Most parents approve of birth control in schools

by Brian White (Subscribe to Brian White's posts)
Nov 1st 2007 8:05PM

With teenage pregnancies in the U.S. on the media's front burner once again, a recent poll showed that a majority of parents favor schools providing students with birth control methods.

However, there were differences in the way some responded to the poll that gave insight into divisional-type thinking on this issue based on generational, income and racial groups. I can understand generational issues, but not really the other two.

67 percent of those polled supported providing students with birth control items, and 62 percent said that an effort like this would reduce teenage pregnancies.

What are your thoughts?

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Comments (50)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

sally 11-04-2007 @ 7:53AM

why do the parents need the schools to provide the pill.. its there kids . they need to take care of the problem them selves. and keep it in the family and keep check on the kids....

elm 11-04-2007 @ 7:58AM

How is this helpful with the rate of birth control failure, especially when mixed with alcohol and drugs? How is a woman (girl) ever to understand how her body works if she is artifically chemically modified right from the onset of puberty? Is it not a better thing for her to understand her fertility and work with it than to mask it and introduce hormones into still maturing bodies?

Jazz 11-04-2007 @ 8:00AM

I absolutely agree to passing out birth control of all kinds in the schools-and, it should be done without the need for parental permission-if parents approved of their child getting birth control, that child could have asked them for it-most kids don't feel comfortable enough to ask a parent for birth control, but they are surely out there having sex and risking pregnancy. They need birth control. That being said, the schools need to do comprehensive education regarding STD's AND the emotional component to a sexual relationship-parents are not doing it, so the schools will have to! In a perfect world, parents would be educating their children and they would be providing what their kids need-they aren't! Lots of parents are still stuck in the "if we give them the pill, they will be out there having sex" rut-what they don't seem to realize is that a child who is going to have sex, is going to have sex! It isn't dependent on the availability of the pill.

Anna 11-04-2007 @ 11:24AM

No I dont think it's a good idea. You are just telling them it is ok to have sex. What has happened to our morals.Dont parents of this generation remember how their parents raised them, Or dont they care what their kids do.

A concerned Grandparent

geet 11-04-2007 @ 8:02AM

sheesh... Aren't they hormonal enough? Why mess with their bodies? Just talk and educate your children!

Teresa 11-04-2007 @ 8:03AM

Why is it that a school can't give an aspirin but can dispense birth control pills and even allow children to go get an abortion without my consent? If my child is pregnant or sexually active I need to know about it. I wouldn't necessarily approve but I have enough sense to know that I can't control their every move. I'm perfectly capable of taking my child to a gyn and making sure that they have all the information they need.

scott 11-04-2007 @ 8:31AM

what poll? was this 67% of parents whose kids are already pregnant? be responsible! quote the poll and its methodology otherwiseyour just trying to bandwagon for teen birth control ... is this the local planned parenthood office?

Barb 11-04-2007 @ 8:30AM

And I assume these arrogant school board folks will take responsibility for the child who has medical complications due to the birth control pill? It's one thing to hand out condoms, yet another to hand out pills that affect a person's health without the parents' consent. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Hopefully there will be no medical repercussions from the pill, but if/when there is, I hope the parents of that child sue the hell out of the school board. I know I would!

jan 11-04-2007 @ 8:47AM

I am the parent not the school. The school is NOT the place to pass out birth control methods. If we pass out the methods then let us pass out the Bible. The Bible was taken out so let us not start bringing something that is between parent and child not school and child. WE ARE NOT THE WORLD contrary to popular belief. If more parents were actively involved in their child's life maybe this question would not even have to be asked?

bobbie 11-04-2007 @ 8:54AM

"The Pill" does have side effects. If a parent doesn't know the child (and they are still children)is on bc, and that child complains of say..leg cramps, the parent has no way of knowing it could be clots forming.
I have been open and honest with my kids from puberty on about sex, drugs, alcohol, smoking, relationships. They know where I stand and that if they do decide to have sex (and they are going to do what they are going to do, with or without consent or the pill) they should use protection. I tell them almost daily and if they are embarrassed to buy protection, I'll get it for them. Protection is not only used for bc, but to protect from disease. "The Pill doesn't prevent that. Parents..Parent the kids! The schools shouldn't be raising your kids...you should! Or maybe you should have used bc!

fewnotmuch 11-12-2007 @ 11:31PM

Birth control and/or sex education in school is for the purpose of keeping people from having babies whom taxpayers will have to pay for. Also for the purpose of keping young unprepared people from having kids that will end up abused and neglected. Parents who think that they have to keep their kids from using, or knowing about birth control often create a situation in which there will be a third generation welfare recepient if not a fourth or fifth (etc) generation welfare recipient; or perhaps a third , or fourth (etc) generation mistreated child whom will become a criminal, or go on to carry on the cycle of domestic abuse, etc. And, it does not matter if there has not been any history in the family of welfare dependency orf domestic abuse, it is justified that the authorities are worried and take measures regarding kids having kids and instead of literally preaching to them are trying to prevent unplanned births .

