Should schools provide birth control?

[Josef]

no, you were just the latest, so don't blame someone else. No quarter

"blame someone else" "no quarter"? Are you feeling OK? You seem to be under the delusion that you are chastising me for something.

 

[HANUMAN]

Schools should focus on Education. Parents should be concerned that the schools are giving their kids the best education possible. Parents should realize that education is 24/ 7 for the rest of their lives. All of this being said, parents are not all going to do this and their kids are going to have sex and they should at least have the ability to get protection should they need it.

 

[groundpounder]

"blame someone else" "no quarter"? Are you feeling OK? You seem to be under the delusion that you are chastising me for something.

Sorry about that. I'm doing very well. Thanks!

 

[groundpounder]

..I was replying to Carol's assertion that sex is only for couples who love each other....

I should have included this part of the quote and stated that you in fact were correct in pointing this out.

But in replying to that incorrect assertion, you were perpetuating the morality angle of this thread. SO yes, you were the latest.

But I wasn't chastising. Sorry about that - not my role. :thumbup

 

[thatguyjeff]

Should schools provide birth control?

In order to achieve what? What's the goal here? To reduce teenage pregnancy? To reduce STDs in teens? To promote abstinence?

My opinion varies upon what the desired result may be.

 

[Carol]

I just think giving children easy access to contraception gives the wrong message, that casual sex is ok... and I don't feel it is..

sex is something special to be shared between two adults that care about each other.. please note, I said adults. Adults that can handle the consquences of the mistake of pregenacy... I don't think children can, condoms split.. taking the pill every day is sometimes forgotten.

So no, giving children easy access to contraception in schools is wrong. Educate what being a teenage parent is about instead. Thats my thought on it.

 

[Dana]

I agree with Graces original comment...

 

[Dana]

And casual sex FTW... Sex is not sacred... Meh

 

[Carol]

And casual sex FTW... Sex is not sacred... Meh

Not these days true... hence the teenage pregencies growth. Shame eh?

 

[Dana]

Sex has never really been a sacred affair IMO...

 

[Carol]

Sex has never really been a sacred affair IMO...

Then I feel your losing out dear.. hot steamy loving sex is so much better than a quick feel up and prod in the back of a car

 

[IntruderLS1]

I'm with GP and Gracie. Shocker I know.

Education is all we can do. If we go beyond that, I feel we're encouraging. All morality issues aside, kids (especially girls) who start to have sex too early have issues later on in life.

Everybody is correct in saying that kids will be kids, but if we can push it off at least until late late late H.S., I think we would be better off.

The old fashioned one boy, and one girl for life bit seems to have the best overall long term results. ... Weird.

 

[NRobles]

No they shouldn't.

Schools are not allowed to give children an aspirin without written permission from the parents and now they want to give kids hormones/birth control.

Doctors and parents should be the only ones allowed to give pharmaceuticals to people/kids.

Agreed!! Children should talk to their parents.. if they are not comfortable with their parents (in which case that would bring about a whole other topic on parenting).. they should have to see their doctors and discuss it with them. If birth control was easy to get in the schools, I think some kids would just go get it without thinking about what it does to your body and the side effects, good and bad, that it can have. Schools are for educating and teaching children the necessary skills to move forward in life and career choice. I do believe in sex education, getting the word out there, showing children what can happen and all that but giving out birth control is just too much. leave that to us parents!!!

 

[thatguyjeff]

Here's the rub, as I see it.

The US has more than double the rate of teenage pregnancy than the UK. And the UK has the highest rate in Western Europe (source: wikipedia).

American public schools have taken an abstinence stance when it comes to sex education. Western Europe teaches safe sex practices. The question is, does this factor cause the difference.

There's a lot of evidence that supports safe sex practices in education when trying to lower the incidence of teenage pregnancy.

So, if that's what we're really after here, reducing the number of teenage pregnancies, the answer seems clear, to me at least.

Wherever you stand on the moral issue of sex and teens, what are your thoughts on those numbers? Why do you think there is such a lower number of teen pregnancies in Western Europe than in the US?

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

Here's the rub, as I see it.

The US has more than double the rate of teenage pregnancy than the UK. And the UK has the highest rate in Western Europe (source: wikipedia).

American public schools have taken an abstinence stance when it comes to sex education. Western Europe teaches safe sex practices. The question is, does this factor cause the difference.

There's a lot of evidence that supports safe sex practices in education when trying to lower the incidence of teenage pregnancy.

So, if that's what we're really after here, reducing the number of teenage pregnancies, the answer seems clear, to me at least.

Wherever you stand on the moral issue of sex and teens, what are your thoughts on those numbers? Why do you think there is such a lower number of teen pregnancies in Western Europe than in the US?

Nice post. You raise a good point but with provision comes responsibility. It would be safe to say that providing condoms and pills to teens that it would attract them. Teens are naturally curious and adventurous and would grab at whatever is available to them. The provisions of condoms and pills are one thing but it will more likely encourage promiscuity also. So we have to ask ourselves does the means justify the end? What are the longer term benefits morally? Are we going to develop a more promiscuous society from an earlier age?

Education is the key I think. School provision of condoms and pills to teens, I'm not so sure about.

 

[IntruderLS1]

Here's the rub, as I see it.

The US has more than double the rate of teenage pregnancy than the UK. And the UK has the highest rate in Western Europe (source: wikipedia).

American public schools have taken an abstinence stance when it comes to sex education. Western Europe teaches safe sex practices. The question is, does this factor cause the difference.

There's a lot of evidence that supports safe sex practices in education when trying to lower the incidence of teenage pregnancy.

So, if that's what we're really after here, reducing the number of teenage pregnancies, the answer seems clear, to me at least.

Wherever you stand on the moral issue of sex and teens, what are your thoughts on those numbers? Why do you think there is such a lower number of teen pregnancies in Western Europe than in the US?

That's a great argument actually. Assuming those numbers are correct, and I have no reason to believe they are not, then I would have to acknowledge that contraceptive distribution in schools is an effective way to lower teen pregnancy.

Here in the U.S., sex is wrapped in several layers of morality however. In American culture, it is still unacceptable to do anything to encourage under age sex, which is a position I agree with.

I would be curious to see psychological studies comparing the mental health issues of American vs. European girls who start to engage in sexual activity at a young age.

 

[All Else Failed]

No, but pharmacies should offer it over the counter.

 

[Hans]

Should children have access to birth control, yes.

At school? Absolutely not. People will get peer pressured/easy access to get birth control at the same place as all of your friends. If you require people to go to a local health office of sorts, they should have free access to it. If they are going to go that far and be denied, theyll probably have sex anyways.

On the flip side of them allowing it at school, it becomes ethics versus safety. Ethically, its going to promote more sex among younger people. At the same time, if it is that easily accessed, teenage pregnancy and STDs will most definitely not spread as easily. Its a very strong arguement imo.

 

[livvy7678]

They already do here, you can go to sexual health nurse and get condoms and/or be put on the pill, without your parents knowing. And I think its a great idea

 

[Peter Parka]

I think a doctor is the one who should dish it out but schools should provide a counseler they can talk about this with and help them get it if thats what they choose in line with sexual education. Some kids arn't going to talk to their parents about sex, mainly through fear and nothing is going to change that. I'd rather see teenage girls on the pill on the quiet than loads of unwanted pregnancies and teenage single mums which are far, far more damaging.