6th Graders OK to have Birth Control Pills

[MrAngryFace]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21358971/

PORTLAND, Maine - Pupils at a city middle school will be able to get birth control pills and patches at their student health center after the local school board approved the proposal Wednesday evening.

The plan, offered by city health officials, makes King Middle School the first middle school in Maine to make a full range of contraception available to students in grades 6 through 8, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.

There are no national figures on how many middle schools, where most students range in age from 11 to 13, provide such services.

Not the state I would expect this from.

[Van Cruncheon]

ron and don on kiro 710 were flippin' the fuck out about this. in the end, their fight boiled down to don being mad that he didn't get any play in middle or high school and shouting down any caller that dared suggest that we acknowledge a problem exists, and ron audibly rolling his eyes every five seconds.

[Smooth Groove]

Just give it to the Mexicans.  Almost none of the Hispanic girls in my Jr. High were virgins. 

[aoi tsuki]

Man, i really could've used birth control pills in middle school... to toss at the girls i secretly liked. 

[Phoenix Dark]

Birth control pills for 6th graders? Um, no.

[Mupepe]

It's a problem that needs to be addressed.

However, I don't think this alone is a good way to address it.

This accompanied with REAL sex education could have some effect.  If anything, giving out contraceptives, without beefing up and re-evaluating our sex education programs, more or less promotes teenage sex.

Answer:

1. Create a sex education program not held back by the fears of the socially ignorant.
2. Offer contraceptives as a tool for students who choose to engage in sexual activity after they have received proper education.

[bdoughty]

Even worse is that they do not have to get any consent from their parents. 

Good job Blue State, just tear down society, family values and any sign of morality... Typical liberal minded fix to a problem. Government will take care of the problem by throwing money at it. Parents do not need to know what is going on.

[Mupepe]

So guys, after some thought, it seems like I'm moving to Maine.  Hopefully in a nice neighborhood with good schools.  Probably Portland or something.

[bdoughty]

It's funny until you have child and that child is a girl.

[Mandark]

Mupepe: We don't know that their sex ed program isn't already good.  Here in the librul enclaves, we have pretty good programs.  I went through it in 5th, 8th, and 10th grades, I think, and it was pretty clear on contraceptive options and all that mess.

There have been some recent efforts by a pocket of prudes to ax some of the content (like any mention of homosexuality), but I don't think it's getting anywhere.

[MrAngryFace]

Flintstone Chewable Birth Control Pills

[AdmiralViscen]

The most distinguished mentally-challenged thing is that there isn't even sex education at that age. Yet, they give birth control pills.

If you do that, educate them about sex before they reach that age you conservative-minded fools!

I had sex ed in 6th or 7th grade. At a Catholic school no less.

[Mupepe]

Mupepe: We don't know that their sex ed program isn't already good.  Here in the librul enclaves, we have pretty good programs.  I went through it in 5th, 8th, and 10th grades, I think, and it was pretty clear on contraceptive options and all that mess.

There have been some recent efforts by a pocket of prudes to ax some of the content (like any mention of homosexuality), but I don't think it's getting anywhere.

Maybe I've been living in Texas too long

But when I went through sex ed in 5th grade, it was fucking ridiculous.  I left the class more confused than when I entered.

[bdoughty]

Sex Ed is overrated as a whole. Many generations survived w/o the need for it. Not that I have any problem with it as long as they have the parents consent to attend. They did not have it when I was going through school and I learned the old fashioned way.

The lingerie section of the JC Penny's catalog.

[Mupepe]

Sex Ed is overrated as a whole. Many generations survived w/o the need for it. Not that I have any problem with it as long as they have the parents consent to attend. They did not have it when I was going through school and I learned the old fashioned way.

The lingerie section of the JC Penny's catalog.

my mom ordered victorias secret and i'd beat off into each week's new issue.

[Phoenix Dark]

I think parental consent is important - so is sex ed. If people see the consequences of unprotected sex maybe they'll think differently. Seeing the STD slideshow is no joke

[Mupepe]

i saw a birth in 8th grade.

i went home and jacked off right afterwards.

