Young Americans today face intense peer pressure to be sexually active and engage in risky behaviors (Merino 100-109). Anyone who decides to have sex must first think about all the risks it entails. Kekla Magoon, author of Sex Education in Schools, states that “half of all adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 in the United States have had sex” (Magoon 64-65). It is not currently required by federal law that schools teach sex education, and those few schools that do teach it have the discretion to determine how much information is allowed. Proponents on both sides of the sex education debate agree that adolescents need positive influences to make practical decisions (Magoon 88-89). Opponents of abstinence-only education believe it fails because it does not prepare adolescents for all the risks of sex (Magoon 64-65). Those in support of comprehensive sex education believe that if teens get complete and accurate information about sex, then they will do it. be able to make better decisions (Magoon 57). Even those who remain abstinent until marriage must be able to recognize an STD because their partner could have made a different decision and not remain abstinent (Magoon 57). There are many groups and organizations that promote abstinence-only education or comprehensive sex education (Magoon 80-81). The debate over sex education is almost exclusively a discussion about what is moral and what is practical, says Kekla Magoon (6-95). Abstinence advocates' main issue with comprehensive sex education is the debate over whether or not giving adolescents more information actually leads them to be sexually active (Magoon 73). “In a study of 35 sex education programs around the world, the World Health Organization found that there is no evidence that......middle of paper......on, Kekla. Sexuality education in schools. Edina: ABDO Publishing House, 2010. Pg. 6-95. Print.Chen, Grace. “Schools, parents and communities should help educate teenagers about sex.” Adolescent sexuality. Ed. Aarti D. Stephens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Views. Rpt. From “Public schools and sexual education”. Public school review. 2008. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Network. October 22, 2013.Ballaro, Beverly and Ann Griswold. “Condom Distribution: An Overview.” Points of view: distribution of condoms (2013): 1. Points of view reference centre. Network. October 23, 2013.Masland, Molly. “The Sex Education Debate: An Overview.” Sex education. Ed. Kristen Bailey. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. In question. Opposing points of view in context. Network. October 23, 2013.Merino, Noel. Ed. School policies. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven Press and Gale, 2011. Pages 105-115. Press.