Changes in Our Students

2.1 What changes have occurred in student sexuality over time? What are the implications of these changes for education?

• Nearly half of all teens are sexually active by the end of high school - 1 in 10 before the age of 13 and 1 in 10 with more than four partners by 10th grade. Only 61% of sexually active teens use a condom. The average age of first intercourse has dropped to 17.
• Rates of teenage pregnancy are falling, but they're still the highest of any industrialized country. The decline is attributed to decreased sexual activity and increased use of contraceptives. Becoming a teen parent increases the risks of dropping out, developing poor work skills, and receiving limited employment opportunities. Energy is diverted from self-development, and the babies often fare poorly as well.
• Many teenagers are infected with some type of STD. (This textbook conveniently gives only the statistic for female teens...) Depending on which STD and whether or not it's discovered early, infection could cause serious health issues which would impact student education.
• Sex education is still a controversial topic with form and content of instruction varying widely across the nation. Polls suggest a vast majority of parents are in favor, but many programs are still ineffective due to certain restrictions in various states and districts.
• There is still a lot of stigma around sexual orientation and identity, which can be especially difficult for teens as they're coming to understand who they are sexually. Sexual harassment is also a huge problem with more than half of all students reporting being sexually harassed and especially affecting the LGBTQ community. These circumstances can lead students to feelings of isolation, depression, and helplessness, impacting personal health and school attendance and raising the incidences of drug abuse and suicide.