Birth Control For Maine Middle Schoolers

School Board Approves Birth Control Options For Students In Grades 6 Through 8

(CBS/AP)  School officials on Thursday defended a decision to allow children as young as 11 to obtain birth-control pills at a middle-school health center, saying the new policy is aimed at a tiny number of sexually active students.

King Middle School will become the first middle school in Maine, and apparently one of only a few in the nation, to make a full range of contraception available, including birth-control pills and patches.

Students would need parental permission to use the city-run health center in the school, but they wouldn't have to tell their parents they were seeking birth control.

“As a parent, I would hope that my child would come to me first,” school committee member Sarah Thompson told CBS News. “But if she doesn't feel comfortable, then I know that there's somebody there, and a support system in place for them to be able to talk to somebody."

“People I associate with are looking at me like, are you guys crazy? Is this really going to happen in Portland?” said school committee Chairman John Coyne, who opposed the new policy in the 7-2 vote by the Portland School Committee on Wednesday night.

According to a national survey, 18 to 20 percent of adolescents have had intercourse by age 14, reports CBS News national correspondent Byron Pitts.

There are no national figures on how many middle schools provide such services. Most middle schoolers range in age from 11 to 13.

“It's very rare that middle schools do this,” said Divya Mohan, a spokeswoman for the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care.

This week, the health center asked the committee to make birth-control pills available to high school-aged students who were still in middle school and unable to access the contraception available at the high school, said Portland School Committee member Robert O'Brien.

School officials said five of the school's 510 students would have qualified for the birth control under the program last year.

O'Brien, whose district includes King Middle School, said the notion that young children can now easily get birth-control pills is flat wrong.

“They don't just have a giant punch bowl full of pills,” he said,

The birth control will be given out only after extensive counseling, and no prepubescent children will get it, O'Brien said.

The lead school nurse said the health center’s staff would also encourage kids to talk with their parents, reports CBS affiliate WGME-TV.

But Coyne said a physically mature, savvy 11-year-old could get the birth control once the permission slip to use the center is signed.

“I think she could navigate the system,” he said.

Portland's three middle schools had seven pregnancies in the last five years, said Douglas Gardner, director of Portland's Health and Human Services Department. He said early reports of 17 pregnancies during the last four years were erroneous.

The King Middle School is among Portland's most diverse schools, with 31 languages spoken there and 28 percent of its students foreign-born. The school, located on the same peninsula as downtown Portland, draws from the islands in Casco Bay, wealthier neighborhoods overlooking the bay, and low-income triple deckers.

Fifty-four percent of the students are part of the federal free lunch program, which is an indicator of poverty.

Principal Michael McCarthy said the school had just one pregnancy last year, but students were reporting they were sexually active. The center has dispensed condoms since 2000, but because it could not prescribe birth-control pills, nurses referred the students to Planned Parenthood or Maine Medical Center.

“When they followed up, they found that in many cases, the kids weren't doing that,” McCarthy said.

The policy raises new legal concerns.

Sex with a nonspousal minor under 14 is considered gross sexual assault in Maine, and officials said it was unclear whether nurses at the health center would be required to report such activities.

[yoopermom]

I have a son in Middle School and find it hard to believe that kids are having s e x at this age. Yes, I have talked to him about *** and have made it known where the condoms are (I also have 18 & 16 yr. old boys), but I just don%u2019t see him having the maturity to go through with it. OK, I have to stop, this is freaking me out!

[red1530]

I don''t think it is a good idea for schools to provide birth control pills to students because it does violate the right of parents to control the health of their children.

[hwy71so]

Have we sunk this low that we can''t even allow our kids the opportunity to be kids before we start encouraging them to participate in sexual activity? That''s exactly what they''re doing. They''re telling the kids its okay to have intercourse...

...at the age of ELEVEN!!!

[timberagain]

I consider myself liberal, and this story shocked me.
Too young!

[ozone-baby]

We have 8 children ages 17-1 and I am not ignorant to the fact that, unfortunately, some children at this age have been introduced to ***. But they need counceling and help, not birth control. They need to be told that this is a serious situation and that they could be physically and emotionally harmed, not given a pill or a patch and sent on their merry way!

