that are currently on the market.  Have them bring samples of each type of birth control.  They kids need someone they can ask questions to and learn from.  Teens need to know where they can get birth control other than their pediatricians.

The kids need to hear from their peers.  These young mothers will be listened to because they have the experience.   They need to come in and talk about how it is being a mother as a teenager and the challenges they face day to day.   There are so many obstacles teen parents face and our teens need to know how hard it really is to be a parent at 16.

In my opinion if a female is on birth control, her boyfriend need to use a condom.   Although rare, girls can get pregnant while on birth control.  It is a combination of forgetting to take the pill and the pill being too weak to prevent pregnancy.  Kids need to know these things ahead of time.

Parents cannot depend on someone else to teach their children about birth control.  Boys and girls alike need to hear all about this topic by their parents in addition to their peers.     

Then there is a choice to be made by parents whether or not to get their girls on contraception.   This topic is very volatile among parents as we all have strong feelings about this topic.     

You have the parents who preach abstinence just like they do in the school system.  But, these kids have raging hormones and we cannot forget that.  In the heat of the moment even the kids with the best intentions can lose themselves in the heat of the moment.  For me, I choose the route of putting my daughter on contraceptives but it was her responsibility to take them daily.   My thoughts were this was preventative medicine.   Let me set the record straight, I do not condone sex before marriage but I do believe in being prepared.

The fact remains that sex education classes at the high school level does not go far enough and is not giving the students enough information.   Abstinence may work for some and not for others.  This is the age where they experiment with alcohol and can this could cause teens to act in a way they never intended.