Most teens in the US are sexually active and a percentage of them gets pregnant and drops out of school. Among teens there is pressure to lose their virginity at an early age especially for boys. Being a virgin is perceived to be indifferent for a teenage boy and peer pressure pushes them to engage in sexual activity as early as middle school.

With the growing number of unwanted pregnancies from sexually active teens legislators and educators are trying to implement an informative campaign towards the importance of sex education. The conservative approach to sex education teaches abstinence from sex before you get married. But nowadays because of the high prevalence of pre-marital sex and an increase in incidence of unwanted pregnancies and HIV, majority are pushing for sex education highlighting safe sex and different forms of contraception.

When teens are asked why they engage in sexual activity they usually answer that everybody else is doing it. This reflects poor understanding of what intimacy is and how most teenagers relate sex to love. In a relationship it is perceived that it is normal to reach a point wherein both partners will have sex, if it does not happen, the other person might question their relationship as if it was a basis for proving your love.

The goal in sex education is to impart knowledge to individuals about sexuality, sexual intercourse, relationships and intimacy in order for them to make informed choices that will make them feel confident and in control of their decision and the consequences that may come along with it. Access to sex education will prevent teens from being abused, exploited, sexually transmitted disease and having unwanted pregnancies.

Sex education also offers resources for information, support groups and shelters for women who are abused or those having unwanted pregnancies. Sex education will prove effective when teenagers are able to negotiate, assert their rights, communicate freely and make informed decisions regarding sexual activity.

To become effective in teaching sex education the facilitator should have an open mind and remain neutral to the goal of providing information. Personal beliefs and attitudes towards sex should not be reflected. Religious beliefs and personal attitudes towards sex can sometimes be a sensitive matter and should be addressed carefully especially if within a group. Information to be relayed should include the following:

Sexual development and reproduction
Relationships and Intimacy
Forms of Contraception and Birth Control
Sexually Transmitted Disease

Sex education is not just taught in school. Teens should get their first discussion about sex through their parents to avoid misinformation from fellow teens or peers. Knowledge is reinforced in school by teachers who conduct sex education.

In the US an approximate 7 out of 10 women had sex before 14 years of age, and 6 in 10 of those stated that sex happened involuntarily, (Teen Sex and Pregnancy, The Alan Guttmacher Institute, New York, 1996). The Center for Disease Control reported that one-third of girls get pregnant before they reach their 20s. It does not come as a surprise if teens are exposed to sexual intercourse at an early age.

Educators are looking into strengthening sex education in school to help teens be informed of the outcomes of early sexual intercourse. Pregnant teens are increasing in numbers which causes these students to drop out of school. Without a proper education they have less opportunity in getting a job thus rendering them incapable of caring for their unborn child. Some teenage pregnant women resort to abortion in the hopes of fixing the dilemma. Some organizations argue that teaching students to use contraceptives will only increase their protection on sexually transmitted diseases but it will not prevent sexual intercourse in such an early age. The decision on when to have sex, the right time and the right person are the individual’s choice which is influenced by his or her own moral values, family upbringing, religion and beliefs.

The best way to address the problem of teen sex and pregnancy lies in the guidance of parents. Encouraging teens to talk about their anxieties and concerns regarding sexual intercourse shows trust in them that they will be able to make the right decision for themselves. Parents need to inform them of the possible consequences of the action they would take. Along with these information parents should also acknowledge that safe sex is better that unprotected sex which can cause sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. Awareness will help young students make informed decisions that will matter greatly in their life.

Boarding schools, almost all of them are non-coed which means that girls only spend time with girls and boys with boys except for supervised activities. This is a good thing, because if they spend most o their time doing positive and constructive activities with the same gender and not being brainwashed by the media, they would surely learn to value themselves more and learn to control their urges.