Do we need sex ed?

By April Perry
Hurricane High School

Let’s face it - kids don’t like having personal conversations with their parents. And perhaps the most embarrassing thing to discuss with them is sex.

But now, in addition to getting that lovely, awkward talk with your parents, you get it in front of your peers, too, in sexual education class. So just what do teens think about this class? Is it worth their time or does it just teach them things they already know?

“I don’t think [sex ed classes] are effective unless you get to have a certain teacher,” said Jordan McKinney, a Hurricane sophomore. “So many kids just listen to what they see on TV or what they hear from word of mouth of a friend.”

And this is true. Often what the teacher tells you may be contradicted by what your peers tell you.

“Some teachers seem so uncomfortable talking about sex — let alone teaching it — that you become unsure if they even know what it is that they are talking about,” said Hurricane sophomore Megan Slack.

When proper education isn’t provided, TV shows, movies and song lyrics can give teens pretty wild and negative ideas about sex. Often, it is shown without consequences, which we know is completely not true. So, without proper sex ed classes, what happens to those who rely solely on MTV and “Sex and the City” for their facts?

Sex education can be very beneficial to those who aren’t being educated or being improperly educated about sex. And even if you think you already know it all, you should still pay attention in class. To make the best choices in your romantic life, you should make the most out of all the opportunities you have to learn about sex.

“[The classes] are effective because most kids feel uncomfortable talking to their parents about that subject. Now they can learn about it without feeling uncomfortable,” said Ivana Salazar, a sophomore at Hurricane.