Maine School Defends Birth Control Program

Decision To Provide The Pill To Students As Young At 11 Sparks Controversy, Outrage

(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 America, 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 would not have to tell them they were seeking birth control.

"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.

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.

“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."

The head of Maine's Roman Catholic diocese is expressing shock at the Portland School Committee's decision to make prescription contraceptives available to middle school students without parental permission.

Bishop Richard Malone said the decision will inevitably lead to more sexual experimentation among younger children. It also sends a message that the government should replace parents in certain parts of a child's life, even without the parents' knowledge, he said.

"I join the number of parents who have expressed their outrage and disbelief at the decision which affects young girls aged 11 to 14 years old," Malone said. "When contradictory messages are given to children from important authority figures such as parents and school officials, it can create more confusion and difficulty for children themselves in making this important life decision."

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.

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.

[craigh9]

Sue the SOB - your job is to educate students, put your focus there! The last thing we need are educators that rarely exhibit any connection to the real world to get involved in social issues. Do your job, and let parents do theirs.

[gramto7]

Far too many parents have their heads in the sand when it comes to the sexual exploits of their children. It would be far better for the kids to be informed and armed than to be left to their own defenses like most parents wish. For all those who preach "Abstinence!! Abstinence!!", open your eyes and look around. Abstinence-only information is not working. Kids need ALL the information in order to make an informed decision.

[dowjones20k]

This is nothing more than the schools trying to be parents & babysitters and decide whats best for other peoples children ... no doubt some should NOT have children ... however ..

It is and should be up to parents to decide if thier CHILDREN (11 yrs old) need to be educated and what to educate them about and whether they need birth control ..

The government (bleeding hearts/do gooders) is/are getting into areas that it has no business getting into, this is a privacy issue and if schools are going to get into the contraceptive business then they are treading on thin ice .. lawsuits will be forthcoming !!

ITS NOT YOUR BUSINESS !!! GO AWAY !!

[kennedy7955]

I looked at the poll and 28% said that this is a good idea. Who are these crazy people?

[ov442]

First of all, the responsible parents that DO talk to their children, and watch them like hawks and never let them out of their sight, are not going to be affected by this. This is only for those few students that are engaging in underage intercourse and whose parents are not keeping an eye on them and are not talking to them about it.
Secondly, since that district had 17 MIDDLE SCHOOL pregnancies last year alone, thats Bad, But NO ONE, NO ONE is offering any intelligent or useful ideas to stop it from happening.
The Communists in this country that call themselves Conservatives have offered NOTHING to stop this disaster for both the children and the babies that come into this world because of it.

They want to pass laws to Control what you do and how you do it, but then clamour for independance when some institution tries to solve a Serious problem by dealing with it themselves.
C''mon People! whats your alternative solution to stopping the underage se_x and pregnancies if not something like this?

[greeneyes222]

There''s no defense for this decision, although it''s interesting to watch them try. They can promise no birth control will be given out without extensive counseling, but with blanket assumed permission there''s nothing to enforce that.

Schools are for education - period. Whoever dreamed up this policy needs to rethink it quickly, or they won''t serve on the school board for long.

[zootallures2]

This is like a pre-school having to hand out shoes to toddlers who are secretly walking...LOL.

You all know about the 27 or 72 vigins in Arabia, yes? The real story is how the old men from the two tribes conspired to send the young men to kill each other. Guess who really got the virgins.

Like abstinence.
a) You jealous they''ll have more fun than you.
b) They be so despirate, they be easier for you to get on MySpace.

[staycalm]

Get the government out of our private lives! This is one governmental agency ancouraging young children to break the laws of another. For an 11 year-old to have *** is a crime in this country. For any adult to facilitate that is pimping and pandering. Another thing to consider: if a child begins having *** at 11, how many partners will she go through in her lifetime and wouldn''t this greatly increase her chances of contracting an STD which pills do not protect against? Can you all just picture two 11 year old children having sexual intercourse. I think this is what child pornography looks like and most normal people are sickened by the thought. Any adult who is part of this whould be investigated and examined because they are beyond sick. These adults, including those at the health center who prescribe the pills, should be arrested and I will commit to trying to make sure that happens.

[ckcool192001]

Dowjones20k,

I agree with you, the responsibility should be with the parents in this country to determine how and when to discuss this topic.

