Most OK with birth control at school, poll finds
67 percent support handing out contraceptives, but qualms remain
Nov. 1, 2007
WASHINGTON - People decisively favor letting their public schools provide birth control to students, but they also voice misgivings that divide them along generational, income and racial lines, a poll showed.
Sixty-seven percent support giving contraceptives to students, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll. About as many ? 62 percent ? said they believe providing birth control reduces the number of teenage pregnancies.
"Kids are kids," said Danielle Kessenger, 39, a mother of three young children from Jacksonville, Fla., who supports providing contraceptives to those who request them. "I was a teenager once and parents don't know everything, though we think we do."
Yet most who support schools distributing contraceptives prefer that they go to children whose parents have consented. People are also closely divided over whether sex education and birth control are more effective than stressing morality and abstinence, and whether giving contraceptives to teenagers encourages them to have sexual intercourse.
"It's not the school's place to be parents," said Robert Shaw, 53, a telecommunications company manager from Duncanville, Texas. "For a school to provide birth control, it's almost like the school saying, 'You should go out and have sex.'"
Those surveyed were not asked to distinguish between giving contraceptives to boys or girls.
The survey was conducted in late October after a school board in Portland, Maine, voted to let a middle school health center provide students with full contraceptive services. The school's students are sixth- through eighth-graders, when most children are 11 to 13 years old, and do not have to tell their parents about services they receive.
Opt-out policy considered
Portland school officials plan to consider a proposal soon that would let parents forbid their children from receiving prescription contraceptives like birth control pills.
Teenage pregnancy rates have declined to about 75 per 1,000, down from a 1990 peak of 117, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research center. Still, nearly half of teens aged 15 to 19 report having had sex at least once, and almost 750,000 of them a year become pregnant.
The 67 percent in the AP poll who favor providing birth control to students include 37 percent who would limit it to those whose parents have consented, and 30 percent to all who ask.
Minorities, older and lower-earning people were likeliest to prefer requiring parental consent, while those favoring no restriction tended to be younger and from cities or suburbs. People who wanted schools to provide no birth control at all were likelier to be white and higher-income earners.
"Parents should be in on it," said Jennifer Johnson, 29, of Excel, Ala., a homemaker and mother of a school-age child. "Birth control is not saying you can have sex, it's protecting them if they decide to."
About 1,300 U.S. public schools with adolescent students ? less than 2 percent of the total ? have health centers staffed by a doctor or nurse practitioner who can write prescriptions, said spokeswoman Divya Mohan of the National Assembly of School-Based Health Care. About one in four of those provide condoms, other contraceptives, prescriptions or referrals, Mohan said.
Less than 1 percent of middle schools and nearly 5 percent of high schools make condoms available for students, said Nancy Brener, a health scientist with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Underlining the schisms over the issue, those saying sex education and birth control were better for reducing teen pregnancies outnumber people preferring morality and abstinence by a slim 51 percent to 46 percent.
Younger people were likelier to consider sex education and birth control the better way to limit teenage pregnancies, as were 64 percent of minorities and 47 percent of whites. Nearly seven in 10 white evangelicals opted for abstinence, along with about half of Catholics and Protestants.
Split on encouragement issue
In addition, 49 percent say providing teens with birth control would not encourage sexual intercourse and a virtually identical 46 percent said it would.
Though men and women have similar views about whether to provide contraceptives to students, women are likelier than men to think it will not encourage sexual intercourse, 55 percent to 43 percent.
Asked when young people should first be allowed to get birth control, ages 16 and 18 drew the most responses, while only a third chose age 15 or younger. Women's selections averaged just over age 16, slightly higher than men, while young people and Westerners preferred younger ages than others.
"I'd be pulling my kids out of that school," Ron Wrobel, 55, an engineer from Port Huron, Mich., said of the Maine middle school. He said birth control should be for teens at least 17 years old.
Mirroring the rift that has played out in countless battles in Congress, Democrats were likelier than Republicans to favor freer access to birth control and to have more faith that it reduces teenage pregnancies. Forty-five percent of Republicans _ including 51 percent of GOP women _ say birth control should not be provided to any students, compared to 19 percent of Democrats.
The poll involved telephone interviews with 1,004 adults from Oct. 23-25. It had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
Replies
61
SoWal Insider
You forgot about the blindness.
margarita brocolia
You forgot about the blindness.
Goooood morning Kittay!
