Officials at Washington D.C. schools have been dragging their feet when it comes to offering students information about preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. It does not appear that this issue was considered to be a priority. Even though Washington D.C. schools have now stepped up and vowed to introduce the program soon, it is shocking that such an important issue was ever swept under the carpet for such a long time.

Washington D.C. Schools Have a Duty to Provide Health Information

HIV/AIDS is a health issue, not a moral one. Washington D.C. schools may shy away from teaching standards of behavior in the sexual health realm, but issues like HIV/AIDS, other STDs, and pregnancy can all be addressed from a health perspective.

We have all heard the argument that if we take the time to teach young people about these issues that it will “give them ideas” about becoming sexually active. The truth is that those ideas are already discussed among every student body and teenagers have those ideas and desires already. What they may lack is the education to understand the life consequences of their sexual activity and knowledge of what such activity really potentially involves. Washington D.C. schools need to step up and provide young people with the information they need to understand the reality, not just the fantasy of sex so students can more clearly make responsible choices.

Allow Washington D.C. Schools to Bring in Experts to Give Accurate Information

If the teaching staff of the Washington D.C. schools isn’t qualified to discuss these issues with the students, then the schools have a responsibility to provide training to the educators or to bring in qualified individuals who can. This issue is far too important to ignore.

The choices that the students who are currently attending Washington D.C. schools make about their sexual health have the potential to affect the rest of their lives. We don’t seem to have this much trouble discussing why drinking and driving, or using drugs is not a good choice with our young people; the issue of HIV/AIDS should be no different.

HIV/AIDS can affect anyone who is sexually active and the students attending Washington D.C. schools need to understand this. The message needs to be delivered directly, and not sugarcoated in any way. This is not something that only happens to other people. Let’s teach the students from Washington D.C. schools how to protect themselves if they choose to become sexually active.

Once these students attending Washington D.C. schools have been given the facts, they may choose to delay becoming sexually active. If they don’t, at least they have the knowledge they need to behave responsibly. HIV/AIDS is a fact of life in our world today. Not discussing it doesn’t make it go away. Let’s hope that the Washington D.C. schools get their education program implemented quickly. There’s no time to lose.

Author Bio: Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information please visit Washington DC School Ratings – Private and Public

Category: Education
Keywords: Washington DC School Ratings – Private and Public