However, increasingly in this country parents are getting lazy, they are not watching their kids, they are not diciplining their kids and they are not talking to their kids about things such as this. I believe another post here got it right, the parents that do care about their children and do watch them every minute and make sure that they are not doing anything they shouldn''t be doing won''t have to worry, but these parents that let their kids run wild...are the ones that should be worried. These kids run around and if their parents don''t care they''ll end up with 3 or 4 kids by the time they graduate...if they graduate. The school is attempting to prevent pregnacy so that these kids won''t drop out of school...which is great..however I do believe that if a student is given birth control that the parents should be informed especially if the student is under 16.

These parents that are screaming about this should take a look at how they are raising their kids...I''m willing to bet that these parents havn''t spent the time to talk to their kids about anything.

Parents, get off your lazy bums and be a parent to you kid..don''t just use them for a tax right off.

[zootallures2]

11 might be a bit crazy, but at 13 you are an adult. They gotta go, they gotta go. Would you stop them from learning to walk or go to the bathroom too? They should pick and stay with one partner, but abstinence is impossible. Do you want them to go insane...lol?

[red1530]

I have two qualms with this program. First is the fact is if the parent signs the form to allow their child to use the health center, they can''t tell the nurse running it what to give their child. Second the school is not required to tell the parents if the child is using the pill or not because of privacy laws. I think I could live with this program if parents can prevent their child from receiving the pill and / or inform the parents that their child is receiving the pill. Also ov442 the number of pregnancies was seven not seventeen.

[zootallures2]

Can you all just picture two 11 year old children having sexual intercourse. I think this is what child pornography looks like and most normal people are sickened by the thought.

Posted by staycalm at 11:38 AM : Oct 19, 2007

11 is crazy, but parents should be smart enough to know what it''s like when you gotta go. Why would the school need to give out birth control? And child pornography? Only if adults are watching. Are you going to cut their hands off too?

Stop being so jealous of your teenagers having more fun than you. They are supposed too.

[ladyjaneg]

Far too many parents have their heads in the sand when it comes to the sexual exploits of their children. It would be far better for the kids to be informed and armed than to be left to their own defenses like most parents wish. For all those who preach "Abstinence!! Abstinence!!", open your eyes and look around. Abstinence-only information is not working. Kids need ALL the information in order to make an informed decision.

--

Then we shoudl give them condom so they are at least protected from HIV and STDs. There are worse things they could get than pregnant.

[erasmus6]

"First of all, the responsible parents that DO talk to their children, and watch them like hawks and never let them out of their sight, are not going to be affected by this. This is only for those few students that are engaging in underage intercourse and whose parents are not keeping an eye on them and are not talking to them about it." posted by ov442

I think you have it backwards. There are probably more kids engaging in s-e-x than not. If this school is going to this extreme there must be a MAJOR problem.

There seems to be an awful lot of parents these days that are just too lazy to look after their kids. And I don''t see that changing.

Once kids have had s-e-x they are not going to stop. I am not for handing out the birth control pills but I do believe they should have access to condoms and they should have education because obviously the parents are not doing it.

Having condoms available is NOT going to make them want to have s-e-x. A kid is either going to WANT to or they aren''t and a condom isn''t going to make them do it. Even if there are no condoms, if they want to have s-e-x, they will have s-e-x.

[hwy71so]

Yep, we just continue to cede control of our lives to the government...

[zootallures2]

Give the school some credit. This is the first time in ages a US school is teaching something heteros*xual.

[zootallures2]

Even the Taliban let people get married by 13 years old. Abstinence...lol. You are just jealous or want them for yourself.

[zootallures2]

Man... at least us Muslims and Jews don''t make the kids suffer. How many of you crazy Chistians have had your son''s testicals explode...lol? Is it just the Priest who he can be with? You are crazy!

[ladyjaneg]

K, I''m an attractive woman(sorry, but we''re all being honest) and I managed to keep my virginty until I was married. (I got married at 20) My parents knew who my friends were, where I was going, what kinds of shows I was watching and the music I was listening to. Yah, in today''s society, it sounds ridiculously controlling, but you know what? They were being PARENTS. It''s okay to say "No" to kids and watch what they are doing and make sure they aren''t having ***. And if they are, fine. Get them condoms and teach them about STDs and HIV as well as pregnancy. That''s ok----but don''t act as if a baby if the worst thing that can happen from ***.

