Safe Sex Lessons in School Environment Continue to Cause Controversy

School systems have long been battling with the topic of safe sex and how to teach it to their students.  Some school systems have taken the stance that the only true form of safe sex is to abstain from sex completely.  At these school systems, the only safe sex lessons they learn are how to refuse to have sex until they are married.

Other school systems have taken a more realistic approach and wish to teach safe sex practices to their students that include proper use of contraceptives such as condoms.  Unfortunately, those schools wishing to truly educate their students about safe sex practices are running into troubles with gaining full community support.

One school system, the Montgomery County school system in Alabama, is all too familiar with the safe sex controversy.  It seems that the school has been engaged in a six-year long battle in an attempt to teach its students about safe sex.  In fact, the teacher-created sex ed curriculum has been taken all the way to court.

Educators in Montgomery have been defending their curriculum, which has already been approved by its school board.  Those opposing the safe sex lessons, however, claim that the curriculum is illegal because it takes the stance that homosexuality is innate, and also because the lessons discuss other sex acts beyond vaginal intercourse.  According to opponents of the lessons, having this information included in the lessons violates the constitutional rights of families that are opposed to these lessons based on religions beliefs.

One problem with this logic is the fact that students have to have a permission slip signed by their parents in order to participate in the safe sex lessons and activities.  Therefore, those families that are opposed to the content of these lessons can simply refuse to sign the permission slip and they don’t have to worry about what is or is not being taught to their children. So, the real question becomes:  Who is protecting the Constitutional rights of those parents that want their children to be taught safe sex practices?

Of course, parents should discuss sex with their children rather than relying on the school system to do it for them.  Nonetheless, many parents have a difficult time discussing this topic.  In addition, for many parents, the sex ed discussion at school helps open the door to this discussion with their children.

Those opposed to the lessons, on the other hand, don’t see things that way.  They believe the safe sex lessons endorse homosexuality because this orientation is presented as being innate rather than as a choice.  They also believe it endorses homosexuality and sexual deviancy because the lessons discuss sex acts such as anal sex and oral sex.

The reality is that teenagers are engaging in all of these sex acts already.  All one needs to do is read the surveys that are conducted with high school students to know that.  Implementing these safe sex lessons isn’t endorsing sex or teaching students how to “get away” with having sex.  Rather, it is helping them feel comfortable with their sexuality – regardless of their orientation – so they can grow into happy, well-adjusted adults with a solid education regarding sex and staying safe.