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If Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis’s policies have your head spinning, you’re not the only one. Miami-Dade schools are so paranoid over the interpretation of the Governor’s policies, that they’ve axed a (probably) perfectly good sex ed textbook that had already been approved previously. Why? Because administrators now believe that the contents of the offending textbook in question could violate the terms of the Governor’s reviled, ‘Don’t Say Gay Bill’. 

Here’s what you need to know about how sex ed actually helps cultivate healthier, less problematic communities and how the madness of the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” has compromised a simple textbook. 

The Talk

How much do you know about sex? Are you able to answer all the questions on this list? If not, your experiences with sex might be as horrific as the Governor’s policies. 

Unfortunately, that’s how most people deal with sex education – as an embarrassing and awkward experience rather than something natural, meaningful, or at least enjoyable for us as human beings. 

Sexual education in schools is a topic that sparks controversy among parents, educators, and policymakers. Some say it’s not needed because kids can find answers online or get them from friends. 

Others argue that adding the subject to the school curriculum will have negative consequences on our teens – what if they become more curious about sex?

The bottom line is that schools need to teach students about healthy relationships and ways to avoid risky behavior such as teen pregnancy, STDs, or unplanned pregnancy. After what happened to Roe V. Wade, sex ed is more important than ever as frightened teens find themselves cut off from vital resources like the option to have an abortion when something goes wrong. 

Sexual Education Helps Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Sex education has been shown to have a significant effect on the teen birth rate. The most effective sex education programs are those that are comprehensive meaning they cover everything from abstinence to contraception, STIs, and responsible decision-making as well as information about healthy relationships.

These programs tend to be more effective at reducing risk-taking behavior among youth and increasing their use of contraception when compared to abstinence-only programs which are practically hopeless.

Sexual Education Teaches Kids About Healthy Relationships

Sex ed programs that encourage teens to form solid relationships are especially effective as it dissuades them from engaging in casual sex which is much riskier comparatively.

Casual sex is something that comes with risks such as STDs, unintended pregnancies, and the emotional trauma of breaking up. 

This is because their brains are not fully developed, and they’re more likely to make impulsive decisions that they’ll regret. By teaching kids about healthy relationships, sexual education helps them identify situations in which they shouldn’t have sex. 

Sexual Education Teaches People About Consent and Safer Sex Practices

Unlike many other subjects, sexual education does not start with the basics – it starts with the complicated stuff. From the first day of class, kids are taught about STDs and safe sex practices.

Teens who are educated about their bodies are more likely to have healthier relationships as adults, feel more comfortable during their first sexual experiences and make better choices when faced with risky situations such as sexual assault. 

Knowing whether or not you’re ready to have sex is important, but so is understanding what a healthy sexual relationship looks like. What should you expect from your partner? These are the questions that sexual education programs can help answer. 

While many people think of consent as only applying to sexual assault, it’s actually an important concept that applies to any type of human interaction. Sexual education programs teach students what healthy sexual relationships look like and how they can respect their partner’s boundaries. 

Sexual Education Teaches People About STDs and Prevention

Furthermore, sex education programs do more than just teach teens about how to avoid pregnancy and STDs. They also help them understand how these diseases are transmitted, how to prevent them, and how to get tested if necessary. 

While the internet can be a great source of information for people of all ages, it is important that young people get information from a reliable source rather than something like Wikipedia. 

Sexual education programs are supervised by professionals, who often update their content based on the latest scientific findings. These programs are important because, unfortunately, STDs are not uncommon among people who are sexually active. 

How the Miami-Dade County School Board Just Took a Huge Step in the Wrong Direction

The Miami-Dade School Board just took a huge step in the wrong direction by rejecting a sex ed textbook that had already been approved previously. The fact that they rejected a sex ed textbook and subsequently deprived teens of valuable information that could help them avoid making potentially life-altering mistakes is bad enough. 

The real controversy here is that they chose to reject the textbook because it supposedly violated the ridiculous piece of Florida legislation unaffectionately known as the, ‘Don’t Say Gay Bill’

This is unacceptable. Adults make all kinds of terrible decisions as it is, which means teens need all the help they can get. Another issue that influenced the school board’s decision was the fact that the textbook mentioned abortions. How scandalous. 

If anything, educators should welcome the opportunity to use a textbook that can inform teens that options like abortions actually exist. By rejecting the textbook, the school board has actually done a disservice to the entire Miami-Dade community as teens will find themselves ill-equipped to handle this complex issue. 

Conclusion

In schools across the world, sexual education is often an afterthought when it comes to health class. If teens are lucky enough to receive any information at all, they’re usually provided with a general overview of the subject and told to go ask questions at the library or look it up online. 

This is not enough! It’s important that schools provide young people with accurate, detailed, and comprehensive information about sex, STDs, and how to prevent them. This will not only help young people avoid risky behavior, but it will also empower them to be better decision-makers in their own lives.

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About The Author

Harrison Bryan

Harrison is an experienced writer and marketing connoisseur. Specializing in sales copy, he works with some of the most innovative names in business and is interested in the relationship between marketing and psychology. As a staff writer for SFL Media, he has a broad focus and covers some of the most exciting developments in South Florida.