The United States has a high rate of teen pregnancies and teen births. In 2022, 143,789 babies were born to teenage mothers in the U.S. Many teens also get sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, one in four young people gets a sexually transmitted disease before turning 21. 

Some people believe public schools have an obligation to make a difference. They think sex education can help students make better choices. For example, students can learn about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and risks of teen pregnancy. They can learn how to resist pressure to have sex too early. Some schools also distribute information about methods for safer sex. This is called comprehensive sex education. 

Other people argue public schools shouldn’t be responsible for sex education. They think it should be the parents’ responsibility. They believe that sex education is not a health issue, but a moral issue. They believe that parents can do a better job of teaching morality than schools. Furthermore, different families want their children to learn very different things about sex, and schools may not have the capacity to cover all viewpoints.

Teachers may also be reluctant to distribute information about different methods for safer sex. Many teachers would rather avoid the topic of sex education completely and believe that parents should be responsible for this topic. However, schools and teachers are often held accountable for “not doing enough” as a result.

Some people believe that if schools offer sex education, they should only teach abstinence. Abstinence-only programs teach students to abstain or stay away from sex until marriage. If teenagers abstain, there is no risk of pregnancy. People in favor of abstinence-only point out that many families’ morality may be against teenagers having sex. They worry that allowing schools to teach about methods for safer sex is like saying that sex at a young age is okay.

In school and outside of school, students receive various types of sex education or, in some cases, no formal sex education at all. At the same time, teens in the U.S. are more likely to get sexually transmitted diseases than older adults, and teen pregnancy rates are higher than in other developed countries. It seems like students need more information, but where should they get it? Should schools try to help prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases? Or should sex education just be left to parents?