In our current event discussions, we have had many excellent topics brought up. While some have left an impression on me, none has quite made me think as much as the topic of birth control being handed out in schools. Some have pointed out that this has made teen pregnancy rates decline, while others argue that this is ruining the authority of parents. No matter where you stand on this matter, there is no doubt that this issue should be discussed.
In my own personal views, I believe this is a good idea, but this is not the way it should be handled. Offering a birth control pill and only requiring a parent signature should not be significant enough. As I argued in class, students should have to take a sex ed, or a parent and child development course. Each student should know the risks that come along with being sexually active. Just because this pill can prevent pregnancy, it does not stop the other dangers; such as STDs.According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of the 19 million new STDs each year are among young people aged 15-24 years. (CDC, 2012) Whether or not you believe these results show how effective sex education is in America; there is one question that comes to mind. Who determines whether the program is working or not? Personally, I think the local community should judge whether or not their schools sex education program is efficient or not. Within the community lies the parents of these students attending the schools. If they are not satisfied, they should confront the school system and speak of the changes they so desire. It's their children, they have a right to know what is going on in their lives; especially with something this serious.
- Speaking on a parent's right to know what is going on in their child's life, I believe they should be informed of when their child receives the pill. What if that pill is something their kid is allergic to? If they end up taking it and having a terrible reaction to it the parents are going to be outraged. This could put the school system into serious hot water if thus said event ever happened. A simple phone call to a parent whose child received plan b could mean life or death in this case.
- On a side note speaking of parents: I know that they will not keep control of their kids forever. People will do what they want and that's how it's always been. But I will say this, if parents do not want their children being sexually active, they need to do a better job teaching them personally. Learning starts at home, right?
So no matter what your opinion is, sexual education is an important part of our education system today. If parents are not happy with they way schools are teaching sex education, they need to make smarting voting decisions. Or they could run for school board themselves.
CDC. (2012, June 20). Centers for disease control and prevention. Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/sexualbehaviors/
Khalid, K., & Botelho, G. (2012, September 25). New york program allowing teens to get plan b pill
draws critics, defenders. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/24/us/new-york-plan-
b/index.html
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/120323-planB-
hsml-oom-5p.380;380;7;70;0.jpg
