What should public schools teach our children about sex? It can be a complex question, especially when dealing with morals, social norms, pop culture, hormones and health. When students sit down for their sex education, should teachers embrace an abstinence-only policy?
Programs that are effective at delaying teen sexual activity, improving contraceptive use, and/or preventing teen pregnancy exist and should be expanded. However, it is unrealistic to assume that sex education alone will solve the problem of teen pregnancy—no matter what type of sex education. Even the most successful programs usually have only modest success. Moreover, teen pregnancy and sexual activity is rooted in broad social phenomena, such as popular culture, the images portrayed in the entertainment media, and the values articulated by parents and other adults. Sex education and community programs alone simply cannot counter these powerful forces.
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