[barbaraf4]

Whether they are too young, and whether we are willing to believe it, these kids probably are having s*e*x.

So, even if they are not too young to have s*e*x, I firmly believe they are too young to be raising kids - and I surely am NOT willing to raise them. Therefore, give them access to contraceptive services. My only fear is that they are too young and irresponsible to use contraceptives correctly.

[mudrose-2009]

Compliments of the social progressives who believe our children should be sexed up and dumbed down. Good job! A nation of sexual imbeciles, just what the ACLU ordered. How so very Marxist of them to make our children promiscuous. Of course, abstinence classes would be too moral and over the top. Let''s give Maine a round of applause for their turpitude. Great job.

[resqdiver4]

Since when do 11 to 13 year olds have the ability to make legal decisions? Next 2 and 3 year olds will be allowed to drive! C''mon people where the hell are the parents in this? What are these people thinking? Have we all gone MAD? WAKE UP!!! These are children, they should not be given any kind of medical treatment without notification, let alone birth control without, absolute, DIRECT (meaning a face to face meeting) parental notification. What has this country come to, if your going to give 11 to 13 year olds birth control and allow them to direct their own medical care, lets give them the right to drink alcohol, buy cigarettes, and vote. I thought I have seen it all, but this one tops the list!

[hwy71so]

The schools are no places for lessons in morality. Academics only and the belief that we just exploded here. But, no morality. Ya hear!!! :)

[ashvilleoh21]

What has happened to parents raising their children? When my son was in school, the nurse called me to see if she could give him an aspirin, now they are allowed to hand out birth control pills? What''s wrong with this picture?

1). Birth control pills should only be given by a licensed, professional physcian. There are factors determining the correct dosage, not to mention the high risk for cancer for prolonged use of them. 2). CHILDREN that age SHOULD NOT be having ***. They should be enjoying being children, not worrying about pregnancy and STD''s.

Who does this school district think it is? The parents? Parental rights are slowly being taken away and the government is taking over. I am so glad I do not have children in the school system of America today. It is deplorable and unsafe. Hopefully, the parents of community will band together and fight this. IT IS MORALLY WRONG!!!

[resqdiver4]

Mudrose and Ashvilleoh21 I certainly agree with you both. This is a serious precident they have set here. Parents should be determining whether these children should be getting condoms and birth control, not some 11 to 13 year old, or a school nurse. We parents need to make our voices known that this should not exist in our schools under no circumstance. Let''s all who post here write to these school board officials and overwhelm them with 100,000 letters in support of the school districts parents. This practice MUST be stopped now, or we are all doomed.

[extremophil]

Are they too dumb to put on a condom??

[ghosttownsky]

If you want to leave the choice left in each parent%u2019s hands the solution is simple. Parents at the beginning of the year would fill out a form that indicates %u201Cyes%u201D or %u201Cno%u201D that they want to be informed of any requests by there children. All parents would be required to complete the form either authorizing or not authorizing the issuing of birth control to their children without their knowing about it at the time. The process then becomes totally in the parents hands.

[antoniof123]

Don''t blame the State of Maine. If the moron parents were doing there job this wouldn''t be a problem and of course we don''t really know if it is or not.

Stay out of their back yard and fix your own fence.

[yoopermom]

Posted by barbaraf4

I know what you are saying is true, but I am just having a hard time (thankfully) imagining that my 13 year old is sexually active. I have had all the important talks about waiting , blah, blah, blah and IF he thinks he is mature enough to have s*x then he better be mature enough to wear protection. These days, with all the diseases around, pregnancy is not the worse thing that can happen.

I agree that schools should be allowed to hand out condoms, but I disagree they should be able to give out birth control pills without parents knowing. There are too many side affects and if a child is afraid to tell their parents (or anyone else) they are taking the pill, they may not get proper treatment. I also wonder how many 11 %u2013 13 year old girls will SAY they are sexually active and get the pill just to be %u201Ccool%u201D.

