Dear Editor:

I’m concerned about people’s attitudes regarding sex education in Saint Louis schools. Abortion and sexually transmitted diseases result from the lack of sex education because teenagers are not being given the correct information they need to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Sex education has the potential to provide information on sexual abuse and ways to protect oneself from potential physical, emotional and mental harm. In contrast, ignorance about human sexuality is dangerous, and it can be lethal. The federal government currently pays only for abstinence-only programs in public schools. Although I understand that the topic of sex is an uncomfortable one, teenagers do need to learn at some point, and learning occurs best in our schools. The truth is that teenagers are engaging in sexual activities, yet because of their ignorance about sexuality, there are serious repercussions that include both social and financial consequences. I recommend more sex education in schools along with easy access to contraception. Young people should be taught sex education so that they can become responsible and make the right decisions, or at the very least the safe ones. Many schools do not offer sex education, or ifthey do, the almost exclusive emphasis on abstinence makes students fail to take the course seriously. The rate of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) is frighteningly high among adolescents in the United States. However, the good news is that teen pregnancy rates are declining, which is due to an increased use of contraceptives. Giving adolescents the information they need and will use can dramatically reduce the number of sexually transmitted diseases. Some parents who will not be pleased with having sex education and the availability of contraception in schools, and they will believe that these practices will only give their children more reasons to have sex. I understand the controversy such a program may cause; however, I feel sex education and freely available contraception are necessary in order to begin to put an end to the problems that teenagers continue to face with pregnancy and disease; in addition, these changes in the ways we teach young people about sexuality are necessary to help teenagers feel comfortable with their bodies and the topic of sexuality. The alternative to education is ignorance, and ignorance can be lethal when one is making decisions about sexual behavior. If we only trust our children, we may be surprised by the maturity and good judgment they display.

-Nicole Zangara
Graduate student
George Warren Brown School of Social Work

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