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Sex Education Programs and Their Effects
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16842 |
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Section : |
MODERN THOUGHT
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| Issue
Date : |
9 / 1989 |
4,794 Words |
| Author
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Douglas Kirby
Douglas Kirby is director of research at ETR Associates in
Santa Cruz, California |
Different groups have made many conflicting claims about the effect of sex education. Proponents of sex education claim that it increases knowledge about sexual behavior and its consequences, enhances decision-making and communication skills, increases the use of birth control, and thereby reduces unintended pregnancy. They also claim that it does not increase sexual activity.
In contrast, opponents of sex education claim that many sex education programs talk about sexual behavior in a value-free manner and emphasize birth control. In their view, such discussions sanction sexual activity, thereby encourage adolescents to engage in sex, and subsequently increase unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease. Some opponents also believe that these negative consequences should be prevented by focusing sex education programs entirely on abstinence.
Fortunately, during the 1980s, numerous studies have examined the impact of different types of sex education on knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. These studies can partially resolve some conflicting claims.
Before examining the research, it is worthwhile to put these claims or expectations into their proper perspective. In general, we do not expect other courses to have a dramatic impact on behavior outside the classroom. For example, we do not expect civics classes to promptly make better citizens out of adolescents, even though this may be an implied long-term goal. And we certainly do not evaluate their impact on the law-abiding behavior of students outside the classroom. Similarly, we do not expect that English classes will have much impact. Nor do we expect units on nutrition to substantially reduce student consumption of junk food. More generally, we do not expect health education classes to significantly reduce sickness or absenteeism due to illness. Thus, we should be fully aware that our expectations or claims about sex education's changing behavior outside the classroom are far more demanding (and perhaps unrealistic) than are our expectations of other courses' effects. Sex education classes, like other courses, should be considered successful and effective if they simply increase teenagers' knowledge and information about sexuality.
Impact Upon Knowledge
Numerous studies of junior and senior high school sex education classes have measured these courses' impact on students' knowledge. Their findings are nearly unanimous--instruction in sex education does increase
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