2008 Woodie Awards
Should birth control be offered to middle school students?
Point/Counterpoint
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Opinion
Taylor Alfonso
If King Middle School in Portland, Maryland has offered its students free condoms since 2000 and teen pregnancy is still a problem, how can it be trusted to distribute other forms of birth control?
Understandably, the district wants to help prevent pre-teen pregnancy and give its students a chance to succeed. But instead of providing these kids, and that's what they are - irresponsible, immature children, with something most everyone else in America must pay for, why don't they use those efforts in better, more effective sex education classes.
At what point is the state responsible for the mistakes of its adolescents?
Aside from the school's responsibility to provide an adequate sex health curriculum, ultimately it's the parents who must be mature and discuss sex and the risks involved with their children.
Since when have 12-year-olds been trusted to make decisions about their own health?
They are still children and still need guidance from their parents. According to an October 18, cnn.com article, "Maine middle school to offer birth control," parental permission must be granted in order for the students to access the school's health services.
But once the permission slip is signed, the student's treatment is confidential, and the waiver is exactly that- these parents are opting to waive themselves out of their child's life.
Not only is it an easy way out for the children, but it is a way out for the parents.
What kid wouldn't jump at the chance to rush to partake in the nearest taboo with the promise that their parents will never find out?
Sex is an important step in one's life. It should not be taken lightly, especially by children. These kids should be informed constantly of its risks, and not just simply handed birth control.
Danielle Carrillo
It's trite, but true: kids are growing up too fast these days.
Last Wednesday, King Middle School in Portland, Maine became the first of its kind to offer a full range of contraceptives, including the pill and patches, to students through its health center.
If King Middle School in Portland, Maryland has offered its students free condoms since 2000 and teen pregnancy is still a problem, how can it be trusted to distribute other forms of birth control?
Understandably, the district wants to help prevent pre-teen pregnancy and give its students a chance to succeed. But instead of providing these kids, and that's what they are - irresponsible, immature children, with something most everyone else in America must pay for, why don't they use those efforts in better, more effective sex education classes.
At what point is the state responsible for the mistakes of its adolescents?
Aside from the school's responsibility to provide an adequate sex health curriculum, ultimately it's the parents who must be mature and discuss sex and the risks involved with their children.
Since when have 12-year-olds been trusted to make decisions about their own health?
They are still children and still need guidance from their parents. According to an October 18, cnn.com article, "Maine middle school to offer birth control," parental permission must be granted in order for the students to access the school's health services.
But once the permission slip is signed, the student's treatment is confidential, and the waiver is exactly that- these parents are opting to waive themselves out of their child's life.
Not only is it an easy way out for the children, but it is a way out for the parents.
What kid wouldn't jump at the chance to rush to partake in the nearest taboo with the promise that their parents will never find out?
Sex is an important step in one's life. It should not be taken lightly, especially by children. These kids should be informed constantly of its risks, and not just simply handed birth control.
Danielle Carrillo
It's trite, but true: kids are growing up too fast these days.
Last Wednesday, King Middle School in Portland, Maine became the first of its kind to offer a full range of contraceptives, including the pill and patches, to students through its health center.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Freedom is not Free
posted 10/24/07 @ 7:05 PM PST
Since when can a 12 year old be responsible to take a birth control pill day after day. I mean the parents cannot help because they dont know their daughter is sexually active because of medical privacy laws. (Continued…)
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