What's wrong with condoms handed out at High Schools?

Question

Our district (abstinence only) is currently up in arms over this.

Answer 1

what we call 'kids' - teens - have always been having sex. ALWAYS. Only in the past 150-ish years have we been pretending otherwise - and it's only been a cultural lie we've been telling ourselves.

Thus people who want to continue the lie place that "morality" as a higher value than protecting lives and preventing pregnancies.

Abstinence-only education does not work; its legacy is higher teen pregnancy and higher rates of STDs than national averages. But it can ansd should be part of an honest, comprehensive program of some sort.

It's time to stop putting agendas ahead of human lives.

Answer 2

If condoms are being passed out in a district whose policy is abstinence only education, this would be sending mixed signals and contradicting their policy, so it is understandable that they would be "up in arms" about it. Abstinence only education teaches kids that the only safe sex is NO sex, which, although true, is not going to keep kids from becoming sexually active.

According to statistics, nearly half of teens have had sexual intercourse (that is intercourse, not just sexually active) by the time they reach the age of 18. It is not realistic to think that just because the district promotes abstinence that kids won't have sex (or be sexually active). The proponents of abstinence only sex ed believe that passing out condoms will encourage teens to have sex; while the opponents feel that passing them out will encourage them to be responsible about becoming sexually active.

My personal feeling is that the number of teens becoming sexually active is not going to vary by a significant number depending on the school's views on sex ed (abstinence only vs. teaching kids all the options), so we should concentrate on teaching them how to be RESPONSIBLE, including education on all different forms of birth control/contraception (and their effectiveness rates), and also on STD's. So personally, I would say that there is nothing wrong with condoms being handed out, but if your district is abstinence only, to them, handing them out would be going against their policy.

Answer 3

I look at it this way: It is better for kids to be prepared but not doing it than for them to be doing it unprepared.

I don't see the problem with teaching abstinence and having access to condoms. I do see a problem with teaching that something is wrong and then negating the value of that teaching by trying to prevent access. It is like saying "This is wrong but it doesn't matter because we won't let you anyway." That is trying to teach responsibility on one hand but taking it away with the other. It is bad teaching.

You can try to teach the values and that is okay but it is ridiculous to withhold protection simply because you 'wish' that the teaching will hold. Teaching values and supplying protection is a reasonable bridge between what the authorities want and what may be realistic to expect.

Answer 4

I think everyone should carry at least one or two at all times. This is not said to give everyone permission to have sex, but in the cases that will occur it will help prevent STD transmission and unwanted pregnancies.

Face it, many high school boys that were a bit responsible (or not) have carried them through out the years and most of them didn't take it as permission to have sex.

The question really comes down to: "Continued teen pregnancies or handing out condoms?". In a perfect world, the parents would have this handled but it is obviously not a perfect world.

Answer 5

Ok im saying this from a parent point of view.
I don't want my son to be engaged in sex (I mean when he gets on that age, he's 5 months LOL). But I would prefer for him to I don't know stick to a few ladies. Not the whole varsity team or whatever. I would feel this would encourage him to have sex and be more promiscuouse which I would feel as a mother slighlty uncomfortable after all he's my son,
Now I understand that protection is a must and it's better to be protected than to have a disease or an unwanted child.

Answer 6

Some people think that if schools hand out condoms to students then they are condoning sex. I think that schools should definitely teach abstinence, but also offer condoms to students. Abstinence is the best practice of safe sex, but if you're going to have sex, at least have some protection.

Answer 7

It's because by passing out condoms the school feels they would be sending the message "It's ok to have sex." They don't want to be responsible for sending that kind of message to kids. I can't say whether I agree or disagree. Currently I'm on the fence about the issue. It's wrong for kids to be having sex but just saying it's wrong isn't going to stop them from doing it... it's a tough issue.

Answer 8

Nothing is wrong with High Schools it's that they are handing them out to 6 year olds in Elementary and middle school where kids at that age shouldn't even know what sex is at that age it should be all about playing and having fun ya know..

Answer 9

I believe unless a person is legally emancipated from their parents then parents should be in the decision or discussion in providing condoms/other birth control information to their children...otherwise there's an abdication of parental responsibility. Last, it takes 'in parental locis' status of schools too far.

Answer 10

condoms should be handed out in highschools, definately.. times have changed, young people think there old enough to have sex..
at least if the school were handing out condoms, its a sign they actually care about the pupils in the school.. its also handy to have them in emergencies.. drunk teens after all, wouldnt care about the consequences in the morning..
im all for it, your district seems old fashioned.. get with the times people!!