Dear President,

More than ⅔ of the state I myself live in fail to teach all of the recommended sex education topics. Many states in america do not teach comprehensive sex ed. Even the states that do are not always medically accurate. Sex education in america should be comprehensive and medically accurate in all states.

There are several problems with the way american schools teach sex ed. Because the policies differ from state to state only 22 states mandate sex education, and only 13 require it be medically accurate. Lessons use chewed up gum, used tape, and dirty shoes to shame people who have had sex, which can be especially scarring to those who have been sexually assaulted. Some states prohibit condom demonstrations, and when the average age americans lose their virginities is 17, maybe abstinence isn't the best method.

There are a few solutions to these many problems. Require that all states teach comprehensive sex ed. In addition, require that all states be medically accurate and require they do condom demonstrations prevent HIV and other STIs. Americas statistics are 50,00 new HIV infections, 20 million STIs, 3 million unintended pregnancies, 1 million rapes annually, which supports the need to teach proper consent.

Now you might say that teaching abstinence is more effective. That's untrue. A study by Rachael Sanoff states, “ No abstinence-only-until-marriage program has been shown to help teens delay the initiation of sex or to protect themselves when they do initiate sex”. Abstinence does not properly teach consent either “They spend so much time on the importance of saying ‘no’ they can leave out what informed enthusiastic consent looks like” said John Oliver of LastWeekTonight.

Sex education should be comprehensive and medically accurate. Not all states require it be taught or be medically accurate. If you really want america's terrifying statistics tom change, change sex education.

Sincerely,

Adrienne C.