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SoWal ExpertAuthor
It is good that someone helps children who have irresponsible, selfish parents. I just wish schools only responsibility was to educate. So much time is spent on personal issues that should have been taught at home, that edcating takes a backseat.
The schools definitely spend WAY too much time and money on picking up parents' slack, or dealing with their nonsense complaints but when they distribute birth control and teach about sex, they ARE educating .............. about health issues.
SoWal Expert
The schools definitely spend WAY too much time and money on picking up parents' slack, or dealing with their nonsense complaints but when they distribute birth control and teach about sex, they ARE educating .............. about health issues.
I wish the schools didn't have to pick up parents' slack- unfortunately that is the "perfect world" scenario that will never happen. The sad reality is that these kids spend a large chunk of their day in a positive environment that is woefully underfunded and understaffed to meet their needs and break this cycle. Their homelives are not going to improve, so we need to be reaching them at school- it is their only chance of breaking the cycle and learning to be productive citizens, which benefits us all.
There needs to be waaaay more money thrown at education, so that more teachers, counselors, aides, special ed, and other support staff can be hired and paid enough of a decent wage to make it financially possible for them to work in the education field. The teachers need to be teaching only, but this can only happen with larger staffs who are able to provide for the needs outside of the classroom- tutors, mentors, counselors, etc.
SoWal ExpertAuthor
There needs to be waaaay more money thrown at education, so that more teachers, counselors, aides, special ed, and other support staff can be hired and paid enough of a decent wage to make it financially possible for them to work in the education field. The teachers need to be teaching only, but this can only happen with larger staffs who are able to provide for the needs outside of the classroom- tutors, mentors, counselors, etc.
Aka the first things cut in a budget!
SoWal Expert
Aka the first things cut in a budget!
I know! Why is that, when the problem is so freakin' obvious!
"Education" now encompasses so much more than it did when we were children- even though we don't like it this way, it's just the way it is. Making a blanket statement that issues such as morals, discipline, birth control, etc. should be learned at home is not going to be a solution, period. Yes, it is what we would like to see happen, but it isn't going to happen. Those days are long gone.
Education now means a "life education", not just the 3 "R"'s. Our system and funding needs to adapt soon before there are too many generations of unwanted, unloved, uneducated and unproductive people in our society.
SoWal Insider
I wish the schools didn't have to pick up parents' slack- unfortunately that is the "perfect world" scenario that will never happen. The sad reality is that these kids spend a large chunk of their day in a positive environment that is woefully underfunded and understaffed to meet their needs and break this cycle. Their homelives are not going to improve, so we need to be reaching them at school- it is their only chance of breaking the cycle and learning to be productive citizens, which benefits us all.I'm in total agreement with this post. Thankfully, there ARE schools and teachers that DO pick up the slack of what appears to be the parents' obligation. But many of these families are single parents and their priorities have shifted since the days we were kids.
There needs to be waaaay more money thrown at education, so that more teachers, counselors, aides, special ed, and other support staff can be hired and paid enough of a decent wage to make it financially possible for them to work in the education field. The teachers need to be teaching only, but this can only happen with larger staffs who are able to provide for the needs outside of the classroom- tutors, mentors, counselors, etc.
The teachers I've met at our HS in the past 3 years are amazing. BUT, they are exhausted, work many long hours but still maintain a positive influence in every kids life. I am thankful.
Edited
SoWal Expert
We have covered the "sex ed" stuff at home, but I don't have a clear picture of what is taught at the middle schools and high school here (SoWal), if anything. Any SWHS parents that know?
SoWal ExpertAuthor
To clarify, "sex ed" at our school wasn't teaching morality and tossing condoms to the crowd it was more focused on the science of the respective reproductive systems, potential diseases, etc. and was part of a larger health curriculum that involved mental health, nutrition, and healthy lifestyles.
SoWal Expert
Do ya think they learned anything, or fell asleep?
To clarify, "sex ed" at our school wasn't teaching morality and tossing condoms to the crowd it was more focused on the science of the respective reproductive systems, potential diseases, etc. and was part of a larger health curriculum that involved mental health, nutrition, and healthy lifestyles.
Beach Fanatic
Now here's an idea to consider. We are pathetic at teaching our kids the 3 R's but lets go a little further and teach them about birth control.What exactly are these 3 R's?
...Respect, Responsibility, Rational Reasoning, Readin' , Ritin' 'Rithmatic What about the 5 C's? Caring, Consideration, Compromise, Courtesy, Compassion... Did I mess that up?
