Friday, October 26, 2007
What's thr right age for a child to be put on birth control?
As most people know, the school board in Portland Maine has decided to provide birth control to middle school students. The school itself will have an on campus clinic, where teens and preteens can go and pick up birth control pills without parental consent. This is a huge ordeal across the nation as people argue about what is the right decision. The truth is 17 middle schooler's did get pregnant in only a 64,000 person city. So is it right to allow all the teens access to receiving birth control?... In all honesty, I do not know where I stand on this issue, however, I do know the way most teens operate. If there is unlimited access to birth control students will find it easier to be sexually active without the risk of pregnancy. Kid's fall into a trap of being "trendy" and although they may not be physically or emotionally ready they too might engage in sex. Also, birth control does not protect against STD's, another major factor which MUST be considered if engaging in sexual activities. It is one thing to provide adequate education at a young age and even condoms, but birth control stands on a whole new level. The other factor which must be considered is that a lot of these teens are not physically ready to handle the chemicals which come in birth control. There are many risk factors which comes with being on the pill and I think this is a reason why the parents must make the decision to put their child on such a "drug" and not the school board. A lot of these girls have not even entered puberty or have just began menstruation, and with the pill also comes an upset in the natural cycle and process to aging. However, even though it should be up to the parent most teens do not notify their parents of their sexual history or what they plan on engaging in. Parents must take the step in being open with their children and allowing them to feel comfortable coming to them if it really is necessary. Truthfully, I do not 11-13 girls or boys for that matter should engage in sexual activities. They are too young and cannot handle the mental or emotional pains which comes from having sex at such a young age.
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3 comments:
When I heard that a school was going to distribute birth control to its students I was shocked. A school is suppose to educates its students. So why doesn’t this school spend the money to create sexual education classes. These classes would cover all the effects of sex including STDs, mental and emotional pain, as well as pregnancy. If students were made aware of the true dangers of se especially at their young age they would be less likely to engage in the behavior.
STOVESTERRRRR,
I completely agree with you, i did one of my current events on this subject too, and i said the same thing that i was kind of in the middle with this issue. I guess i am kind of FOR the idea of providing birth control--but i think they should have to have a parents consent, otherwise they can just get it, and use it, and care less about the consequences of having sex. You raise good points about the disadvantages of giving birth control, like they will carelessly have sex without knowledge that they might contract an STD or risk their health with the chemicals in the pill. Part of me feels terrible that these 11-13 year olds are having sex and getting pregnant, thats like my little sister getting pregnant and that is just not right. But nothing can stop them really, its their free will--i guess the only thing people can do is encourage parent-child communication and provide sex education. As for giving out birth control? I say the parent should know, and if the parent is fine with it, then thats that...?
<333youuu
claireee
I think that students need to be taught consequences correctly, not given a motivator. Most children do not know dangers past pregnancy. Emotional damage and physical damage caused by STDS is much worse than pregnancy. Classes should be taught and birth control should be available AT THEIR LOCAL HOSPITAL. There are planned parenthoods everywhere that are open to anyone and free. Schools should not provide these things and encourage sex because they are not accountable for these children the rest of their lives.
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