Adolescents are inundated with sex nowadays. There is sex in the movies, all across the internet, and even sex showcased in company advertisements.
Growing into mature and well-informed adults can be a challenge for many children and their parents, especially in the current era of social media and misinformation. In many cases, students find most of their information from social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. There is evidence that kids are exposed to sexual influences in the media every week, and as a result, there is major risk for incorrect understandings and perceptions that can have lifelong effects.
Learning from and having guidance from your family is key, but it is also important for schools to provide their students with the necessary tools and information to transition into adulthood, and sex is not an exception.
Consider the case of Margaret from Norton Middle School in Ohio. Margaret comes from a solid, educated family. She has a strong group of friends at school, both girls and boys. She makes good grades and is involved in extra-curricular activities. Margaret, along with all of her friends have cell phones which keep them connected at any point throughout the day and night. Margaret and her friends often text in groups and exchange funny comment’s and pictures. Recently, several of the boys she knows have been texting her pictures of themselves and some have been very inappropriate. She tries to laugh it off and not think too much about these pictures as she knows this is a “normal” occurrence with her friend group. Even though she feels awkward and uncomfortable, she believes this is what kids do and she needs to just go along with it. She wouldn’t dare tell her parents, or anyone for that matter. She is completely stressed out but sees this type of thing on the internet and in TV shows, so she assumes this behavior is okay.
In order to avoid situations like these, it is essential for schools to incorporate Sex Education classes into their curriculum in grades 6-12. Mandatory, age appropriate classes that teach kids that early sexual behavior is not normal and can lead to trouble. Classes can teach kids about STD’s, abstinence, and teen pregnancies to name a few subjects. Sex Ed classes should be required just like any other course, so that there is no stigma about learning ways to cope with the pressures of sex in a modern-day world that’s full of internet and porn. If this were the case, perhaps Margaret could better understand the situation she is in and how to manage it as young adolescent.
Furthermore, students tend to adopt the behaviors of other students. Courses like these at the very least will get through to some students, so it is worthwhile to expect that these children can then influence their peers afterwards and help develop a mature and educated community. Students like Margaret, who are studious and tend to listen to authority, would inevitably benefit heavily from Sex Ed courses that shed light on the realities of the adult world, and allow her to feel comfortable in these new situations.