Teens and Tweens Need Sex Ed, Says This Teen

By Kendall Stewart

As a teen-ager, I think that teaching abstinence in schools doesn’t work. Schools with a health education program that promotes abstinence aren’t really teaching anything at all – I think they’re avoiding the problem and sweeping it under the rug. But as history proves, avoiding a problem doesn’t make it go away, and teaching abstinence is a perfect example. And a disturbing new study shows that tweens are engaging in sex – as early as age 12.

I understand where schools and teachers are coming from. They’re afraid that if they don’t teach abstinence, parents will complain and they will get in trouble. I also understand that abstinence really is the best way to avoid getting sexually transmitted diseases, but come on, let’s face the truth: Teens are going to be sexually active regardless of the countless number of times they’re told not to be.

Since this is the case nationwide (and it is) then why waste time and energy talking about something that teens are not going to pay attention to? Instead, teachers should talk about safe sexual practices like condoms, birth control and the risks associated with having sex.

The health program at my school is like that, and I think we benefit from it. We have health class for two out of seven PE units and we’re taught not only how to practice safe sex, but the consequences if we don’t. We are quizzed on the different STDs and their symptoms, and are taught the proper precautions if we do choose to be sexually active. 

Yes, there have been a few teen pregnancies at my Boston-area school, but no school has a spotless record. I believe that there have only been a few because we are taught about safety. There seems to be a trend: The schools that teach abstinence are the ones with the pregnancy pacts, and alarmingly high number of students who have tested positive for some sort of STD.

Just imagine the positive results that will come from teaching safety rather than the alternative. Everyone will know the signs of STDs so that they can avoid them and get treated if they already have one. Teen pregnancy rates will drop.

No good can come from hiding from the problem. Let’s get our heads out of the sand. 

Kendall Stewart is a Boston-area high school senior whose interests include journalism and drama.