Schools Should Give Kids Free Contraceptives

I believe that this subject should be taught at home from the child's parents, single parent or not. (This in turn will let the child mold their own opinion on the matter.)

So the real question is why put so much pressure on the school system when there are other things to worry about, like education, where once again we rank pretty low compared to most industrialized nations.

As a reproductive health educator, I can hardly get into some schools just to talk about sex ed, let alone hand out condoms! I believe I am but one part. I can talk to your kids and encourage them to talk to you the parent, but lately I feel like the parents jump to to conclusions that the kid is having sex just because they bring it up to you. Open your ears close your mouth, and hear what your kids have to say.

Abstinence is most definitely the best choice as a teen in order to avoid STDs and possibly unintended pregnancy.

It is not the only choice for teens, though, and we need to recognize that. Teens have had sex for as long as we have been here. The difference lies in that the idea of a "teen" is new. Prior to the 20th century, we were children and then we were adults. There was no teen. The difference today then lies in our social structure. It is not emotionally appropriate or fiscally responsible for teens to acquire STDs or have to deal with unintended pregnancy.

There needs to be a comprehensive education that teaches abstinence is ideal and we know it does not happen 100% of the time, so here is how you manage your health and safety when you are not abstinent.

Duy --

I agree, ideally sex education is taught by the parents. This assumes parents are an integral part of their child's life and that they are capable of teaching this topic to their children. Sadly, both of those assumptions miss the mark of reality the majority of the time.

Tara --

Re: Last sentence. Amen!

Both writers have some good points. Abstinence education will not be effective. But treating students as whole persons also makes sense. Rather than simply giving away contraceptives in school, why not try to locate health clinics next to high schools? This would allow kids to generally address their health issues, including contraception, more easily. If the clinics also offered education (such as assertiveness training and self-esteem groups for girls) after school, that would also be helpful.

I believe education is the best thing in life. Without an education, you can't get a good job with good pay, and without good pay you can't take care of yourself or your family, but in today's life teenagers are having sex and probably getting pregnant, but the best thing to do is to get help for your baby and continure school.

Why is Businessweek wasting time and resources on an issue like this? Is this a business publication or MSNBC?

Abstinence education? I'm 16. I don't know how abstinence education is going to prevent someone from having sex. Sure, you have the knowledge, but you still have to choose to practice it or not. Look at the Catholics; they have the bible yet their hipocrisy is seen every Saturday when they go to bars and then on Sunday go pray on a pew.

Free contraceptives are the answer, and not only condoms but birth control pills as well, seeing as they are more effective.

Abstinence isn't the answer, contraceptives are. Leave the abstinence for the high horse Republican conservatives.

Schools should leave out moral teaching in classrooms. Condoms are up to the parents to teach. Some might have purchased life insurance on their children and are hoping for AIDS.

ldrathernotsay--

Abstinence is not just for highly religious people. I'm a 32 year old atheist that is still waiting for marriage to have sex. I'm waiting so that special woman can know I waited all this time for her...that she is my special one.

Teenagers (and people in general these days) need to get mentally tougher to overcome the pressure to have sex.

People need to know you are not abnormal if you wait for marriage.

I never had sex until I was 19 or 20. Not because I was weird or something wrong with me--I just felt that sex was for people in love and not just a fun event. What is wrong with morals--are we going back to the dark ages? Teenagers should understand that getting pregnant bears responsibilities that teenagers [aren't] capable of coping with and should not depend on the state to take care of them and their child. I think it's up to parents to teach both sexes what the consequences are. Maybe if they realize they are on their own if pregnant, they would be less likely to indulge. Unfortunately, it's only the female that gets stuck. It's too bad that males don't get pregnant so they would learn to keep their penis in their pants.

It may be true in the U.S., where they think that teens will have sex. It is an open society, and their just making these things available is not enough--there has to be education. Children, more so the girls, should know everything about sex life from the early stage of their teens. Mothers have a great responsibility in teaching the child the need for knowledge. It is the girl that suffers the most. I agree that in the west it should be completely free and open and everything should be available easily anywhere, more so in schools.
A.Chakravartty
Dean
TIG business schools
Calcutta,India

When my children were 14 and 15 years old, I sat them down and told them 2 things. If you have a child I will not take care of it and if you get arrested and it's your fault I will not bail you out. Needless to say neither one of them did either thing. Parents have to stop enabling their children and talk straight to them about the consequences. Today parents seem so immature that no wonder their children act so immaturely. This society that promotes so much welfare also enables these woman to have babies by different men and we need to correct that situation. When young people see that they can welfare simply by having a baby, what kind of message does that send? Of course since prayer was taken out of school, there is no shame and all anyone seems to care about these days is how someone "feels." Life is not all about feelings my friends, but also about morals, values, integrity and honesty; something we rarely see anymore because it has no monetary value.

Okay, everyone can agree that abstinence is the only sure way to avoid pregnancy and STDs. However, not everyone is going to abstain. People are going to have sex. Safe sex should be what is taught, because for teens who know they aren't going to wait, a talk about abstinence doesn't really give them much helpful information.

In my opinion, culture changes. Therefore I believe that adults in this generation don't know all that much about the youth of today. I'm just turned 18, and I was preached abstinence from at least the age of 11. I can honestly say that the majority of the class, including me, rebelled against it. I think the real question is, would you prefer your children to approach sex in a sensible way (use contraception) or would your prefer they rebel (which they most likely will) and end up with an STD or getting pregnant?

As silly as it may seem, I believe underage sex is related to the want for more attention. I know that was the case with me anyway. Maybe parents should start thinking about spending a little more time with their kids having fun, rather than preaching 24/7.

Teenagers should know right from wrong. When planning to have sex they know the consequences. Parents need to start telling them about the consequences and explain in detail about these consequences. But more important, parents need to adjust to the new world.