[TVC15]

I don't think there's anything particularly wrong about this in concept.  I don't know much about the specifics of how they do it.  12 year olds could get knocked up and that's the age kids starting wanting to visit boner academy.  What's wrong with birth control?

[Mupepe]

nothing.  im getting a hard on from this thread though.  let's talk about sex more often on this board.

[Mandark]

I think parental consent is important - so is sex ed. If people see the consequences of unprotected sex maybe they'll think differently. Seeing the STD slideshow is no joke

If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place, the odds that they'd stop at their parents' behest... aren't high.

[bdoughty]

I think parental consent is important - so is sex ed. If people see the consequences of unprotected sex maybe they'll think differently. Seeing the STD slideshow is no joke

It works on some kids but others just brush it off. Same goes with tobacco and alcohol. You can show all the One of my friends who I played HS football with was killed in a drunk driving accident before the season started. That weekend there was still a party and people were drinking like fish. You can do all the parenting, educating, etc, etc, etc you want but it comes down to the individual and how they handle peer pressure and the desire to partake.

Some people are going to be/do bad no matter what you do. Kids have been having sex forever and that will not change. The problem is this school taking away a parents right to have access to what their child is doing.

[Mupepe]

I think parental consent is important - so is sex ed. If people see the consequences of unprotected sex maybe they'll think differently. Seeing the STD slideshow is no joke

If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place, the odds that they'd stop at their parents' behest... aren't high.

in fact, they'd probably start taking it in the butt just to spite them.

[Phoenix Dark]

I think parental consent is important - so is sex ed. If people see the consequences of unprotected sex maybe they'll think differently. Seeing the STD slideshow is no joke

If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place, the odds that they'd stop at their parents' behest... aren't high.

That's not my point. I'm saying parents should have influence in this - even more than the school for obvious reasons. If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place that's a reflection on the family

[Mupepe]

I think parental consent is important - so is sex ed. If people see the consequences of unprotected sex maybe they'll think differently. Seeing the STD slideshow is no joke

If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place, the odds that they'd stop at their parents' behest... aren't high.

That's not my point. I'm saying parents should have influence in this - even more than the school for obvious reasons. If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place that's a reflection on the family

Not necessarily.  A child developmental environment is not 100% at home.

[TVC15]

I think parental consent is important - so is sex ed. If people see the consequences of unprotected sex maybe they'll think differently. Seeing the STD slideshow is no joke

If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place, the odds that they'd stop at their parents' behest... aren't high.

That's not my point. I'm saying parents should have influence in this - even more than the school for obvious reasons. If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place that's a reflection on the family

I don't think your point makes sense, really.  If you bring the parents into this, the kids that would be asking for birth control pills wouldn't fucking ask for it because they'd know the nurse would be calling their parents, yet I doubt they would stop wanting to fuck.  Bringing parental consent into this kind of negates the effectiveness of potential birth control.

[Phoenix Dark]

I think parental consent is important - so is sex ed. If people see the consequences of unprotected sex maybe they'll think differently. Seeing the STD slideshow is no joke

If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place, the odds that they'd stop at their parents' behest... aren't high.

That's not my point. I'm saying parents should have influence in this - even more than the school for obvious reasons. If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place that's a reflection on the family

Not necessarily.  A child developmental environment is not 100% at home.

True, but it is a parents duty to raise their child, teach them certain things, etc. So when they step out into the "world" in 6th grade or whenever they have something to draw on.

[Mandark]

Yeah yeah, parents *should* do their parental duties, and that *should* translate to their kids following certain behavioral norms.

But it's not so important that the government needs to alert the parents to what their kids are planning to do with their genitals, especially when that would discourage safe sex.

[Phoenix Dark]

I think parental consent is important - so is sex ed. If people see the consequences of unprotected sex maybe they'll think differently. Seeing the STD slideshow is no joke

If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place, the odds that they'd stop at their parents' behest... aren't high.

