Something Wrong in Maine
Portland Maine, a school district takes up discussion of giving condums to 11 year olds.
You have to be kidding right? Nope it actually is being considered as and argued as a needed preventive measurment.
The proposal for the King Student Health Center's would increase access of condoms as part of its reproductive health program , said Lisa Belanger, a nurse practitioner who oversees the city's student health centers.
Proponents say a small number of King students are sexually active, but those who are need better access to birth control. Active at 11 years old? Makes one wonder about adult supervision in this area.
Of 134 students who visited King's health center during the 2006-07 school year, five students, or 4 percent, reported having sexual intercourse, said Amanda Rowe, lead nurse in Portland's school health centers.
"This is a service that is totally needed," Rowe said. "It's about very few kids, but they are kids who don't have the same opportunities and access as other students."
The percentage of middle school students in Maine who reported having sexual intercourse dropped from 23 percent in 1997 to 13 percent in 2005, according to the Maine Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
"Thirteen percent is still more than one in 10 students,"
Is this another area where nannism is taking a big hold? One in ten students at the age of 11 are having sex? These figures do not indicate childrens behavior, rather indicate a surrender of parental responsibility in the raising of thier children.
Robert O'Brien, who chairs the committee's policy subcommittee, said his panel has yet to discuss the proposal.
"I'm personally fine with it, but I know some parents might not be," said Jennifer Southard, wife of City Councilor Edward Suslovic, who has two daughters at King. "I think information and access are good things. I would hope my children would come to me, but some students might not have that option."
I would hope all children at this age seek some sort of parental advice. Meaning the old bird and bees speach that a parent reponsibly needs to have with thier offspring.
Provideing birth control to children by a state organization is not parental resposibility. Just another step closer to removeing parental rights and instituting a social child care rearing.
You have to be kidding right? Nope it actually is being considered as and argued as a needed preventive measurment.
The proposal for the King Student Health Center's would increase access of condoms as part of its reproductive health program , said Lisa Belanger, a nurse practitioner who oversees the city's student health centers.
Proponents say a small number of King students are sexually active, but those who are need better access to birth control. Active at 11 years old? Makes one wonder about adult supervision in this area.
Of 134 students who visited King's health center during the 2006-07 school year, five students, or 4 percent, reported having sexual intercourse, said Amanda Rowe, lead nurse in Portland's school health centers.
"This is a service that is totally needed," Rowe said. "It's about very few kids, but they are kids who don't have the same opportunities and access as other students."
The percentage of middle school students in Maine who reported having sexual intercourse dropped from 23 percent in 1997 to 13 percent in 2005, according to the Maine Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
"Thirteen percent is still more than one in 10 students,"
Is this another area where nannism is taking a big hold? One in ten students at the age of 11 are having sex? These figures do not indicate childrens behavior, rather indicate a surrender of parental responsibility in the raising of thier children.
Robert O'Brien, who chairs the committee's policy subcommittee, said his panel has yet to discuss the proposal.
"I'm personally fine with it, but I know some parents might not be," said Jennifer Southard, wife of City Councilor Edward Suslovic, who has two daughters at King. "I think information and access are good things. I would hope my children would come to me, but some students might not have that option."
I would hope all children at this age seek some sort of parental advice. Meaning the old bird and bees speach that a parent reponsibly needs to have with thier offspring.
Provideing birth control to children by a state organization is not parental resposibility. Just another step closer to removeing parental rights and instituting a social child care rearing.
Its not the decision to offer Birth Control to middle school students that is disturbing. Its that there was a need for it to be considered in the first place. What are the parents doing wrong?
Posted by
Anonymous |
8:47 AM
This is really a failure on the part of parents to educate their children on the consequences of sexual intercourse. It's sad that it's the school health care officials who are the ones stepping up to offer education and resources for children to try to prevent further pregnancies before these kids are emotionally and fiscally prepared to deal with the demands of parenthood.
Posted by
Eve |
9:03 AM
I appreciate the writer's tone throughout all of this, but the idea that the parents, the area, the sky, the moon whatever is to blame and first dealing with the symptoms of this blight is not the right thing to do shows why the writer puts the "dum" in "condums."
Posted by
Serenade me |
9:08 AM
Unfortunately, small towns - this sort of thing happens often. I grew up in a small NH town. I was 15 when I "gave it up." I was one of the last 5 to do so. 15.
There were 11 and 12 year old girls on my schoolbus who were dating/sleeping with,etc. 30, 35 year old men. (first: eww, second: ewwwwwwwwww)
I don't know if it's so much a failure on the part of the parents as it is fear/time/inability to communicate. I think these kids - their parents' generation didn't have "the talk" like we did. (I say "we" loosely as I did not get the talk, but was touched by the Man above who kept me safe... phew).
Two income, full time working parents - kids who are growing up too fast - society that nods its head to role models like Britney Spears - it's little wonder that these kids are struggling with such grown up issues.
I would prefer the schools to offer condoms - as the pill does nothing to prevent STDs.
Posted by
Anonymous |
9:09 AM
First off, in response to "Anonymous", Portland is NOT a small town. It's over 75K and over 200K including the metro area. We have many of the same problems bigger cities do.
I for one commend the school system for being progressive, after all it's one of the maine reasons I live in this city. If our youths are going to engage in sexual activities, the least we can do is provide safe measures from disease and ill prepared pregnancy(s) which only make a for worse situations.
This doesn't mean I condone youths at such a young age engaging in sexual activity, but lets all grown up and face the world we live in, otherwise it's just as much OUR fault as it is theirs.
I'm all for the "birds and bees" talk, but lets be honest here. ignoring a a situation and condemning birth control/STD prevention measures is the same conservative crap that didn't work in the 50's and sure as hell doesn't work now!
Posted by
Anonymous |
9:39 AM