Jessie 11-04-2007 @ 9:09AM

That is dangerous. What if the child has a medical problem live liver problems? That is something between an OB/GYN not a school nurse (not downing them) and a patient. Children don't know their medical history like their parent. Parents should be more responsible for their children. When you have a child, it is your child not the school systems' or governments'. If you aren't old enough to properly get contriceptions then you probably shouldn't be doing anything where you would need them.

johnny m 11-04-2007 @ 9:03AM

Heck, birth control in the schools is a great idea. Also, think that the schools should help plan student orgies, have swingers clubs, in fact it appears that in some schools the teachers particularly women teachers would love to get involved with these 13 year old kids. Wow, our society is just doing such a great job in the public schools. No wonder the divorce rate, cheating, dishonesty and screwed up kids is at such an impressive rate.

Don 11-04-2007 @ 9:12AM

So this is what we have come to. Handing out Birth Control in Middle School and High School kids with out a parents knowledge. It use to be you could not give a child an asprin with out parental consent. Now we are providing birth control pills which by the way do nothing to protect againt sexually transmitted diseases. Sad day in Amercia if this poll is true. Just another attack on the basiic unit of society the Family.

ahfallscity 11-04-2007 @ 9:41AM

I totally disagree with any government offical, school, or other wise giving my child or anyone elses child birth control. As a wife and mother I believe our children should be taught early on that intiment relationships are for marriage. Just because society says intiment relation out side of marriage is okey, does not mean God says it is okey. I believe birth control is a form of abortion. The Bible clearly states that anything that prevents life is against God.Also marriage is a covetnant between God, husband, and wife. All third parties are not welcome.

Jim 11-04-2007 @ 9:31AM

I dissagree. We have no idea what dumping these hormones will due to the young growing body. We need to change the mind set of our society. Puting a bandade on the problem is not solving the problem.

Don R. 11-04-2007 @ 9:34AM

50% of marrages end in divorce and some of these kids don't have parents to talk to. So are so wrapped up with their own lifes to even care what their kids are doing. At least this way something will get done. The truth hurts sometimes doesn't it?

Nacole 11-04-2007 @ 9:32AM

And this would be just one more reason my husband and I are wondering if we should have children. Just look at the world we live in. WE are the parents, not the schools or the general public. Why is it okay to hand out birth control pills and condoms, but it isn't okay to hand out bibles or aspirin? I'm sure that those who agree to hand out birth control are the very people who don't know where their kids are at 8pm. I'm sure they're the ones whose kids are getting pregnant at 15 & 16 years old. I'm also sure they're the ones who are always running their mouths about what other people should do with their kids rather than parent their own! People, it is time to take control back! Be responsible, be accountable, be parents!

Stephanie 11-04-2007 @ 9:59AM

Personally, I started having sex younger than I should have...thank God my mother figured it out and hauled my tail off to the gyno and got me started on the pill. I'm 30, and while they DID teach sex ed in my school in 7th grade and up, they never passed anything out, luckily, I didn't get pregnant or "sick" before I got on the pill and my mother taught me the importance of taking my pills on time AND using a condom. By NO means was my mother accepting of or encouraging me to have sex, but she was living in reality, not denial, and knew I was gonna do what I was gonna do and wanted me to be safe. Because of this, I, unlike A LOT of my classmates, didn't get pregnant til I was done with college and married. My point is...PLEASE give these kids what they need, cause unless you're deluded, you know kids are gonna do what they want-you cannot control them 24/7. Wishful thinking and avoidance isn't gonna keep your child from having sex. I don't want my son to be out there "doing it" til he's grown, but I AM gonna have "the talk" with him when he hits middle school and make sure he knows he can come to me or his father anytime and ask questions. I'll let him know that our health department gives out free condoms-no questions asked- and tell him I want him to wait, but that if he doesn't, BE SAFE about it, plus don't trust any girls that say they're on the pill and that condoms are NECESSARY to HELP prevent STD's but not 100% effective. I live in the real world. It's time everyone did.

No Womb Boogers 11-04-2007 @ 10:09AM

You parents that say you need to be the ones responsible for giving out BC to your kids crack me up! If your kids felt comfortable coming to you about it they would have. YOU ARE THE PROBLEM. If the school does not approach this without condemnation or judgement of your kids as human beings like you do, congrats.....you are going to become a grandparent.

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