[bthrasher102]

1. Doesn''t birth control require a prescription
2. Kids that young don''t read and or follow instructions or take warnings seriously. What happens when you take birth control and start smoking? Your risk of blood clots goes way up. I''m not sure on other possible side effects and how serious they are, but giving medicine to a kid who''s afraid to let their parents know about it is a bad idea. If they won''t tell the parent, are they going to tell their doctor?

[oleander8]

Blah, blah, blah. If an individual is physically mature enough to be having s-e-x - they should have access to all the information and products related to it. If this is not available to them at home - they should have other sources available to them. KUDOS! to King Middle School.

[ladyjaneg]

Blah, blah, blah. If an individual is physically mature enough to be having s-e-x - they should have access to all the information and products related to it. If this is not available to them at home - they should have other sources available to them. KUDOS! to King Middle School.


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Posted by oleander8 at 12:34 PM : Oct 19, 2007


It doesn''t mean they are mentally mature enough for it. They need to know (AND CARE) about the risks that are ssociated with the Pill. How many of those tweens to do you think will actually go for annual pap smears, for example?

[michellem99-2009]

13 IS NOT AN ADULT. AN ADULT IS 18.

[hypnotoad72]

With so many STDs, molesters, misconceptions about *** on the human level (aka heartache and how it is more than a mere physical act), it''s d**n stupid to give prophylactics to children. Never mind children, at age 11, certainly aren''t going to know any better and most teenagers think they''re being individualistic, different rebels (not fathoming the obvious that it''s not being different nor individualistic if he''s doing the same thing as everyone else!)

And if adult liberal women in the 1970s complained about ''the pill'', why do adult "liberals" now want to give it to CHILDREN?!?!?!?!!!! You bet I''m outraged.

Also, the taliban is a gaggle of lunatic nut-cases. Not exactly the type of people we''d want to emulate, surely?!

I used to be a leftie, but the more I see this sort of garbage happening, the more I openly question myself. and what''s going on in this country. I know, thinking is wrong... forgive me for doing so, but all the proponents of this travesty just happen to be on the political Left.

WHY isn''t abstinence working? Children look up to and mimic what adults do (until they reach teenage years, when they attempt to do what they want, because we as a society want them to do it by encouraging such activities!). Maybe the media is partly responsible?! And us?

Society is doing something wrong. Let''s fix it. And stop contributing to it and then wondering why the *** gets worse.

[hypnotoad72]

And if a person is under 18 - that''s a child. The parents have EVERY right to know AND MORE. It''s a simple enough concept.

What next, we give rights to fetuses? What if the fetus wants an abortion? (Hint, there may be a greater meaning to this paragraph than meets the eye...)

[sahia-2009]

If an 11 year old had a drug problem, would you supply him with needles? Why not, he is already involved in it, let''s just keep it going. If he had a drinking problem, would you go buy beer for him? Why not, he likes getting drunk, right? I''m being facetious, these kids may end up dead from these activites. This is the same principal when applied to this article. This is dangerous activity that they are involved in due to aids and hepatitis. We don''''t give them the means to continue, we step in and help them out of the situation, by informing them of the dangers and starting programs that graphically give the reprocussions of s-e-x. That seems like a better use for everyones''time and money. These 11 year olds are not mature enough to use birth control correctly anyway; most adults aren''t. By giving them access to it, it will only look like permission to them to be more promiscuous. This enables them to go from partner to partner without guilt. More partners=more chance of disease and pregnancy. Besides, God says *** is wrong before marriage.

[signof4]

Want to know what the country would be like under liberal democrat rule? Picture this insanity and the morals of San Fransissysco on a NATIONWIDE basis!

If that''s not enough to make you vote republican, nothing will.

[yoopermom]

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.
----------------------------
If they are this old and still in middle school, then s*e*x is not the biggest problem here! They need to put more effert into getting into high school than getting into someones pants.

[ladyjaneg]

I used to be a leftie, but the more I see this sort of garbage happening, the more I openly question myself. and what''''s going on in this country. I know, thinking is wrong... forgive me for doing so, but all the proponents of this travesty just happen to be on the political Left.

---

I''m starting to feel the same way...

[mudrose-2009]

Want to know what the country would be like under liberal democrat rule? Picture this insanity and the morals of San Fransissysco on a NATIONWIDE basis!

