Schools Providing Contraception For Children

Birth control has been a controversial topic since the 1960’s, when the pill arose on the scene and gained popularity. Men and women of certain religious faiths have sought to prevent other women from using birth control. However, most women want to be able to choose when the time is right for them to have a child. This is why birth control is essential, because it allows women and couples in general the freedom to choose and plan their families. In many cases the need to control women by controlling their access to birth control goes all the way to the federal government. The federal government determines what types of birth control are allowed on the market and who has access to them. Some Presidential administrations look more kindly

As a result of the unsuccessful overly funded abstinence only programs, teens fail to use contraception. This leads to increased pregnancy rates. Students and teens fail to use contraception because they are not informed of its importance and how to access it. This is why many people feel it is important to replace abstinence only with comprehensive sex education.

In our society today, the topic of birth control and other contraceptives for teens is a stirring debate. Teens are more promiscuous and sexually active than ever before; as early as middle school, we are seeing more teenage pregnancies, STD’s, and abortions than ever. Teenagers are not comfortable discussing their sexual activity with their parents and as a result they are seeking out other ways to gain access to birth control and other forms of contraceptives without parental consent. Access to birth control reduces the number of unintended teenage pregnancies and abortions each year, and access to birth control also fuels teenage promiscuity and encourages sex outside of marriage.

In other schools, such as in New York, there is accessibility to contraception. Any student is allowed to obtain condoms or birth control from their school nurse for free. This is the opposite action at Boiling Springs High School. The student’s closest idea of being safe while having sex would be to talk to the school nurse of how to stay healthy or to not have sexual interactions at all. Students otherwise, would have to obtain condoms in order to have sex but this is not true for everyone. Many people have sex without the use of a condom, birth control pills, or a nuvaring. This can lead to many more teen pregnancies and can ruin the future for a young teenage girl.

Multiple factors influence the rate of teen pregnancy. Some of the most important factors influencing pregnancy rates are socioeconomic status, education, and family income. With low socioeconomic status and income, parents may not always be present in their children’s lives in order to educate them on sex. School districts, then, take on the responsibility to educate teenagers on sexual intercourse and safe practices, but some fail. Stanger-Hall, K. F., & Hall, D. W. provided statistics showing that while many schools push abstinence-only programs, they show little to no positive impact on preventing teen pregnancies (Stanger-Hall, K. F., & Hall, D. W. (n.d.)). While abstinence may work for some, it is not realistic to believe that all teens will abide by it. Teens need a comprehensive sexual education with emphasis on safe sex practices, which is where Be Safe, Not Sorry comes into play. The comprehensive program will cover all

One of the most controversial topics in the United States is whether or not teenagers should be allowed to take birth control while they are still in high school. “… teen pregnancy is a serious problem in the United States.” (“Teen Pregnancy”). Girls should be allowed to take birth control because girls and guys are obviously going to mess around in high school; therefore, birth control provides a safe way for teenagers to have sexual intercourse. If they are going to do it, they should undoubtedly be protected. There are many easy ways for a teen to obtain birth control. For instance, birth control is free at the health department. If they

The article “Birth Control for Kids?” was published in 2007 by Time Magazine, and despite being several years old it offers an excellent analysis of sex education in U.S. schools. A middle school in Portland, Maine decided to take a vote on whether it should offer birth control pills to students through the school’s health center. If passed, the vote would allow children as young as eleven-years-old access to contraceptives aside from the traditional condom. In addition, although parental consent would be needed to allow access to the healthcare center, the parents would not necessarily be informed about the nature of the health center visit. Therefore students could obtain birth control without the information ever being disclosed to parent/guardians.

