For many years now, schools have been doing an excellent job in educating teens on how to be safe with sex. This method does result in helping teenagers by teaching them how to apply this information to the real world.

Have you ever noticed that all the adult TV shows that networks put on have at least one sexual scene per episode? As a teenager, you’re just starting to wake up to the world that’s around you. That world consists mostly of “Violence in movies and sex on TV.” A quote from the beginning of the show Family Guy. These scenes can encourage teens to try having sex.

First of all, hitting puberty isn’t an easy thing. Most people face peer pressure. Maybe a friend dared you or maybe it was just a friendly game of spin the bottle at a party. Either way, people are going to want to try to press up their bodies against each other and have sex at least once as a teenager. That’s why it’s important to educate kids on how to have safe sex. “In the year 2017, there were at least 30,948 women that got pregnant. These women were from 14 to 19 years old,” says Statistics Canada.

In Ontario, Sexual Education is already being taught from an early age leading up to their senior year. According to Amelia Robinson of the Huffington Post, here’s what they learn in school: “the first grade to identify body parts by using the correct terminology. In second grade, they outline the basic stages of human development, including an infant, child, adolescent, adult, older adult and related bodily changes. In grade three they cover the bodily changes.

Once you reach the fourth grade, they learn the physical changes during puberty such as changes in voice and body size, production of body odour and skin changes. They also learn about the potential emotional and social impact of these changes. In the fifth grade, they start to identify the parts of the reproductive system and describe how the human body changes during puberty, they learn the terms cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, endometrium, and clitoris, as well as scrotum, urethra, testicles, prostate gland, seminal vesicles, and vas deferens.

When students hit the sixth grade, homophobia and assumptions regarding gender roles and expectations, sexual orientation, gender expression, race, ethnicity or culture, mental health, and abilities, among others. They will also propose appropriate ways of responding to and changing some of these stereotypes.

Seventh grade students will touch on consent and the importance of having a shared understanding with a partner about delaying sexual activity. They also touch on the understanding of physical, emotional, social, and psychological factors that need to be considered when making decisions related to sexual health, including STIs, pregnancy, desire, pleasure, gender identity among others. Students will also delve into areas of cyber-bullying, harassment, and behaviours like sexting.

Over the eighth grade year, students learn about all six genders including male, female, two-spirited, transgender, transsexual and intersex. They also cover topics of sexual orientation (heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual). When it comes to sex, students will learn about contraception and condom use to prevent pregnancy, STI prevention, consent, and what it means to be in a healthy sexual relationship. For further development, Grade eight students will also touch on the benefits or attractions of being in a relationship along with drawbacks and risks like breaking up.

During grade nine, students will be able to describe how to prevent unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS. A more important understanding of gender identities and issues around stigma, culture, religion, media, stereotypes, homophobia, self-image, etc..

In grade ten, students should be able to describe factors that influence sexual decision-making, including personal values, having limits, peer and family expectations and myths and norms related to sexual activity or safe sex. Students will demonstrate an understanding of how to use decision-making and communication skills effectively to support choices related to sexual health. Discussions on misconceptions about sexuality in our culture, as well as what it means to be in an exclusive relationship. Understanding a variety of mental illnesses and addictions including eating disorders; major depression; anxiety disorders; psychotic disorders, tobacco and alcohol, drugs, gambling, gaming, or Internet addictions.

Students in grade eleven will cover proactive health measures like breast and testicular examinations, pap tests, regular medical check-ups, stress management techniques, among others. In addition to cyberbullying,

Students in the twelfth grade will also cover stalking, sexual assault, abuse within a family, extortion, and workplace harassment, for example. As well discussion on healthy relationships, developing healthy sexual relationships with others and looking at relationships and stereotypes in the media.”

According to the website Advocates for Youth, “Evaluations of comprehensive sex education programs show that these programs can help youth delay the onset of sexual activity, reduce the frequency of sexual activity, reduce the number of sexual partners and increase condoms and contraceptive use.” More provinces or even countries should follow Ontario’s example on teaching kids the importance of safe sex from a young age.

Furthermore, some teens don’t always listen to what their parents are trying to say. Sometimes boys like to find a girl and try to lure them in by either sending them shirtless pictures while doing sexy poses of themselves until the girl finally gives in. Girls prefer to be rebellious and have sex anyway without taking birth control pills, other times it’s because they get so drunk that they lose sight of what’s really going on around them. With sex ed., the girl can be prepared ahead of time and take an IUD pill so they don’t get pregnant. An IUD pill is one of the most effective birth control methods out there. It equally teaches boys to wear condoms.

These methods are what we call safe sex, it protects both parties from unwanted creatures that constantly scream in a high pitch tone for hours on end and will make the first few years a living hell. Besides, you should wait until you’re sure that the person you have sex with is ready to commit and to be partially responsible to take care of a child.  The cost of raising a child is a whopping $233,610 before they turn 18 and because you would need to have your full attention on the kid, you can say goodbye to your teenage years. With Sex Ed., you learn about all of these consequences and how to deal with unexpected sexual encounters. It teaches you how to use tools to protect yourself.

In conclusion, teens today have the right to be prepared for the sexual encounters of tomorrow. There are too many sad stories about abortions or adoptions or even teenagers dropping out of school to raise a child. We need more stories with happy endings where everyone’s the winner. Sex Ed. can help prevent teenagers from suffering through these situations and that’s why we need to keep and expand sex. ed. in our education programs.