[ladyjaneg]

I''m all for teaching kids birth control and about the birds and the bees, but they trying to teach about STDs, AIDS, HIV... there are worse things that come from unprotected *** than a baby. Failing that, we should teach them to keep their legs closed!

[consciousnes]

PARENTS - START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR CHILDREN ! ! ! ! ! !

[yoopermom]

Parents should be determining whether these children should be getting condoms and birth control, not some 11 to 13 year old, or a school nurse.

Posted by resqdiver4
Unfortunately many parents don%u201Dt talk to their kids about s*x. And I am thinking a lot don%u201Dt think they need to talk to their Middle School child about it.

[mudrose-2009]

Don''''t blame the State of Maine. If the moron parents were doing there job this wouldn''''t be a problem and of course we don''''t really know if it is or not.

Stay out of their back yard and fix your own fence.
Posted by antoniof123

I plan to retire in Maine and I won''t be going to a social progressive state. And don''t blame the parents. Apparently parents are kept out of the loop and aren''t informed what is going on in the schools. The school administrators tell them now to tell their parents. Do you ever read what''s going on in Colorado schools and now in California''s schools with the passage of some of these bills promoted by that lesbo Sheila Kuhl? The parents in Maine should most definitely bombard their legislature threatening to remove their children from such schools should the state decide to dictate the morality of their children. People up there, you''ve got a computer go on line and get your State Senator and Reps. involved. I email the ********** in my district all the time. You''ve got to be more pro-active.

[sassalin]

Extremophil,

Dumb??? No they are 11 or 12 and don''t have the mental maturity that you or I might. Have you or your partners always wore condoms? I would wager no so if an adult can''t can you expect a child to?

I disagree with the birth control. Until the child is 18 I have the right/need to know what healthcare my child is getting. Parents need to have the hard talks and make known their befiefs. Hopefull the kids will follow and make good decisions.

[hwy71so]

This a country. One state will take example from the other. My concern, though its Maine, is that Texas will follow this example since its now been broadcast throughout the country.

Don''t tell me its Maine''s problem. We''re in this together.

[geoffgw]

The outsourcing of parenting to schools continues!! for 5 out of 134, we tell the rest of them it''s OK. This is ridiculous! and I''m liberal!!

[skyk-2009]

I''''m all for teaching kids birth control and about the birds and the bees, but they trying to teach about STDs, AIDS, HIV... there are worse things that come from unprotected *** than a baby. Failing that, we should teach them to keep their legs closed!


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Posted by LadyJaneG at 09:29 AM : Oct 18, 2007
+ report abuse

Well one thing we KNOW is teaching them to keep their "Legs Closed" does NOT work... it ain''t natural and violates everything human. The days of fear and diception is gone as well. I think kids are going to experiment regardless of our best efforts... they are going to "Park" and things are going to go to far at times. It''s better to allow them access to Birth Control than it is to hide your head in the sand.

[ladyjaneg]

Well one thing we KNOW is teaching them to keep their "Legs Closed" does NOT work... it ain''''t natural and violates everything human. The days of fear and diception is gone as well. I think kids are going to experiment regardless of our best efforts... they are going to "Park" and things are going to go to far at times. It''''s better to allow them access to Birth Control than it is to hide your head in the sand.


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Posted by skyk at 10:07 AM : Oct 18, 2007

Agreed, and that''s why I said FAILING the education, then teach them to keep their legs closed. Read my entire post before you get all hot and bothered, if you please.

[mudrose-2009]

Well one thing we KNOW is teaching them to keep their "Legs Closed" does NOT work... it ain''''t natural and violates everything human. The days of fear and diception is gone as well. I think kids are going to experiment regardless of our best efforts... they are going to "Park" and things are going to go to far at times. It''''s better to allow them access to Birth Control than it is to hide your head in the sand.
Posted by skyk

Seems to me your head is already in the sand. Teaching kids about *** is not the schools responsibility. If we were so lax about internet porn, and soft porn on TV and rap porn, etc., our kids wouldn''t be all that hyped up to have ***. It''s what the culture is putting out there. It''s up to us to stomp on the ACLU and like minded groups who want to *** up our kids and dumb them down educationally.

