Maine middle school to offer birth control - Kids & Parenting - MSNBC.com

I haven't a problem with sex ed being offered in school. I don't have a problem with comdons even being made available. But the pill and the patch? Are middle schoolers even responsible enough to remember to take the pill every day? And are there really that many middle schoolers having sex? And if they are, do they really need to go to the school to get their birth control (the school requires parental consent) seems the doctor is more of the route.

I don't know how I feel about this -- I guess if there is a need...

UGH...I also hope there aren't many middle schoolers needing this, although I guess there must be. I too think this is NOT a school issue but an issue between the parents and the doctors. It's one thing for the schools to educate kids on the need, but then after the "education" part of it, I think the responsibility should shift to the parents. I couldn't tell from the article, but are taxpayers footing the bill or do the students/parents have to pay. I'm just glad I didn't have to worry about this issue with my middle schoolers......again.....UGH.

__________________

Pill doesn't protect against HIV/STD's so I think it's stupid to hand that out.

The best you can do as a parent is educate them and keep the lines of communication open. Unfortunately, not all kids wait and some parents don't talk about it, so I'm not against condoms being available.

And yes kids in middle school are having sex. I heard that the average age for a girl is 13 or 14. Scary and sad IMO, but it does happen.

13 OR 14!!!!! Oh Dear God!!! I am building a bubble, and my kids are NEVER COMING OUT!!!!!!

__________________

My kids aren't that age yet, so I'm on the fence about it. When I was in middle school here in Maine (hmmm, let's see, that was 13-15 years ago now) there were LOTS of my peers having sex. Luckily not a whole lot of them got pregnant, but I do think there may be a need for both condoms and birth control to be made easily available to the kids. I DO NOT condone sex at this age. I waited until I was 18 (and now wish I'd waited for my DH), but most around me didn't. Sure, we had sex-ed and I grew up in a wonderful, stable home with both of my parents who had a great relationship. My mom was a nurse and we were quite open about just about everything, but still, had I not been the shy, introverted wall-flower that I was, I wonder if I might have experimented? I don't think that giving students BC or condoms is telling them "go ahead and have sex." I think it's telling them, "well, if you're going to do it, at least be safe about it." Giving these things out, coupled with good sex-ed and continuuing education on STD's, etc. could quite possibly save a lot of people a lot of trouble and heartache...

I'm all for birth control and sex education, including education on contraceptives, but even I don't necessarily agree with this policy. One concern I would have it not knowing that my, let's say 12 year old daughter, was on the patch or the pill. What about side effects? Being on hormones like that definitely can cause some problems or just changes.

Also, I agree with the fact that these forms of birth control don't protect against STDs and HIV. I would prefer condoms, which would also solve the problem of side effects. However, I doubt that many 12-14 yo girls would have the self esteem to insist that the boys wear condoms. Esp. if they are having sex that young, I think there is probably some self respect issues and boundary issues and begging for attention from boys one way or another.

This makes me so sad for these girls. I just don't see any good reason why they are having sex so young.

It's a great idea. I wish it wasn't necessary, but it is. I took it when I was 13....no I wasn't having sex.....but my mom was watching out for me and making SURE I wasn't getting into trouble. Now my mom was there for me.....hopefully every mom would be there for their kids but I don't know what to say about that.....WHOLE other issue.

__________________
Sarah

Ok, the school can't give my child Tylenol without permission, but they think the pill is not medicine? Do they not realize it affects your hormones, too? I am not anti-pill, but I don't think at 13 or 14 I would have remembered to take it at the approrpiate time and I do not think the parent should be out of the loop when medicines are given to their children!

Great point Claire. I have to sign a form every year giving permission to give my kids tylenol or benadryl if they have a bee sting, but wouldn't have to sign a permission slip for something that potentially has many more side effects. I'd be soooooo mad to find out someone was giving my underage child drugs of ANY sort without my permission.

__________________

me too!

__________________
You must be the change you want to see in the world ~ Gandhi