I for one did the best I could and gave all I could give of these basic lessons and don't feel pathetic at all. Thank you. How about a little respect for the parents who are concerned about the real issue at hand. Our daughters(sometimes sons) losing their youth too early, and babies being born without mature and responsible parents. It's a vicious cycle. Have you ever seen a mother of 20 yrs old delivering her 6th child and asking for more 'free' everything yet really not showing much love toward the new baby that will go home to who knows what? I have and its so sad for the baby. She doesn't want to give it up for adoption as it is more gov't money in her pocket weekly. This is only one sad scenario that happens all the time, daily. Have you ever seen a mom sucking her thumb and colorong in a color book after childbirth? IJS...think about it, okay, before you condemn us all.
What is really pathetic is all the people that seem to not mind the government passing out birth control of any sort. When did parents abdicate their responsibility to society to the government? I read nothing but criticism and insults hurled at the way government is run on this board, yet some of these same people have no problem with those that run government handling their children's health issues? Sheesh! Talk about scary.
Can you honestly say you are more frightened about the birth control being provided by the gov't, which has been going on in all county health depts. for decades anyhow, even more so than the fact that babies are havin' babies?
When you put down others for expressing their views I feel
. No one here is abdicating their parental responsibilities. We are merely dicussing important health issues and our children, a near and dear topic. Also, I have held back and been very considerate about not putting down our gov't even though I certainly have seen and received plenty of negative stuff I could have posted. Thank you. I think, scratch that, I know there are some very intelligent people who have really refrained from criticizing our gov't. more than you would care to hear from, really! Anyone else been refraining from politics? Heck, the smartest peeps on this board refrain all the time, I think.
Can I get a hail yeah on that please?I know! Why is that, when the problem is so freakin' obvious!
"Education" now encompasses so much more than it did when we were children- even though we don't like it this way, it's just the way it is. Making a blanket statement that issues such as morals, discipline, birth control, etc. should be learned at home is not going to be a solution, period. Yes, it is what we would like to see happen, but it isn't going to happen. Those days are long gone.
Education now means a "life education", not just the 3 "R"'s. Our system and funding needs to adapt soon before there are too many generations of unwanted, unloved, uneducated and unproductive people in our society.
I agree with you on this, jdarg.
It's like we get what we pay for. Teachers deserve way better pay. I've noticed in hospitals when the budget is tight, like always :roll:, it seems staff is already tight. There's always a nursing shortage, right? Well, heck , if they got enough help, got paid and respected for their work and experience.... I could go on, but I think I already have. ;-)Edited
SoWal ExpertAuthor
Do ya think they learned anything, or fell asleep?
We had different variations of the class every year, in the hopes repetition helped...................but in high school it was the class period where I was usually starting to fade since it was mid-morning on the same days as our 5 am swim practices. :roll:
SWGB
You forgot about the blindness.
Cats lick themselves, is that why your avatar needs glasses.
SoWal Insider
To clarify, "sex ed" at our school wasn't teaching morality and tossing condoms to the crowd it was more focused on the science of the respective reproductive systems, potential diseases, etc. and was part of a larger health curriculum that involved mental health, nutrition, and healthy lifestyles.
Sounds like Gardening and Herbology 101
Beach Comber
Which is a great idea, and we will teach our kids, and you will teach your kids, but who is going to teach all the kids whose parents don't think like we do? Sadly, you can't force parents to "parent", so the slack is going to have to picked up another way. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make all children have good parents (or any parents for that matter). It's just unrealistic to expect all learning to go back to the home...
Once again, I'm a bit late on the discussions... But I absolutely agree with you Jdarg! Who knows what parents say to their kids behind closed doors. Wether they are encoreging safe sex or just ignoring the subject all together.
At SoWal High last year my biology teacher gave us a little slap in the face about pregnency, STDs, and all of that wonderful stuff. He showed us the pros and cons to it all.
Yes I've heard the 'birds and the bees' talk from my parents... But they never did get into all of the potential dangers of having unprotected sex and whatnot that I think all teenagers need to hear before they become sexually active.
I'm all for Sex Ed in school and the passing out of condoms. As for birth control pills, shots, and patches... This should be something you deal with at the local health clinic or at your doctors office. Let them be the ones to sit down and speak with these girls and explain to them (where they can fully understand everything) the affects that come along with getting on birth control.
SoWal Expert
Maybe the boys should also get schooled in STDs and their rolls and responsibilities as fathers. Sports, school, homework, partying, feeding the pets, dating -- oh, yeah, I have to go feed the baby. I might be late for school.
