Call for better sexual education

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sexually active young adults are at a higher risk of developing an sexually transmitted disease (STD) than older individuals. There were nearly 100,000 cases of chlamydia in 2009 in California alone among 15-24-year-olds, with similar numbers across the rest of the country.

Recently, the Kansas State Collegian reported on the need for better sexual health education among young people, suggesting that teaching about sex can start at almost any age. The news provider spoke to Kelly Welch, assistant professor of family studies and human services on the subject of educating children on STD awareness.

"Sex is not just about body parts and penis in vagina equals sexual intercourse," Welch said, quoted by the news source. "Why can't we begin in kindergarten to teach children about respect? About communication? About caring? About empathy? About understanding? All of these relationship characteristics are foundational to a healthy sex life."

The educator expressed a need to remove the taboo of STDs and get the topic out in the open, in the hopes that talking to children about these issues at a young age will lead to sexually responsible adults.