2008 Woodie Awards
Sexual Revolution During Recess
Maryland middle school distributes all types of birth control to students.
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Opinion
Last Wednesday the school board in Portland, Maine approved a decision which would allow children at King Middle School to receive prescribed birth control from the student health center.
This does not mean condoms.
Plenty of middle schools, including King, already distribute the male form of contraceptive; the new program will offer monthly pills for females who are 11 to 13 years of age.
The board was split in a 7-2 decision on the matter, and those who were against the initiative were citing both religious and health issues. The religious argument is quite obviously invalid; our government is not required to submit to the spiritual views of overzealous parents and school board advisors.
Those who thought that student health would be affected must not have done their research; the decision to allow prescribed birth control is anything but negative.
One naysayer, Peter Allen, thought that allowing the children access to birth control violated the rights of parents; this is quite simply, not true.
Any person of any age should be allowed to receive medical services in strict confidentiality; they may choose to notify their parents of their decisions if they deem such notification necessary.
Allen also believes that allowing access to birth control will cause an increased risk of cancer in the girls who decide to take it. Allen's point is interesting and should have caused more parents to investigate the issue, but his opinion is once again invalid. Birth control and the safety risks that it may pose have been under diligent study for the last 40 years. The pill has never been proven to cause cancer; in fact, birth control has been shown to prevent cancer.
According to Dr. Vanessa Cullins, an obstetrician and gynecologist, who is also the Vice President for medical affairs at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the extended use of birth control pills decreases the risk of both cancer of the ovaries and the lining of the uterus by 80 percent.
This does not mean condoms.
Plenty of middle schools, including King, already distribute the male form of contraceptive; the new program will offer monthly pills for females who are 11 to 13 years of age.
The board was split in a 7-2 decision on the matter, and those who were against the initiative were citing both religious and health issues. The religious argument is quite obviously invalid; our government is not required to submit to the spiritual views of overzealous parents and school board advisors.
Those who thought that student health would be affected must not have done their research; the decision to allow prescribed birth control is anything but negative.
One naysayer, Peter Allen, thought that allowing the children access to birth control violated the rights of parents; this is quite simply, not true.
Any person of any age should be allowed to receive medical services in strict confidentiality; they may choose to notify their parents of their decisions if they deem such notification necessary.
Allen also believes that allowing access to birth control will cause an increased risk of cancer in the girls who decide to take it. Allen's point is interesting and should have caused more parents to investigate the issue, but his opinion is once again invalid. Birth control and the safety risks that it may pose have been under diligent study for the last 40 years. The pill has never been proven to cause cancer; in fact, birth control has been shown to prevent cancer.
According to Dr. Vanessa Cullins, an obstetrician and gynecologist, who is also the Vice President for medical affairs at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the extended use of birth control pills decreases the risk of both cancer of the ovaries and the lining of the uterus by 80 percent.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Freedom is not Free
posted 10/24/07 @ 6:55 PM PST
It is funny that parents do not have rights to know about their childs medical records and what they are prescribed, but the school has to have parents consent to give their child an asprin. (Continued…)
whitney
posted 10/30/07 @ 8:39 AM PST
WHY ARE WE HANDING OUR KIDS SEX!!ITS NOT OK FOR CHILDREN TO GO AROUND HAVING SEX. WE ARE TEACHING THEM TO HAVE NO MORALS!!
Elisabeth Donovan
posted 10/30/07 @ 10:25 AM PST
Although female birth control decreases the risk of Ovarian Cancer, it increases the risk of Breast Cancer.
Just thought I'd let you know. : )
Yolanda Del Campo
posted 11/01/07 @ 12:54 AM PST
We've been made to believe that most teens are sexually active, and as a result, should be allowed access to birth control methods,whether it be condoms, medications or abortions, without parental consent. (Continued…)
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