SoWal ExpertAuthor
They only teach sex ed to the girls? WTF?
Skunky
For what is is worth, teen pregnancy rates are much lower now than they were just 30 years ago (shock!). Regarding sexually transmitted diseases, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphillis are transmitted at much lower rates than they were 30 years ago, but there has been a mild spike in syphillis and chlamydia as of late. HIV transmission is fairly stable but remains overwhelmingly a disease of homosexual men and women who have sex with bisexual men, not heterosexual teenagers. There is still work to be done, but by and large efforts to thwart STD transmission and unwanted pregnancy among teens have worked.
SoWal ExpertAuthor
There is still a LOT of work to be done - we have the highest teen pregnancy rate among western industrialized nations and I had heard that STD rates were increasing again.
I think we can shoot a little higher than having 30% of our young women become pregnant by age 20! Or that 1/2 sexually active young people will get infected by a STD the time they are 25!!!
Last time I was at the lady doctor, the typical "safe sex" warning had more of a bite because she had recently diagnosed a young woman w/ HIV and was still quite upset about it.
I think we can shoot a little higher than having 30% of our young women become pregnant by age 20! Or that 1/2 sexually active young people will get infected by a STD the time they are 25!!!
Last time I was at the lady doctor, the typical "safe sex" warning had more of a bite because she had recently diagnosed a young woman w/ HIV and was still quite upset about it.
Skunky
There is still a LOT of work to be done - we have the highest teen pregnancy rate among western industrialized nations and I had heard that STD rates were increasing again.
I think we can shoot a little higher than having 30% of our young women become pregnant by age 20! Or that 1/2 sexually active young people will get infected by a STD the time they are 25!!!
Last time I was at the lady doctor, the typical "safe sex" warning had more of a bite because she had recently diagnosed a young woman w/ HIV and was still quite upset about it.
The problem is that in terms of physiology, 20 is the perfect time to be pregnant! Where did you get that stat about 1/2 of the sexually active getting an STD? I am guessing this might be true if one considers HPV as an STD.
As an aside, I bet some of those other Western countries would love to have the 'problem' of citizens breeding. Some European countries with socialist tendencies are facing ruin due to a lack of new births, so much so that they are importing new 'citizens' from north Africa.
Beach Fanatic
The problem is that in terms of physiology, 20 is the perfect time to be pregnant! Where did you get that stat about 1/2 of the sexually active getting an STD? I am guessing this might be true if one considers HPV as an STD.
As an aside, I bet some of those other Western countries would love to have the 'problem' of citizens breeding. Some European countries with socialist tendencies are facing ruin due to a lack of new births, so much so that they are importing new 'citizens' from north Africa.
Since when does Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) not qualify as a sexually transmitted disease?
Your second thought made me curious ; Is the desire for uneducated masses rapidly reproducing the reason conservatives oppose birth control ? They want a large , cheap labor force to fuel the economy.
Skunky
Since when does Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) not qualify as a sexually transmitted disease?
Your second thought made me curious ; Is the desire for uneducated masses rapidly reproducing the reason conservatives oppose birth control ? They want a large , cheap labor force to fuel the economy.
It does not qualify as an STD per se if it is a strain not known to cause disease, but point taken.
I'm not sure how conservatism was brought into this but the cheap labor force is already here, and it isn't the conservatives that want to give them the right to vote.
SoWal Expert
Teen birth rate increasing. It is no shocker that states with abstinence only school programs have the highest birth rates.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/12/05/teen.births.ap/index.html
It is no shocker that states with abstinence only school programs have the highest birth rates.http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/12/05/teen.births.ap/index.html
hmmmm......can't remember
Teen birth rate increasing.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/12/05/teen.births.ap/index.html
You know what's extra strange? I know a teenager who recently had a baby, and gave every indication that she WANTED to have a baby. And in the both the black and hispanic communities here, it's not uncommon to see a pregnant teenager whose family seems to think, "Eh...here's another baby in the house. Break out the crib again." Some family member takes care of the child while the teenaged mother goes to school during the day. (And it's great that she stays in school, right?)
I'm assuming that those situations figure into the birth rate statistics?
Beach Fanatic
How could it possibly hurt anyone?IJS...one can always opt out.
Agreed.
But if parents opt-out of birth control education, they should
also be required to opt-out of taxpayer assistance for the resulting
grandchildren.
As someone far more articulate than I once said, "some people believe
that life begins at conception and ends at birth."
The cost certainly does not end at birth.
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