Protecting Our Teens Essay

Submitted By ChristinaCerini1
Words: 996
Pages: 4
Open Document
Protecting Our Teens

“In 2011, a total of 329,797 babies were born to women aged 15-19 years” (Martinez). In addition to these teen pregnancies “there are an estimated 40,000 new HIV infections every year” (Rodgers 4) in America “with one-quarter of them occurring in youth under the age of 25.”(4) Based on these numbers it is obvious that teenagers across America are having unprotected sexual intercourse. Although it is not ideal, it is happening. To assist in reducing these numbers, teens need to be able to, without parental consent, obtain sexual education in school that not only educates them on abstinence but also the variety of contraceptives available. Teens also need to have easily accessible contraceptives at school that a staffed medical professional of the school can administer confidentially without first needing parental consent. At the age of 15 I became sexually active. This was not something that I wanted to confide in my parents about because I knew that they would find it unacceptable and be disappointed. I did not have any other adult to talk to regarding birth control and no means of accessing it without first going to my parents. I didn’t have the resources to know that there were some free clinics available in certain areas that could have provided me with information and contraceptives. Even if I had been aware of these clinics, I did not have the means of transportation to get to a clinic. As a result of having unprotected sex, I became pregnant. This as well was something that I did not want to go to my parents with and so they did not become aware of my pregnancy until I was in my fourth month of pregnancy. If I had been able to confide in a neutral adult at school that could have provided me with resources and contraceptives without the embarrassment, the outcome of my actions may have been different. Some might say that teens are not mature enough to make a decision to take birth control without parental guidance. Some might say that providing teens with information and access to contraceptives is the equivalent to “granting permission” to have intercourse at a young age. Regardless of whether or not teens are mature enough to make the decision to have intercourse or take contraceptives, half of our teens are still having intercourse. According to E. James Lieberman, M.D. and Karen Lieberman Troccoli, M.P.H. in “Like It Is: A Teen Sex Guide”, “About half of all teenagers – 55 percent of men and 50 percent of women – have intercourse before the age of 20.” (1) Being that the majority of teenagers are not mature enough to have intercourse but continue to do so should be reason enough as to why birth control and information should be easily accessible. Having information on contraception and access to contraceptives readily available at school would help teens receive the proper education and better prepare them for intercourse if they are contemplating it. As stated on the sexetc.org website, in Minnesota "You do not need your parents' permission to participate in sexuality education or HIV/AIDS education classes. But your parents are given the opportunity to review content and can take you out of the classes if they object to what is being taught." Parents should not have the option of taking a teen out of these education classes. Each individual teen should be given the opportunity to participate and be educated. The option to attend the class should be on each individual teen if they feel they are ready. Whether a parent is ready for their teen to learn about sexual education or not will not prevent their teen from trying to find the information on their own which could be inaccurate. There are several very important reasons to have access to contraceptives at school available to students that can be administered by a professional. As stated on the sexetc.org website "Abstinence must be covered in class as the only completely effective
Show More

Related Documents: Protecting Our Teens Essay

Essay on Abstinence: Teen Sexual Activity

reduced teen sexual activity, and this surprised many people. According to Robert anyone who was at all knowledgably wouldn’t have been surprised by this fact at all. Robert also talks about the positive effects being abstinent can have on teens, besides the obvious lack of STDS or ability to become pregnant. Some of the other many benefits Robert talks about include happiness, better grades, and that teens are more academically inclined. According to Robert this is simply because teens who choose…

Words 574 - Pages 3

Why Do We Need Gun Control Persuasive Essay

Dear parents and readers, Guns are the most dangerous thing for children to have. So, do you think teens should have them? In my opinion, teens should have access to guns because they can cause murder or suicide. Also, they can hurt themselves, other people, and their brains are not fully developed! Guns are very high-risk. Teens have the ability to hurt themselves! In the article on hsph.harvard.edu, it says, ”Victims using a gun are no less likely to be injured after taking protective action…

Words 611 - Pages 3

Research Paper On Drivers Driving

Foundation for Traffic Safety. 1/3rd of those deaths were of the teen drivers themselves. The rest were passengers, pedestrians and people in the cars the teenagers struck. In New Jersey, the fatality rate fell significantly for teens after a graduated licensing law was enacted. Among the state's 16- 17 year old drivers, the percentage of car accidents fell by 33% after the law was enacted. A combination of factors contribute to making teens poor drivers. A large part rests on the complexity of driving…

Words 647 - Pages 3

Human Trafficking Runaways

trafficked. It’s just not as commonly reported. It’s more common to see young men being reported on the labor side of trafficking. Young people who runway from home are at a much higher risk for human sex trafficking and murder. It’s been reported that 1-3 teens on the streets will be lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home. There is a 50% increase of being murdered if you are a runaway on the streets. This is Happening to Children The average of a victim is 12-14 years old. 1.2 million Children…

Words 722 - Pages 3

Analysis of a Foundation Essay

2000 to invest in the creation of a more compassionate and just society. The Brett Family Foundation originally had an annual grant making budget of $500,000 and an endowment of $10 million. The Great Recession took our endowment down to approximately $6.5 million, and we decreased our annual grant making budget to $350,000. The Foundation is in the process of rebounding and currently has an endowment of $9 million. This year's grant making budget is $462,000. The Brett Family Foundation mission…

Words 969 - Pages 4

Legal Drinking Age Benefits

prevention of accidents to protecting the still developing brain, keeping the legal drinking age at 21 makes the most sense for our society. One of the largest risks from drinking at a younger age is the stunting of brain development. The ages of 15-21 are years of crucial brain development. The brain is not fully developed until at least…

Words 1259 - Pages 6

Personal Narrative: Losing A Child

There are a lot of reasons that a child could be aat danger. Sometimes the danger can be such as bad as death, and “car accidents are the number one cause of death among teens” (source A). As a parent, it's apprehensive to think about a kid getting into a crash. The parent doesn't’ know where their kid is, and they don't know if they are okay, but with a tracker, it can tell them immediately where they are, so they can help…

Words 1162 - Pages 5

Why Are Body Cameras Important

telling the truth. "These days if police aren't recording their interactions with the public, chances are someone else is." according to The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va (Breen, Steve). A police officer in McKinney, Texas pulled his gun out on teens at a pool party that got out of hand, Police…

Words 796 - Pages 4

Essay about Bullying: Self-esteem and Significant Social Issue

has seen a student with a gun at school”. Majority of us have had to deal with a schoolyard bully at some point in our lives. Whether the more direct type ( physical) or more along the lines of subtle in their bullying ( called you names, incited peers to gang up on you, made people stop hanging around you) the fact remains that bullies has existed as an obstacle for children and teens alike since olden times, and while schools try to stop bullying, the behavior has not stopped just yet. So what…

Words 520 - Pages 3

The Effects Of Teenage Bullying

much the internet has been integrated into our lives. According to statistics from Family First Aid, about 30 percent of teenagers in the U.S. have been involved in bullying, either as a bully or as a victim of teenage bullying Data suggests that teenage bullying is more common among younger teens than it is among older teens. However, it may be that young teens are more prone to physical bullying, which is easier to identify, and that older teens are more sophisticated in methods of bullying that are not always…

Words 1312 - Pages 6