That's not my point. I'm saying parents should have influence in this - even more than the school for obvious reasons. If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place that's a reflection on the family

I don't think your point makes sense, really.  If you bring the parents into this, the kids that would be asking for birth control pills wouldn't fucking ask for it because they'd know the nurse would be calling their parents, yet I doubt they would stop wanting to fuck.  Bringing parental consent into this kind of negates the effectiveness of potential birth control.

Not giving parents any influence in an issue this personal makes no sense to me. I'm sorry but I think a parent should know if their 12 year old child is using birth control

[Synbios459]

Sex Ed is overrated as a whole. Many generations survived w/o the need for it. Not that I have any problem with it as long as they have the parents consent to attend. They did not have it when I was going through school and I learned the old fashioned way.

The lingerie section of the JC Penny's catalog.

my mom ordered victorias secret and i'd beat off into each week's new issue.

So, which do you prefer? http://www2.victoriassecret.com/images/prodpri/V259633_037.jpg, http://www2.victoriassecret.com/images/tmblg/V247360RR_P08.jpg, http://www2.victoriassecret.com/images/tmblg/V236103_092.jpg, or http://www2.victoriassecret.com/images/tmblg/V252698_D88.jpg

[Mupepe]

I think parental consent is important - so is sex ed. If people see the consequences of unprotected sex maybe they'll think differently. Seeing the STD slideshow is no joke

If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place, the odds that they'd stop at their parents' behest... aren't high.

That's not my point. I'm saying parents should have influence in this - even more than the school for obvious reasons. If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place that's a reflection on the family

Not necessarily.  A child developmental environment is not 100% at home.

True, but it is a parents duty to raise their child, teach them certain things, etc. So when they step out into the "world" in 6th grade or whenever they have something to draw on.

That sounds like more homeschool FUD to me.

[Mupepe]

I think parental consent is important - so is sex ed. If people see the consequences of unprotected sex maybe they'll think differently. Seeing the STD slideshow is no joke

If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place, the odds that they'd stop at their parents' behest... aren't high.

That's not my point. I'm saying parents should have influence in this - even more than the school for obvious reasons. If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place that's a reflection on the family

I don't think your point makes sense, really.  If you bring the parents into this, the kids that would be asking for birth control pills wouldn't fucking ask for it because they'd know the nurse would be calling their parents, yet I doubt they would stop wanting to fuck.  Bringing parental consent into this kind of negates the effectiveness of potential birth control.

Not giving parents any influence in an issue this personal makes no sense to me. I'm sorry but I think a parent should know if their 12 year old child is using birth control

I really think you're on a totally different perspective because of how you were raised and schooled, buddy.  It's not bashing or being condescending, but there is a huge control loss at that point when a child begins to hit their pre-teens and begins to rely more on outside influences.

[TVC15]

I think parental consent is important - so is sex ed. If people see the consequences of unprotected sex maybe they'll think differently. Seeing the STD slideshow is no joke

If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place, the odds that they'd stop at their parents' behest... aren't high.

That's not my point. I'm saying parents should have influence in this - even more than the school for obvious reasons. If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place that's a reflection on the family

I don't think your point makes sense, really.  If you bring the parents into this, the kids that would be asking for birth control pills wouldn't fucking ask for it because they'd know the nurse would be calling their parents, yet I doubt they would stop wanting to fuck.  Bringing parental consent into this kind of negates the effectiveness of potential birth control.

Not giving parents any influence in an issue this personal makes no sense to me. I'm sorry but I think a parent should know if their 12 year old child is using birth control

Well, if a 12 year old in need of birth control is in a situation where they can get birth control, but only if the nurse asks their parents, the kid probably won't even take the opportunity to look into birth control.  Ideals sound neat in your head, but in this case trying to live the ideal is detrimental to the issue at hand.

Your idea sounds good if we lived in a perfect world, but we don't.

[Phoenix Dark]

I think parental consent is important - so is sex ed. If people see the consequences of unprotected sex maybe they'll think differently. Seeing the STD slideshow is no joke

If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place, the odds that they'd stop at their parents' behest... aren't high.