[likeitis5050]

Progressive!! Look for the same area to have an alarming rise in STDs, eating disorders, and other mental health disorders over the next 15 years. Just because an eleven year old is physically able to s..c..r..ew, does not mean they are mentally or emotionally able to handle s..c..r..ewing. The parents of children involved in this radical move must either be the most stupid people planted in one area, or the most stupid people planted in one area. Hats off to Maine for hitting a new low.

[actornaught]

I think this program makes me uncomfortable, but...

Obviously parents should teach their own kids about sexx and morality. But, since parents are just ordinary people, they make mistakes, both by omission and just being wrong. Even with the best parenting, kids will, well, screwup, some more than others. Rather than doing some black or white / school or parent kneejerk reaction, this should be looked at as one more component of trying to save a kid''s future.

Would this program be cheaper than raising just one unplanned child? Two?

Then there''s this weirdness: "the ACLU ...want[s] to *** up our kids and dumb them down educationally"...? Just an ignorant lie.

[my5200-2009]

Children need *** education! I read all through this article and found nothing about *** education.

[differnet]

Sadly about 20 years ago, a family began attending our church after their 11 year old got pregnant by her 14 year old boyfriend. She gave birth at the age of 12. For every, 1000 kids who are having a normal childhood, there is probably 1 who has a life that is out of control.

By the way, my daughter has a classmate who is 2 years older than her in her grade. This young man started a year later than normal and stayed back in the 2nd grade.

As for those who scream that parents should take care of their children, I say they are all our children. If I see a child in trouble and do nothing, I''m just as culpable as the parents. We are all in this together folks.

I totally appreciate why the school system is doing this. I am grateful that for those kids who have lost their way and don''t have parents who are there, this school system has bravely offered them a place to turn. And when the kids ask for contraception, the school has the opportunity to counsel them. Thank God someone is willing to do this.

[mudrose-2009]

Then there''''s this weirdness: "the ACLU ...want[s] to *** up our kids and dumb them down educationally"...? Just an ignorant lie.
Posted by actornaught

Seems like you live an ignorant lie. Don''t get out much now do you?

[mudrose-2009]

Progressive!! Look for the same area to have an alarming rise in STDs, eating disorders, and other mental health disorders over the next 15 years. Just because an eleven year old is physically able to s..c..r..ew, does not mean they are mentally or emotionally able to handle s..c..r..ewing. The parents of children involved in this radical move must either be the most stupid people planted in one area, or the most stupid people planted in one area. Hats off to Maine for hitting a new low.
Posted by likeitis5050


They''re now right up there with Colorado and California. Good job, Maine.

[hwy71so]

Maine is providing encouragement for 11 year olds to have ***.

[papabc]

Parents need to be the example, not the exception.
When parent act once way but teach another then what should your kid follow? As you do or As you Say?

If you are to have your kids grow up with a measure of morals then practice that at home in everything you do. This would go for Mom, Dad, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, etc.

You cannot show loose morals then hope your kid does not follow your lead.

[mitywhity]

This is ridiculous! and I''''m liberal!!-----Posted by geoffgw........................That is the most refreshing statement I have read in a week! Maine is the first state - who will be next? Massachusetts? It seems that Mother-Government is reaching deeper into our lives everyday. I think she needs her arms tied personally. If she won''t sit for that then her hands need to be chopped off. If you don''t have one, then download a copy of the Constitution, Bill of Rights and The Declaration of Independence. This is a nation of We the People not We the Government. By the way, the most important amendment to the Constitution is the SECOND! Because once they (socialist democrats and spineless moderate republicans) take the second amendment away ALL THE REST of them don''t matter anymore! Wake up! Why after all the guns were collected from the citizens of New Orleans has the gun-related crime and murder skyrocketed? Because the cliche is true! Only the bad guys have guns and the citizenry have no power to defend themselves. Wake up!

