Quote[/b] ]Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline and Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston are appealing a federal judge's ruling that Kansas law gives more discretion to health care professionals in determining what sexual activity harms young people than what Kline or Foulston want allowed.

U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten also ruled that the state's top law enforcement officers misread the law on what constitutes suspected sexual abuse.

At the center of the debate is a struggle between health and legal professionals over who is best suited to determine what is harmful, and what is normal sexual activity for young people. The case has attracted national attention for its potentially precedent-setting boundaries on what kind of privacy teenagers can expect in the offices of doctors and counselors.

Kline wants most sexual activity between those under age 16 reported to state social services and law enforcement. Foulston testified at trial to an even stricter reading of the law, wanting nearly all sex between young teens reported.

Health care professionals have argued that such strict reporting would drive teens away from needed services, including prenatal care, birth control or treatment for diseases and mental health therapy.

The next step in the case will be oral arguments before the appellate court in Denver.

Quote[/b] ]I agree that abstinance should not be the only thing taught. I think that they have to know what's out there so that they aren't doing it out of curiosity. But I do not think that schools should not hand out condoms, and birth control either. I also think that parents do not take a big enough roll, and some do expect the school to do all the educating in this area. Personally I believe that it is a parents responsibility to talk about this, and provde the appropriate birth control methods for their children.
JMO-Erin

Quote[/b] (bennis_mama @ July 18 2006,16:18)]I agree. Parents should talk to their kids and not be afraid to educate them about sex. *However, I think schools need to have resources for kids who do not have that support at home. My bestfriends highschool had a health center that provided free condoms - some BC - a psychatrist and a RN. Public school that allowed their students access to contraceptives but didn't just give them out to anyone. *I think this is a great resource for kids who do not have outside support to obtain contraceptives. *And enables those students to request the information in a confidential matter. *I wish more schools had that option.

Quote[/b] (blessed_with_6 @ July 18 2006,16:45)]Your version of "support at home" may not be the same as others, though. *My kids, those who are old enough to be, ARE educated. *They know how it happens, what happens, what COULD happen, etc. *BUT, I tell all of that with ABSTINENCE still in mind...because that is my expectation of them, if at all possible, as that is also GOD'S expectation. *I have told them that if they come to a point in their life where they find that it is worth it to "go ahead", then, yes, come to me and we will talk further, but I would be LIVID to know that a school or a dr. or whoever would give my child a condom, put a daughter on birth control, etc. without my consent or at least knowledge. *And, for inquiring minds, I WAS a teen pregnancy statistic...through the grace of God, I got through it and thrived...as did my daughter, who is now the oldest of six kids and was adopted by my husband as soon as we were married.