That's not my point. I'm saying parents should have influence in this - even more than the school for obvious reasons. If a middle-schooler is having sex in the first place that's a reflection on the family

Not necessarily.  A child developmental environment is not 100% at home.

True, but it is a parents duty to raise their child, teach them certain things, etc. So when they step out into the "world" in 6th grade or whenever they have something to draw on.

That sounds like more homeschool FUD to me.

It's definitely the "ideal" situation, and I recognize that's not always the case in real life; the family structure is weakened today. I think parents should have a healthy relationship with the school and know what their kids are doing - and how they're doing. Whether it's relating more directly to education or birth control. If a child is failing in class the parents are often contacted, and I think a 12 year old on birth control is serious enough to warrant a call as well. That's just my square opinion

[Mandark]

PD: The parents HAVE influence.  They're raising the kids, housing them, providing for them, etc.  They should already be imparting values and knowledge to the kids regardless of what the schools are doing, and they should make their kids feel comfortable enough to come to them voluntarily with this sort of thing.

However, if they aren't, it's not the school's job to alert them and give them a prod to be better parents according to your/my/the government's definition of what a parent should do.

[Mupepe]

Eh, I agree that the parents should AT LEAST be notified.

I don't think it requires parental permission, but at least notification.

[TVC15]

Again, in an ideal world, I'd agree with that, but as it stands, I think fair argument can be given that parental notification shouldn't be a requirement, unless there is a potential medical issue.

[Phoenix Dark]

Eh, I agree that the parents should AT LEAST be notified.

I don't think it requires parental permission, but at least notification.

I never said parental permission should be required. My problem was with the idea that parents should have no influence in such a personal issue

[Mupepe]

Again, in an ideal world, I'd agree with that, but as it stands, I think fair argument can be given that parental notification shouldn't be a requirement, unless there is a potential medical issue.

Oh I think a fair argument can be made against it as well.

I'm just speaking personally as a parent.  I'd at least like a call saying "Hey, your daughter just picked up some KY and ultra-thin ribbed condoms."

Perhaps parents should be able to opt-in to a notification program.  Maybe just the first time their child does it.  Not everytime Sally decides she wants a good dicking.

Eh, I agree that the parents should AT LEAST be notified.

I don't think it requires parental permission, but at least notification.

I never said parental permission should be required. My problem was with the idea that parents should have no influence in such a personal issue

I NEVER SAID YOU SAID IT SO WATCH YOUR MOUTH

[TVC15]

Parents have had plenty of time to influence the issue by 6th grade, PD.

[bluemax]

The most distinguished mentally-challenged thing is that there isn't even sex education at that age. Yet, they give birth control pills.

If you do that, educate them about sex before they reach that age you conservative-minded fools!

Buh? We had sex education from 6th to 8th grade in good old Tacoma Public School district. I knew what Chlamydia looked like before I ever saw pornography!

[Mupepe]

Parents have had plenty of time to influence the issue by 6th grade, PD.

My dad was very strict regarding seeing a nude female.

He'd make me cover my eyes and everything.  He would even laugh at me (which scarred me emotionally and made me delicate) when I would peek between my fingers to get a peek of some titties on tv.

[TVC15]

Well, it's a good thing that birth control is the woman's responsibility then!

[Phoenix Dark]

Parents have had plenty of time to influence the issue by 6th grade, PD.

They definitely do/should/etc, but that doesn't stop at 6th grade. Clearly I'm at an almost directly opposite position on this ideologically, but I see the point you guys are making.

I had sex ed for the first time (in a "public" school setting) in 10th grade; before that I had fire 'n brimstone ed, so to speak. My case was less ideal than most people. It's definitely best to get that out the way in middle school

[Mandark]

Parents have had plenty of time to influence the issue by 6th grade, PD.

They definitely do/should/etc, but that doesn't stop at 6th grade. Clearly I'm at an almost directly opposite position on this ideologically, but I see the point you guys are making.

It's not the job of the government to force them to be "better" parents.

[Phoenix Dark]

And where did I say it was?

[Mupepe]

PD is going to be like Carrie's mom.