[ladyjaneg]

Again, I state that they should teaching about STDs and AIDS and HIV as well. A baby is NOT the worst thing that could happen--- they could give it up for adoption, for example. But what happens when they get HIV?

[differnet]

I wonder how many of you have ever taught in a middle school? I have and can tell you that you would be shocked by what the students are doing. At age 11 it''s not so bad, but by 13 there are, at least, a few sexually active students. Trust me, your little darlings aren''t that little or darling when you aren''t around.

[mudrose-2009]

Maine is providing encouragement for 11 year olds to have ***.
Posted by Hwy71So

Try to hold a Christmas pagent and watch the sparks fly with the ACLU, but condoms and contraception, good for the kids, good for the country. What people are failing to see is that the state and eventually the government is trying to take away parental control of children. Germany did it, China did it. These are not very good signs and omens. I all for the Second Amendment. Anyone advocating squashing the Second Amendment in my book is gonna be in deep trouble. Anyone silencing the First Amendment in my book will eventually be dead.

[mommamac1]

Everyone should consider this: an 11 year old having ***? I would have to consider the possibility of abuse; either abuse by someone or abuse by neglect. Five out of 134 students having *** is not even close to a majority, rather a very, very small percentage of the whole. Think about this Maine school districts: a student develops complications from the pill or the patch, you have now been sued! I do agree with one posting that students may ask for the pill just to look "cool." Leave this up to the parents!

[mudrose-2009]

I wonder how many of you have ever taught in a middle school? I have and can tell you that you would be shocked by what the students are doing. At age 11 it''''s not so bad, but by 13 there are, at least, a few sexually active students. Trust me, your little darlings aren''''t that little or darling when you aren''''t around.
Posted by differnet

When you''ve got Britney Spears walking around exposing her privates and shows like Girls Gone Wild exposing themselves explicitly and numbnuts like Paris Hilton thrown at these kids day and night, what do you expect. We are drowning in soft porn, hard porn and even the judges up there are soft on pedophilia. Right next door in New Hampshire. Keep supporting Judges that take it upon themselves to legislate rather than follow the law, these are the kinds of cultural smut we expose our kids too.

[ov442]

differnet you said it best.

However, i guess on the other side of the coin, i''d have to say i''m worried for the health of the kids. What studies have they done/cited that show no ill-health effects to children for taking birth control medication? it does affect the hormones.
And these kids are right in the middle of the age of pubescent growth.
I would have no problem with condoms being given out to those that think they are going to mess around, but i''d also hand out a pamphlet directly concentrating on the reasons why not to begin at an early age. So at least its there.

As for those ignorants spouting off about parents should be the only ones talking S-x education, youre in need of getting out in the world.
Up until the last couple decades or so, it was still completely Taboo to even discuss it with kids by most of the same Conservative liars that now stand against education.
Most parents didnt tell kids anything, or if they did it was full of rediculous metaphors and misinformation. You know where your conservative kids got their Se_ ed? at Catholic schools. Yeah, thats right. Catholic schools are a great place for your kids to learn about unwanted pregancy, myths about s_x, abuse, etc.

[fedupredneck]

"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."
Did anybody out there bother to read the article? Its bad enough they are going to do it-its worse that they don''t even have to tell the parents.if my daughter was in that school I would pull her out ASAP.

[bustardo]

At a time when most children cannot even take an asprin to school or a school nurse must contact a parent to give the child an asprin; how can a school give out birth control pills without a prrents consent? I would be interested in knowing what the medical consequences are of giving these pills to girls so young that their reproductive systems have not had a chance to fully develop.
Further, why should a school be allowed to make moral decisions over a parents right to decide what is best for their child.
Have we not learned anything from the issues about schools mandating problem children being required to take Ritalin???
***???

