October 12, 2013
Essay 2, Draft 1
Persuasive Essay
While there are many debatable topics in the arena of public education, one of the longest held and most ferociously argued topics revolves around the implementation of sex education to our children. Though there are many controversies surrounding the topic, current research illustrates that not only are the number of parents who support the initiation of comprehensive sexual education programs on the rise, the need for these crucial programs is also reaching a critical need. By extensively exploring both the pros and cons of sex education programs in public schools, I believe that comprehensive sexual education programs should be implemented in all districts across the United States.
Research has shown that parents are now very aware of the need to advocate for their children’s sexual education. In fact, as reported in Reproductive & Sexual Health, 93% of families surveyed in 2011 are in favor of sex education as a part of their child’s regular curriculum. Some parents simply feel more comfortable having their children taught the topic by a professional, or see it as a way to avoid a potentially embarrassing discussion with their child. Other parents report that they are in favor of having comprehensive sexual education in schools due to the fact that, “Students can be taught the correct terms of the reproductive system, sexually transmitted diseases and birth contraceptives.” These parents recognize the fact that without being taught these sensitive topics in school, children will pick up “street lingo” and most likely, incorrect or false information from their peers or popular media. There are many parents who do not realize the influence the media plays upon their children’s view of healthy sexual behavior. Hence, they may have very good intentions of having their children be well informed on the topic, but simply wait too long to initiate the conversation. Studies published by Pediatrics show that...