Public schools are attempting to teach birth control in their curriculum, but is it encouraging more teens to start being sexually active? “Studies show that 39% of schools teach how to use a condom; 58% of schools are encouraging their kids to wait, but they urge them to use birth control if they do have sex.“(Nicole De Coursey, Jennifer Hoppe, Amy Sims, and Caroline Sorgen) Most U.S. public school districts require the education about sex in class but not enough schools do not provide abstinence teaching programs. Abstinence messages are very important, but clearly the coverage of contraceptive topics is also crucial in helping our youth prevent unplanned pregnancy and STD’s. “One-third of teachers indicated that they had to be careful about what they taught because of the possibility of a bad community reaction.”(USA Today). Birth control was taught a lot more back in the 1980’s than it is compared to now. “Six in ten of teachers

We have all heard the stories about the rise in teenage pregnancies, girls dropping out of school to care for their newborns, and even those who get pregnant on purpose. This new trend is everywhere. Most parents fail to have the “talk” with their children and are left without the proper education regarding sex until its too late. With the current rates of teenage pregnancy correlated with the current rates of spreading epidemics of STD’s and HIV/AIDS, steps should be taken in an effort to aid the situation. Schools are a main source of information and education for teens, and are in a unique position that can provide adolescents with knowledgeable skills and understanding that promote sexual health. With consistent speculation surrounding

From the time when it became available the near the beginning of the 1960s, oral contraceptives, commonly called "the pill," have opened possibilities that had were shut to females for all of times gone by. Possibly more than any other sole factor, the pill has made it likely for women to be in charge of of their own lives and to attain their prospects. Nowadays, 100 million women all over the world use the pill. Nonetheless, there are emergencies ensuing from rape or failure to use contraceptive plans. There are in addition emergencies ensuing from accidental consensual sex. In spite of everything, the human sexual desire was fashioned by evolution to guarantee procreation, and it works extremely fine. Given the correct psychological stimulants, pretty much everyone, counting presidents of the United States and well-known religious leaders, will jeopardize it all for an illicit sexual rendezvous (Drazen, et al. 2004). To be adamant that society rely exclusively on self-restraint more willingly than contraception is to refute a nature beside which the gods themselves are unable to compete. The whole history of humanity can be interpreted as evidence to the influence of that nature.

While attending the facility myself, the school did not provide any forms of contraceptives for the students. According to current students, the school still does not supply contraceptives. Besides providing education about sex we need provide ways to have safe sex. The likeliness of getting all teens to stop having sex is impossible, but the possibility of adolescents having protected sex is quite possible. After working in retail for three years, I have seen contraceptives for both men and women being stolen almost daily. This allows us to believe people want to have protected sex; however, some of individuals do not have the money to acquire

Those who disagree think providing birth control promotes promiscuity and premarital sexual activity. In the article “At Issue: Birth Control Availability,” the author argues that access to birth control and other contraceptives for

This is a fact confirmed by the CDC (“About Teen Pregnancy”). It is also a fact that teen pregnancy continues to decline every year at an incredible rate. This could definitely be due to sex education and the availability of birth control without parental consent. Janice Shaw Crouse wrote about a D.C. area study which shows that abstinence programs have been effective. This data showed that girls in this program were seven times less likely to engage in sexual activity than girls that were not in the abstinence program (“Birth Control” 115). This proves that abstinence can help in the fight against teen pregnancies and the spread of STD’s. I do agree with this being a great tool in this fight yet, it will not keep our kids safe. Some of our kids will still choose to be sexually active and we need to prepare them for this choice.

Today, sexually active teenagers can get contraceptives to protect themselves from unplanned pregnancies or sexual diseases without a parent’s permission. In some states federal lawmakers have taken away the ability for teens to protect themselves, they want to prevent sexually active teenagers from getting birth control and condoms unless they get parents permission. Preventing teens from getting contraceptives unless they tell a parent will not stop them from having sex. It will drive them away from the services they need to protect themselves, leading to higher rates of unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases

The problem with birth control today is obtaining it in the first place. For most teens getting birth control is an intimidating experience. Girls must have a complete gynecological exam, which most have never had. Girls must also speak with a doctor about wanting birth control. "Even if it's only a male going to the store to get condoms he has to put up with comments like, 'I'll have to charge you an entertainment tax.' A female goes in and she hears, 'Hey honey, you're not the one whose supposed to be buying these.' She gets embarrassed" (health clinic worker). When free condoms are offered to students, they are less embarrassed to receive them. Students with condoms are more likely to use them during sexual activity.