Assignment Task:
Adolescents have sex. While this statement is probably not surprising to many of you, it does raise quite a bit of unease, especially in parents of Adolescents. The risk of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections is a real danger that our population faces. Even with such risks, one very controversial debate still to this day echoes throughout our country. What type of Sex Education do we offer to our Adolescents?
- Take a look at the states that stress some form of absence only education: Abstinence only education states
- Take a look at the teenage pregnancy rates per state: Teenage pregnancies by State
- I then would like you to listen to this short NPR broadcast on teen pregnancy in Texas
Teen Pregnancy Rates Remain Stubbornly High in Some Parts of Texas
1. Comparing the lists of states on the websites provided, what relationship did you notice between States that stress Abstinence Only Education and the States listed with the highest teenage birth rates?
2. Do you believe that comprehensive Sex Education (covering everything including contraception, STIs, abstinence, etc.) encourages teens to have sex? Why or Why Not?
3. In a world full of access to information, why do teens still make poor decisions when it comes safe sex practices? What role, if any, do adults play in this process?
4. Finally, a moment to share if you feel comfortable. Were you satisfied with the sex education you received as an adolescent? Explain.