Paulina Lara Karla Navarro Jennifer Billie Huyen Tran English 1010 April 30, 2014 Get Informed

I do feel having taken a Sex Ed. Course in school would have influenced my decisions greatly, but who knows if I still would have gotten pregnant. (Crystal Lara, phone Interview). Crystal was twelve years old when she discovered she was pregnant; a mere seventh grader learning to strive in the adolescent world. Like Crystal, many other teens experience the consequences that go along with sex. In Utah alone 48 of every 1,000 teenage girls become pregnant (Utah Data, thenationalcampaign.org). Unfortunately, Utah does not provide public school students with comprehensive/sex education. Meaning student arent being taught about the various consequences behind sex, and the many ways in which they could prevent such consequences. The Utah State Laws clearly states that, instruction shall stress the importance of abstinence from all sexual activity before marriage and fidelity after marriage as methods for preventing certain communicable diseases and that, At no time may instruction be provided, including responses to spontaneous questions raised by students, regarding any means or methods that facilitate or encourage the violation of any

state or federal criminal law by a minor or an adult. (Utah State Law: Title 53A Chapter 13 Section 101). Basically we are to remain an Abstinence-Only state, and no educational instructor is to provide them with any information about contraceptives uses, or sex education facilities, such as Planned Parenthood. That is why we believe that adding comprehensive/sex education into the Utah public school curriculum would be best for students. Sex education would allow teens to grasp the ideas behind sex, be aware of consequences, and also learn how to avoid such consequences if they choose not to remain abstinent. Utah, as an individual state, needs to keep in mind that as the years pass, teens are becoming aware of sexuality at a much younger age, about 16 percent of teens have had sex by the age of 15 (FATSRH, guttmacher.org). We must ensure that they understand every consequence that goes along with sex. Over the years the citizens of Utah along with the Nations view on sex education has changed. If you swift through the pages of a magazine, play any MA rated video game, carefully listen to the lyrics of a song, log into any social network or even watch a PG rated movie, its guaranteed that youll find a reference to sex or love. Take for example, one of Robin Thickes most recently released music videos, Blurred Lines, he released both a censored and uncensored version of the video, and although YouTube later removed the uncensored version, and flagged it inappropriate for users, it still received over 1,144,208 views (Youtube.com), and if searched for can be found on other websites such as, www.vimeo.com. Its videos and other various sources of media such as this one, that influence the way adolescents view sexuality today.

Years ago, it may have been easier to expect teens to remain abstinent until marriage, and teens may have also believed it was the best choice. However, as the years pass the beliefs and minds of people change. Sex is no longer seen as a sacred thing that is only to be shared after marriage; with this idea must come precautions. If sex education was offered as a course in all schools around the nation there would be a decrease in teen pregnancy, STIs, and will even benefit tax payers. Most teens are tempted to do what they can't or are not allowed to do which is why teaching abstinence only has backfired, causing Utah to be in the top ranks for teen pregnancy (Utah Data, thenationalcampaign.org). Referring back to the Utah State Code, instructors are expected to follow the curriculum that was establish by the State Board of Education. The code states that instructors are only to teach about abstinence and STIs, but if a student were to ask a question that is not part of the topic, the instructor is not allowed to answer such question since it is a violation of the law to encourage sexual intercourse out of wedlock. However, what we must keep in mind is that many parents themselves are uneducated about sex and contraceptives; so who do these teens go to when they have questions? Studies show that only 17.5 percent of teens feel comfortable talking to their parents about sex related topics (Lets Talk, plannedparenthood.org). We fail to realize that teens that are not being well educated on sex and contraceptives by their parents because some dont care to teach, or set a good example for their children; while others have no idea how to educate their children because they themselves were not educated as teens. By pursuing comprehensive education, the program can help young people to delay sexual activity and improve their contraceptive use when they make the decision whether

or not to have intercourse. Although these programs may cover a wide range of topics from fertility and reproduction to STIs, from relationships and communication, culture and society, these programs are aimed at the young peoples to minimize their risk of negative outcomes. Thus, sex is inevitable, and society must accept this reality and concentrate on helping teens avoid the negative consequences of sex. Sexuality education programs can help young people to delay sexual activity and improve their contraceptive use when they decide to have intercourse. To address this challenge, we need to target governments, communities, families and young people themselves in comprehensive education programs. Rarely do teenagers have hopes of becoming a teen parents, and wonder what could have happened if they had accomplish higher education, or to live with dangerous diseases forever. Having comprehensive education taught in middle/junior high schools or more importantly High schools can help teenagers make smart decisions when it comes to sex. A study done by Planned Parenthood shows that 95.7 percent & 92.9 percent of teens believe it is important that sex education be taught in high schools. We're not trying to get rid of abstinence only classes, and we do understand why you might believe sex education will only promote teens having sex, but Our goal is to acknowledge both abstinence and non-abstinence high school students and try to find the best way to educate both of them to lower teen pregnancy rates and STIs. Our plan is at first to get schools to provide resources to students where they can get information about sex education, including, contraceptives & other forms of birth control. The school board would approve each resource that is given to the students. We

