Should Sex Education be taught in schools?

In October 2010, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin stated that the government was considering to implement sex education as many sex related social problems among teenagers occurred. The question that arises in many Malaysians is that, should sex education be taught in schools? From my point of view, I strongly believe that sex education should be taught in schools because it focuses on family values and the best solution for the increasing of social problems among teenagers. Nevertheless, I have to disagree with teachers that opposing this action.

According to Noor Zainal (2000), “Sex education touches on health care of the reproductive organs, gives counselling on the sexual understanding, abnormal behaviours and diseases they may be exposed related to sex”. I agree with him because sex education is not teaching the pupils how to do sex like many Malaysians assumed but actually focusing on family values and protecting oneself, against free sex. It also allows the pupils to make wise decisions when they become young adults later. As they are educated since young age, they will be more matured in making decisions regarding sex such as preventing free sex and getting sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, I believe that sex education should be taught in schools because its benefits to the pupils.

Besides that, Hazlizat (2010) claims that sex education might be the best solution in solving sex related social problems since majority of teenagers today are not aware of what sexual health means. I too have the same opinion because teenagers should be informed at an early age, so that they have deep understanding on the issue. Teaching sex education in the primary level is a great step taken to prevent them from involving in sex related social problems such as preventing unintended pregnancies and baby dumping.  Children are innocent and full of curiosity. Often parents feel awkward when their children ask questions on sex and leave them with unanswered. This makes the children eager to try sex since they are unclear about it.  Therefore, I believe that sex education should be taught in schools so that the children are clear on matter related to sex.

However, teachers in Malaysia were reported opposing teaching sex education in schools. Lok Yim Pheng, secretary-general of the National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) in 2010, said that they lack of professional training in teaching the subject. I disagree with her because teachers who are teaching this subject are teachers who had undergone training. On November 14, 2010, the ministry stated that they had enough competent teachers to teach the subject. The ministry would not randomly pick teachers to teach this subject. Instead, they will pick teachers who have undergone special training. The trained teachers are trained on what should they teach during the 40 minutes period and how to handle questions arise from the pupils. Thus, the teachers should not oppose this subject from being taught in the schools as there are enough competent teachers to teach the subject.

As a conclusion, I strongly believe that sex education should be taught in schools because it focuses on family values which are needed by the teenagers and it is also the best solution for the sex related social problems among teenagers. Furthermore, no one should oppose this implementation as it really helps the pupils. Therefore, I agree that sex education should be taught in schools.

Critical Writing on Smoking

 Smoking has both advantages and disadvantages. It depends on how we perceive smoking. From the writer point of view, smoking is fun, a reward, an oral pleasure and so many more. The writer even supported his writing with his own experiences and interviews he made. He further wrote that smokers will constantly defend the benefits of smoking because they are addicted to it. He believe that despite of all the harm that cigarette brings, smokers accept it with pleasure.

In our opinion, smoking definitely brings more disadvantages rather than the advantages because of its harmful chemical content, root of many diseases and its effect on the second hand smokers. Based on a research made by a team of researchers in London, UK, tobacco smoke contains about 4000 harmful chemicals. For instances, nicotine, carcinogen, benzene, tar, carbon monoxide, arsenic, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia and many more. Nicotine is a well known as a most addictive substance which can cause addiction. This is the major reason on why smokers hardly stop smoking.

            Smokers feel smoking is fun and gives pleasure to them. However, based on a research made by WHO, smoking is the main cause of many diseases such as lung cancer, bronchitis, emphysema and heart disease. Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and diminishes a person’s overall health. Carcinogens that contain in cigarettes cause damage to our DNA, or cause cells to divide faster than their normal rate, thus causing cancer. Smoking is a leading cause of cancer and death from cancer. Cancer death from smoking is one of the most preventable types of death. A pregnant smoker is at higher risk of having her baby born too early and with an abnormally low birth weight. A woman who smokes during or after pregnancy increases her infant’s risk of death from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Regardless of their age, smokers can substantially reduce their risk of disease, including cancer, by quitting.

