Lately, there has been a lot of talk about providing schoolgirls with contraceptives without parental consent. To many, the issue lies within the consent clause. Under a potential law, middle and high school girls would be able to receive birth control directly from their schools without notifying their parents.
Because the rates of both teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise, the issue of contraceptives in school is one of importance. In past years, schools have handed out condoms, dental dams and other forms of sexual protection. However, this is the first attempt at distributing oral contraceptives for girls.
In Maine, the contraceptives will be handed out to girls beginning at age 11. Nationally, about a quarter of girls under the age of 15 have engaged in sexual intercourse.
It seems like if parents involved themselves in the lives of their children, there wouldn't be such an issue. If it is not necessary for the girls to receive written or verbal consent from their parent or guardian, it poses a problem. What gives the school counselor or nurse the authority to give somebody else's child "the pill?" At least, that's what a lot of parents think.
If parents made themselves more approachable to their children, perhaps there wouldn't be such a major problem. If every parent and child participated in the "sex talk," the non-consent clause would not be as necessary.
The fact that this does not always happen is the reason for not requiring girls to have parental consent.
Many girls, and boys as well, are unable to talk to their parents about these matters for various reasons.
However, having the "sex talk" with a child who is only 10 or 11 years old may imply that sex is, at that time, an appropriate act. If the talk is initiated by the parent, the child may get the impression that the parent feels that sex is appropriate at that time. If the child initiates the talk, the parents can -- and probably will -- freak out at the thought that their 10- or 11-year-old child is even thinking about such a topic.
Likewise, if a school is giving out contraceptives, this gives the impression to the students that sex and such acts are acceptable as long as they use the contraceptives being distributed.
This begins the next feeling, that this contraceptive distribution should only be enacted if a corresponding and adequate sex education program is provided and required for all the students at the school. It does not help, and will probably even promote sex, if students are blindly given birth control.
However, if sex education courses and programs instilling awareness of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy possibilities and other repercussions of sex are provided at school, girls will understand that sex is not alright in every circumstance just because they are 99.9 percent protected from becoming pregnant.
If done correctly, however, providing contraceptives at schools can be effective.
Even as college students, some feel embarrassed about buying condoms in the drug store, especially with the utilization of locked shelves to store many contraceptives and feminine products. "Customer needs assistance in condom aisle. Will an associate unlock the condom cabinet in aisle seven please?" Now, if that were announced over the intercom system in CVS, it would be embarrassing for someone of absolutely any age, especially a young boy or girl already nervous about engaging in any sexual activity.
Because of these embarrassments, some children may opt to avoid the possibility of embarrassment and participate in sexual acts without any protection. That is exactly what is trying to be avoided with this potential law.
If done correctly and in conjunction with adequate sex education classes explaining the repercussions of sex to students, the contraceptive distribution at schools could have a positive outcome.
Nobody wants to imply to any child that sex is alright at any time just because they are on birth control. Sex education courses would explain -- in detail -- the risks of sexually transmitted diseases, which can still be contracted with or without "the pill."
The courses would also explain that even though the pill is 99.9 percent effective when used correctly (depending on the brand), it is not 100 percent effective, and its use is not an excuse to be irresponsible with their bodies.