would help by submitting a list of websites, books, and facilities that we have researched, and by providing samples of brochures/pamphlets that can be given. In the long run we plan to get sex education added to the public school curriculum. We would help contribute to this by drafting a petition explaining why comprehensive sex education would benefit Utah citizens then have agreeing Utah citizens sign our petition. The benefits of having sex education added to schools vary widely. Not only does having sex education reduce teen pregnancy & STIs (Effective Sex Education, advocatesforyouth.org), but it also helps tax payers. On average teen child bearing cost taxpayers more than $7 billion a year or $3,200 a year for each teenage birth (What Can Be Dont to Reduce Teen Pregnancy Out-of-Wedlock Births, brokings.edu). In providing sex education courses teen pregnancy would be reduced, helping reduce the amount of tax money that goes towards teen pregnancy. Comprehensive education programs do not encourage teens to start having sexual intercourse, rather it encourages teaching teens about avoiding pregnancy, keeping teens safe from sexually transmitted infections. and providing positive guidance. At the same time abstinence-only programs from the research we have gathered, has been proven ineffective (Effective Sex Education, advocatesforyouth.org).

Works cited
Bernick, Bob. Utah Sex Education Bill To Teach Abstinence-Only Vetoed By Governor. Huffingtonpost.com HuffPost Education Group. August 13, 2012. Web. April 16, 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/17/utah-governorvetoes-bill_n_1355053.html> Effective Sex Education. Advocatesforyouth.org Advocates for Youth, n.p. Web. April 4, 2014. <http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications450> Facts on American Teens Sexual and Reproductive Health. Guttmacher.org Guttmacher Institute, June 2013. Web. April 4, 2014. <http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-ATSRH.html> Lara, Crystal. Phone interview. April 19, 2014. National & State Data. Thenationalcampaign.org The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, n.p. Web. April 20, 2014. <http://thenationalcampaign.org/data/landing> Robin Thicke Blurred Lines Unrated Version Video. Vimeo.com Vimeo LLC, September 2013. Web. April 23, 2014. <http://vimeo.com/73851503> Robin Thicke;Blurred Lines Version Non-Censure. YouTube.com n.p., August 31, 2013. Web. April 23, 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ6YGabx7xs> R277. Education, Administration. Rules.utah.gov Utah Department of Administrative Services Division of Administrative Rules, April 1, 2014. Web. April 2, 2014. <http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r277/r277-474.htm#T11>

Schencker, Lisa. Sex Education Bill: How Would it Change Instruction?. Sltrib.com Salt Lake Tribune/News, March 14, 2012. Web. April 10, 2014. <http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/53701586-78/sex-education-billteachers.html.csp?page=2> SIECUS State Profiles. Siecus.org SIECUS, n.p. web. April 16, 2014. <http://www.siecus.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=487&paren tID=478> State Policies on Sex Education in Schools. Ncsl.org NCSL, April 11, 2014. Web. April 21, 2014. <http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-policies-on-sexeducation-in-schools.aspx> Talking to Kids About Sex and Sexuality. Plannedparenthood.org Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc., n.p. Web. April 18, 2014. <http://www.plannedparenthood.org/parents/talking-kids-about-sex-sexuality37962.htm> 53A State System of Public Education. Le.utah.gov Utah State Legislature, n.p. Web. April 14, 2014. <http://le.utah.gov/code/TITLE53A/htm/53A13_010100.htm>

Lets Talk. Plannedparenthood.org Planned Parenthood, n.p. Web. April 25, 2014 <http://www.plannedparenthood.org/images/LT_2012_Poll_Fact_Sheet_final(2).p df>

Sawhill, Isabel V. What Can Be Done to Reduce Teen Pregnancy and Out-of-Wedlock Births?. Brookings.edu Brookings, October 2001. Web. April 25, 2014 <http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2001/10/childrenfamilies-sawhill>