            As many would think that smoking only affects the smokers’ health but it is actually false. Second hand smoke, also called passive smoking is the combination of “side stream” smoke and “main stream” smoke. Side stream smoke is the smoke given off by a burning tobacco product whilst main stream smoke is the smoke exhaled by a smoker. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified second hand smoke as a known human carcinogen or cancer-causing agent. Inhaling second hand smoke causes lung cancer in non smoking adults. Approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths occur each year among adult non-smokers in the United States as a result of exposure to second hand smoke. Living with a smoker increases a non smoker’s chances of developing lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent, as estimated by the U.S. Surgeon General. Exposure to second hand smoke may increase the risk of heart disease by an estimated 25 to 30 percent too. Therefore, smoking does not bring harm only to the smokers themselves but to those around them too

My LDV assg~ sucks ~

It is a shocking truth to know that the percentage of suicidal case among teenagers is increasing horrendously. Years after years, the percentage is increasing and never showed a sign of decreasing. It is really worrying to know that this issue is becoming more serious without any prevention. What actually trigger teenagers to commit suicide? Things that trigger teenagers to commit suicide are their family that is breaking up, they trying to escape from a situation that they cannot handle and depressions from school.

Family is a base element of teen’s life. Family is also a vital component of teen’s strength. Without the presence of family, to be specific, the parents, teenagers will feel that they are left out and lonely. Parents always think that their children are okay without then but it is actually wrong. Loneliness can lead to sorrow which will lead to depression.  Teenagers also will feel depress when their parents fights or argue. It will come to one time when they cannot take it anymore and they just want to end their life.

Besides that, teenagers often commit suicides when they want to break free from situations that they feel are too hard for them. For example, we can see this when a girl breaks up with her boyfriend and vice versa. She, who is actually totally depending on him, will find it hard to accept the fact that he have left her. She wills feel unwanted and that there is no reason for her to live anymore. With that, she will commit a suicide and end her life.

Other than that, teenagers also will commit suicide when they were depressed by schools. Often they will commit suicides when they obtained poor grades in their examinations. This may be cause by parents that expecting to high from their children who are just on the average par. Teenagers will feel dispirit and they will feel that they are useless because they cannot meet with what their parents want. This will lead to them to commit suicide because they thought they have made the biggest mistake ever.

In addition, teenagers will also struggle with their inner self issues. Many teenagers nowadays are living their life without any specific goal. They just go with the flow. This actually could contribute to the feeling of tire. Teenagers will feel tired to live their life because they think that it is tiring and wasting their time. It is better to them if they end their live.

In conclusion, there actually many factors that can lead teenagers to commit suicide. Be it even the simplest thing that we do not looks at, it can be a tool for teenagers to commit suicides. Everyone should actually work together to prevent this epidemic problem so that many teenagers can live the future. A child today is the leader of tomorrow. If they ended their life when they are teenagers, then who will be the leader?

Book Review September

SITI FATIHAH MOHD ALI , J1.7

Title of Short Story: WISHES AND DREAMS
Writer: Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen

Year Published: 2005

No.of Pages: 144

1. Briefly write about the main character.

The main character of this story is a pair of twin. They are 16 years old teenage girls. Both of them are really close to each other. They always do everything together. They went to the same school. Their parents have divorced but still staying in the same house for the twin’s sake. Both of them already have boyfriend and they are so in love.

2. State why you like/ dislike the story.

I like the story because me, myself have twin sister. I know what really happen between sisters especially twin. Twin are unique because there two of them. Back to the story, i like it because it gave me some inspiration how to handle a very big problem. This story also taught me how to plan or organise a party properly. One should make a list of what they need for the party first. On should also pick a place for the party and confirm that they can use the place. One should also make a list of guest so that he or she knows how many people would and should come to the party. One should also provide an adequate amount of food and drinks for the guest. Besides that, i also like how the twin helps each other when they are in problem. They are really lucky to be born as a twin.

 
3. How would you prefer the story to end?

I prefer how it ended. I don’t think there are other better ending because the ending s portrayed in such a perfect state and everybody is happy. I love happy ending because to me one should end their journey happily. Right from the start, the twin have faced so many problems and obstacle. So, they should at least allow having a happy ending after all their hardship, right?