[Mandark]

PD: When you said the school should be obligated to contact the parents so as to raise the parents' influence.  Jeez.

[etiolate]

Birth control can be helpful to girls with abnormal cycles.

As for birth control as birth control for 6th graders, well thats taking a social/mental problem and treating it medically. We have a tendency to treat our social problems through non-social ways.  We made racism illegal instead of addressing the thought pattern behind it.  We give kids birth control instead of wondering why they are throwing away their childhood.

[Phoenix Dark]

PD: When you said the school should be obligated to contact the parents so as to raise the parents' influence.  Jeez.

There should be conversation between them, yes. That's not "forcing" them to be better parents - it's keeping an open dialogue about their child's well being. As I said earlier, parents are often contacted by the schools when their child is failing; studies show that it's a positive thing when parents are involved in knowing how their kids are doing in school. I just feel it should apply to this personal issue as well.

[bdoughty]

It's not the job of the government to force them to be "better" parents.

It's not the job of a school/government to hand out birth control.  Especially when the parents have no say. You have to have parental consent to go on a field trip (at least you did when I was in 6th grade) but it is okay to give out birth control without it?

[TVC15]

Yes, they just give out the birth control, bdoughty.  It's in a big fucking candy bowl in the cafeteria, right next to the preteen fuckdens.

[bdoughty]

Might as well be.

At King Middle School, birth control prescriptions will be given after a student undergoes a physical exam by a physician or nurse practitioner, said Lisa Belanger, who oversees Portland’s student health centers.


Yea that is just who I would want in control of whether my child gets birth control.  An Elementary nurse practitioner.

[TVC15]

Oddly enough, the parental consent thing is blown out of proportion:

At King Middle School, birth control prescriptions will be given after a student undergoes a physical exam by a physician or nurse practitioner, said Lisa Belanger, who oversees Portland’s student health centers.

Students treated at the centers must first get written parental permission, but under state law such treatment is confidential, and students decide for themselves whether to tell their parents about the services they receive.

So they need parental permission to get checked out at the student health center, the parents just aren't told the specifics by the school.  Don't you think most parents would probably ask their kids why they want to get checked out at the student health center in the first place?

This is a complete nonissue.

[FlameOfCallandor]

Nobody should be having sex in 6th grade. WTF?

[bdoughty]

So they need parental permission to get checked out at the student health center, the parents just aren't told the specifics by the school.  Don't you think most parents would probably ask their kids why they want to get checked out at the student health center in the first place?

Reading is fun

Students treated at the centers must first get written parental permission, but under state law such treatment is confidential, and students decide for themselves whether to tell their parents about the services they receive.


Guess we should let all 13 year old girls decide what is good for them. Why have parents at all? What would stop a 13 year old girl from misleading her parents as to why she wanted "treatment."

[TVC15]

They need parental permission before they can go to the center.  Reading IS fun, isn't it?

[bdoughty]

They need parental permission before they can go to the center.  Reading IS fun, isn't it?

13 year old girls never lie or mislead their parents.  Am I right?

Oh wait a sec.

[TVC15]

What other reasons could a 12 year old girl have for wanting to go to a clinic that's not the family's chosen doctor?  If a parent doesn't know what's up, they are dumb, and the school should probably be buying fucking liquor for the little girl in celebration of her being more intelligent than her distinguished mentally-challenged parents.

What conceivable lie could there possibly be that a parent would fall for?

[bdoughty]

What other reasons could a 12 year old girl have for wanting to go to a clinic that's not the family's chosen doctor?  If a parent doesn't know what's up, they are dumb, and the school should probably be buying fucking liquor for the little girl in celebration of her being more intelligent than her distinguished mentally-challenged parents.

I could come up with a hundred reasons.

Mom, I have to go to the school clinic because it is required for P.E. or sport I play.

That was off the top of my head and it's legit. We had to get an exam from my school to play football. Kids today are getting tested for steroids in Texas.

Really, you can't be this naive?

[TVC15]

Really, you think an elective consent form wouldn't make it known that it was an elective decision?