Sexual education is not new to high school campuses. From curriculum in class involving sexual health, to screenings for sexual transmitted diseases, high school students are being exposed to the consequences of having unprotected sex. In September, we learned at the pilot program at several New York public schools, in which they gave the morning after pill to students in schools with high teenage pregnancy rates. Now Philadelphia schools are taking action to the STD “epidemic” among their high school students, by installing condom dispensers on 22 school campuses.
Over the past 5 years, 5% of the 130,000 students who attend Philadelphia public schools have contracted an STD, including HIV. It’s also been reported that in Philadelphia, teens make up 25% of new HIV infections. This has alarmed many parents and education officials, who decided that providing better access to contraceptives to students as young as 14. Parents were notified of the program in October, and were able to opt their child out of accessing the machines.
While Philly isn’t the first city to make condoms available, it is in a small percentage of schools who distribute them in “vending machines”. Many parents feel as though providing prophylactics encourages teen sex, while other adults believe students are going to engage in sex regardless of if protection is easily accessible or not.
“Discussion about whether or not they should be sexually active is an appropriate discussion, but if they are, then we need to make sure they’re engaged in safe sexual practices,” said Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.
BMWK – What are your thoughts? Is this a good idea or does it encourage kids to have sex before they are ready?
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Vanessa G. says
I feel as if it is a good idea. I don’t encourage teens having sex but we are at am age and a generation where we must be realistic. Majority of teenagers are sexually active and the numbers are proof of that. Now, we can either play the ignorant roll and say, “Giving out condoms is encouragement,” and continue to have rising numbers of teenage pregnancies, which lead to abortions and adoptions and abandoned babies, and worst of all STDs, OR we can take the smarter route and realize that these teenagers have made up in their minds that they are going to have sex and TRY to help them prevent the consequences of their actions that will have an affect on them long term. We cannot prevent the emotional damage it’ll cause, neither can we break the soul-ties that the bible and experience teaches of us of that comes from having sex outside of marriage, but offering protection against the physical is something that can be done. As a Christian woman that doesn’t encourage sex outside of a marriage, I cannot believe that I feel this way, but I’d much rather a teen have a condom than a child they don’t want and cannot afford or handle, an STD that they can never be cured from, or the emotional diapair and regret of an abortion.
Jackie Brewton says
As a sex education teacher for the past 11 years, I think this is a bad idea. I hear people say that teens have made up their minds that they are going to have sex and there is nothing we can do to talk them out of having sex and it breaks my heart to hear us have such low expectations for teens. Kids will live UP or DOWN to our expectations so we’re getting exactly what we EXPECT from them. Actually, they can be persuaded to make better decisions when people are REAL with them. I have thousands of letters from teenagers to prove it. When I tell teenagers that many adults don’t think it’s realistic to expect them to abstain from sex, many of them say, “Just because they couldn’t do it, doesn’t mean we can’t do it!” In addition, the majority of teens are NOT sexually and the percentages continue to decline. The latest statistics show that 46% is sexually active, which means 54% is NOT. When the most common viral STD (HPV), which causes cervical cancer is spread by skin-to-skin contact (condoms reduce the risk of contracting it by about 50%), how do we ignore that fact and just throw condoms at teens? I prefer to teach toward something instead of away from something. So my approach is different from most sex education teachers. I focus more on helping teens understand how to reach their BEST life instead of how to avoid consequences. Regardless of what type of protection we offer teens, the fact remains that NOTHING good comes out of teenagers having sex other than a temporary feeling. Teenage sex will NEVER help them become successful as an adult, but could VERY possibly keep them from becoming successful as an adult. If you want to hear how teens respond to my classes, check out my web site: http://www.jackiebrewton.com
dmaclee says
I think the STD stats show that the presence or absence of condoms neither encourages or dissuades sexual activity. I teach 8th grade and I have students walking around with condoms just cuz they think its cool. The most action they are getting are their five fingers. On the other hand, my 5 month pregnant student may have wished that she had easy access to condoms so that she won’t be trying to figure out how she’s going to get childcare for 8th grade graduation.
Jackie Brewton says
As a sex education teacher for the past 11 years, I think this is a bad idea. I hear people say that teens have made up their minds that they are going to have sex and there is nothing we can do to talk them out of having sex and it breaks my heart to hear us have such low expectations for teens. Kids will live UP or DOWN to our expectations so we’re getting exactly what we EXPECT from them. Actually, they can be persuaded to make better decisions when people are REAL with them. I have thousands of letters from teenagers to prove it. When I tell teenagers that many adults don’t think it’s realistic to expect them to abstain from sex, many of them say, “Just because they couldn’t do it, doesn’t mean we can’t do it!”
In addition, the majority of teens are NOT sexually and the percentages continue to decline. The latest statistics show that 46% is sexually active, which means 54% is NOT. When the most common viral STD (HPV), which causes cervical cancer is spread by skin-to-skin contact (condoms reduce the risk of contracting it by about 50%), how do we ignore that fact and just throw condoms at teens?
I prefer to teach toward something instead of away from something. So my approach is different from most sex education teachers. I focus more on helping teens understand how to reach their BEST life instead of how to avoid consequences. Regardless of what type of protection we offer teens, the fact remains that NOTHING good comes out of teenagers having sex other than a temporary feeling. Teenage sex will NEVER help them become successful as an adult, but could VERY possibly keep them from becoming successful as an adult. If you want to hear how teens respond to my classes, check out my web site: http://www.jackiebrewton.com