Should high schools have disease(AIDS) prevention classes?

I am asking this question for a school research paper, so please be serious.

Yes, in Norway and finland, they teach children as young as elementary about sex. They speak openly and frankly about how to use condoms, what it entails, and what diseases are out there. Then, they speak openly about how it is the students choice to have sex. Disease doctors have actually reported a decline in std's and there has also been a decline in teenage pregnancy. If you need more information about this topic of Finnish sex classes, check out US Newsweek.
I go to college, and I took an AIDS Fundamentals class there. And let me just say here and now, high school sex ed classes do not prepare people for actually frank, and open sex talks. There were still a lot of misconceptions I had about HIV/AIDS. Now I teach the class, and I see in the students eyes how they change their stereotypes and how they want to and choose to stay protected. Our class requires people to go to lecture twice a week. Then they go to a 1 and 1/2 hour class once a week to discuss HIV/AIDS. These classes are taught by peers (like me) and we play fun, yet educational activities to teach people how to break their stereotypes. I also believe that high school students should be able to obtain condoms a school. The condoms don't have to be passed out in the hallways. They can retreived securely and confidentially from the nurse's office, where if they have questions, the nurse can tell them privately all the answers they need.

Yes, of course!

I think so. A lot of parents feel that they should be the ones to teach their kids stuff but the problem is, is that they don't. Teenagers don't feel comfortable asking questions about sex and drugs to their parents because they fear that they won't trust them so having a class is a great way to raise awareness. If a parent feels strongly about not letting their child participate, they can always have them go to a study hall or something. That's my opinion.

VERY Much so!!!!!!!!! Our children see this as someone elses disiese.Distant.If they arent taught how easliy this can be caught,and how they are going to be the next generation to fall to this.I know because i have a 15 year old and a 20 yr old.When i talk to them about protection,its all about NOt getting pregnant.I cannot get through to them on this subject.

Definitely. These should be carried out by experts in the field who are trained to walk into the classroom and deliver fear and loathing while at the same time keep their interest. I am a teacher and know that there are real people in the community, especially nurses and community health workers who are very, very qualified to do just that.

However, it is not enough. The schools should have a counselling system that provides the students with confidential and supportive means to start talking about these issues.

I am referring here to mainly secondary school students but more and more, programs have to be set up for younger people as well.

It's good that such schools in your country are enlightened enough just to address the issue.

Yes not just HIV but all STDs.

Many parents will object though because they believe that their teachings have taught little billy or little sally to be good boys and girls and not engage in sexual activities until married. There is also the other side where the parents believe it will tell the kids its ok to engage in sexual activity just wear protection.

I think parents just need to wake up sexual activity happens in high school middle school and sad to say this elementary school as well and steps need to be taken to educate students about the risks. Not just stds and pregnancy but the other health risks that go along with sexual activity.

Yep because if they knew about how they could get the disease qand how horrible it can be then maybe they would be more careful.

I definately believe that they should. Teens and young adults are going to have sex. They don't always feel completely comfortable talking to their parents about sexual matters, so they need a reliable source of information. Schools can provide them with that.

yes i think they should bc hiv is high amoung the poor/uneducated. my brother recently had an hiv/aids workshop @ schopol and he didnt want to bc of course this cant happen to him ( even thou my aunti had aids) but when he finshed the workshop he was grateful my mom made him go. ppl dont understand it can jus take 1 time of unprotected sex and u can catch it . NEED EDUCATION IN CLASSROOMS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT ABISTENCE bc that teching of abestance isnt working

Schools in general need sex education. I am tired of hearing so many wives tales - I found out the truth by talking to doctors, so when I do have sex my first time, I understand what is happening. I really want someone to stop the Virgin Mary jokes - because it seems many don't realize you can become pregnant if ejaculate (and sperm) comes near a woman's vagina. It's frustrating to watch and listen to the myths and then later on these same people will have a disease and not know how serious and/or contagious it could be.