On Feb,16,, hundreds of Massachusetts high school students gathered together in Boston’s City Council building to share their concerns with sexual education in their schools.

That day, students engaged in a two-hour hearing during which they discussed their desire for more sexual education and greater condom accessibility. According to several students at the hearing, the students wanted adults to listen to their suggestions for in-depth education on sex that involves information that teaches students more than how not to be sexual human beings.

The students involved in this hearing said that they need a greater knowledge of sex because “sexual identity is part of their lives.”

Hope Keenan, a sophomore at the University of Massachusetts, agreed with the students. “I think sex ed. should be more up-to-date with how teens and young adults interact with each other sexually rather than teaching older ideas about sex, because teenagers these days are going to have sex even if teachers tell them not to,” she said,

The students voiced that it is important to many students to learn about all aspects of sex, transmitted diseases and protection. The students believe that only teaching them the idea that ”sex is bad,” or having abstinence-only sexual education, does a disservice to young students embarking on adulthood.

Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson, an associate professor in UMass’ public health department said, “I fully support comprehensive sex ed. and condom distribution.”

John Clark, a senior, agreed with her and emphasized the importance of being taught safe sex.

“I think it’s really important that highschoolers learn about protective sex. If someone were to become pregnant in high school their lives can come to a standstill,” Clark said.

Many adults who were at the hearing seemed skeptical about changing the sexual education programs or distributing condoms to teenagers because of their concern with teens’ hookup culture. However, some believe it may be necessary based on their views of the current culture among teenagers.

“The media has a huge influence on the image of teen moms being “cool,” because of all the shows about teenage pregnancy these days and sex education is necessary for this very reason,” said a senior at UMass who wished to remain anonymous.  

Haleigh Finch can be reached at [email protected].