[ov442]

mudrose - youre right about all the role models in the US that are teaching our kids to be immoral and distasteful.
Especially all the Republican Politicians that keep showing us that its ok to Tell people you hate G_y S_x while you go do it in private like Sen. Craig, or that its ok to frequent prostitutes like Sen. Vitter and not admit to it until someone catches you, or to Take bribes like Representative Cunningham in the largest bribe case in history, or to Solicit Minors for homos_xual acts using the internet, while you are on the committe to toughen laws against Internet predators like Rep. Mark Foley, or maybe like the Reverend TEd Haggard the Leader of the Entire Evangelical Church that spoke out against Homos_xuality while he was visiting male prostitutes and buying illegal narcotics.
Wow! thanks to the Republicans for showing us their Moral highground to and to give us Wonderful Examples of how our Children should be and that they can always get away with it and land big paying jobs afterwards with their Republican allies whose palms they greased on the way in.
Thanks again Mudrose for bringing that up.

[mudrose-2009]

Most parents didnt tell kids anything, or if they did it was full of rediculous metaphors and misinformation. You know where your conservative kids got their Se_ ed? at Catholic schools. Yeah, thats right. Catholic schools are a great place for your kids to learn about unwanted pregancy, myths about s_x, abuse, etc.

posted by ov442

Sounds like your parents didn''t tell you anything. Sounds like you also have a beef with Catholicism, as usual. Schools have no business handing out condoms or contraception to children. It sends the wrong message and the only thing they teach is if you get knocked up, get an abortion. Are you that stupid to assume that schools teach otherwise.

[papabc]

Posted by mudrose
Try to hold a Christmas pagent and watch the sparks fly with the ACLU, but condoms and contraception, good for the kids, good for the country. What people are failing to see is that the state and eventually the government is trying to take away parental control of children. Germany did it, China did it. These are not very good signs and omens. I all for the Second Amendment. Anyone advocating squashing the Second Amendment in my book is gonna be in deep trouble. Anyone silencing the First Amendment in my book will eventually be dead.
==========================================

Tell me now, How do you suggest Parents start taking back their rights as parents?

Also do you practic what you what your kids to learn? When school teach just the opposite it is easy to understand how many kids go wrong. We turned them over to liberal teachers and elected moral liberals into Government.

[mudrose-2009]

Posted by ov442

Another Fairy Princess. I might have known. Let''s see what was that hint. Catholicism?

[ov442]

Fedup and Bust,
Did you people "read" the article yourselves?
You keep saying that someone else would have moral decisionmaking over the parent.

"Students treated at the centers must first get written parental permission, ..."

I''ll translate this for you.... this means that "Students treated at the centers MUST first get written parental permission."

The section stating what the state law is, does not matter. The School system''s rule is in place. Do you think any kids at the school will fight the rule openly? it would be contrary to the point, because then their parents would know.

[ov442]

Mudrose, Im not stupid, i actually live in the real world and I apparently know Volumes more than you will ever know. As each of your statements continues to blow hard your massive ignorance about life and people.
Keep talkin. Your mere presence on these boards raises the entertainment factor, and lowers the collective IQ.

[mudrose-2009]

Tell me now, How do you suggest Parents start taking back their rights as parents?

Also do you practice what you what your kids to learn? When school teach just the opposite it is easy to understand how many kids go wrong. We turned them over to liberal teachers and elected moral liberals into Government.
Posted by PapaBC

Start by talking to other parents. Start by talking to your State representatives. Start by taking a good look at what the schools are teaching and if you don''t like something start complaining. If you don''t get results, take your kids out of that school. If more parents started protesting with their feet, the schools wouldn''t be so powerful. Look at what''s happening in Califonria. Schools out there thanks to their legislators and that *** of a Governor are now propoganda mills. You don''t like what the schools are teaching speak out.

[mudrose-2009]

Mudrose, Im not stupid, i actually live in the real world and I apparently know Volumes more than you will ever know. As each of your statements continues to blow hard your massive ignorance about life and people.
Keep talkin. Your mere presence on these boards raises the entertainment factor, and lowers the collective IQ.
Posted by ov442

Don''t bore us with my IQ is higher than yours. Why don''t you go on the Dr. Watson issue site and poor out your heart about how high an IQ you have. It''s rather moot.