If that''''s not enough to make you vote republican, nothing will.
Posted by SignOf4

Worse yet is the fact that if these kids are s/exually active at ll, no telling who''s impregnating them. And if this doesn''t let out the pedophiles because they certainly can smell a prey, these kids are now ripe for rape but them and other adults. Nice.

[nexgen99]

How can anyone defend giving birth control pills to an eleven year old. This is sick.

[michellem99-2009]

I am 53. A Mainer. My parents had to marry that was 54. Mum was 16. She was forced to drop out of high school due me that she was carrying. A child having a child. You know what happened. I was born legally blind with c/p. They had 2 more children. I was 5 and one day she walked out on Dad and us. For another man and was not going to raise another man''s children. So we ended up in bad foster homes. I stated school at 10. My birth mother washed her hands of being aparent when her 2RD family turnt 13. No wonder their messed up. Birth control just sends the message to have sexx when it is not right. Preditors know this and we as a people must not allow this so yer girls are their prey. Don''t allow them to wear them sexxy clothes their friends wears as yer the one who buy her things. I don''t care what her peers do and dress I was told by my care takers.

[soldat44]

How can anyone defend giving birth control pills to an eleven year old. This is sick

Posted by nexgen99 at 02:17 PM : Oct 19, 2007

You''re right.

It''s morally indefensible.

[soldat44]

If that''''s not enough to make you vote republican, nothing will.


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Posted by SignOf4 at 01:46 PM : Oct 19, 2007

Not really - Sen. Olympia Snow(R) is from Maine.

[nexgen99]

This is the way of the secular progressives and left wing politically correct crowd. Total moral decay. That''s what they want and we have to make sure we vote all their pals out of office starting with the Fed and all the way down to the individual town councils.

I wonder everyday what kind of an America will my grandchildren grow up in.

[michellem99-2009]

soldat44, I am aware there are churchy parents and they won''t teach the facts of life,there is birth control and they say it goes against their church..Who going to raise that bas***** child that under age girl will birth.WHO. Will it be the girl. I don''t think so. Her parents. The child will go in foster homes. Ladies use yer heads..Think ahead..The schools is for lessons..The school could not teach sexx ed years ago. Why now..Yer to busy to care tp raise yer child.

[tcoleman12]

That is a weak argument Sold...you know as well as everyone else that Olimpia Snow is no Republican.

[comment1-2009]

I''ve seen it first hand. A family 2 doors down from us, had an 11 year old daughter, that had a crush on a high-school boy. Rather than being concerned, they were in complete denial.
They thought it was nice that she spent time with her brother and his ''friend'', and cute that she ''thought he was awesome''.
When she became pregnant, it became clear that their belief that she was ''too young to be interested in ***'' was just their wishful thinking.
Today, there is so much information about *** available on the internet, on TV, and in the print media, that the kids know more about *** at 10, than we did at 21.
It''s better to have a source of protection available, than to have the ''pleasant world of denial'' shattered by the ugly reality of pregnancy, disease, or juvenial bad judgement.

[ladyjaneg]

Agreed, they shoudl have a source of protection avialable. But not just proctection from pregnancy. That girl was lucky, in the grand scheme of things that all she got was pregnant. She didn''t get herpes, HIV or anything. And I''m sorry,but those parents were stupid to let their 11 year old daughter hang around a high school boy--friend of brother or not. They should acted like parents.

[ladyjaneg]

Sorry about the typos! :)

[michellem99-2009]

I knew nothing of the facts of life an adult. I was in foster homes and then a blind cenre in Portland. I was 28 and left that place with the gent I am still with. Dr, asked me about birth control. I said what the hell is that..The thing I was told by my late foster mothers was sexx is dirty..That was it. In my 20s I asked my then Dr to fix my tubes no sah she would not. I want it for health reasons..she said what about a man...I am not worred about the male..She still would not do it...The Drs need to listen to us patents and not their church.

[antoniof123]

Let me see I really don''t care. You know why, because I raised my children and they know what would have happened to them but I also taught them like my wife to be careful. We spent time with them, now I have a son and he knows what will happen if he even thinks it. But hey I am just a dumb liberal. And I believe that Snow is the Republican Senator there. But what the hey if they want it must mean that the Republicans can''s raise their kids properly.

[michellem99-2009]

The blind centre was in Portland Maine. I am 53, I was talking to my friend who is my long time room mate. He told me years ago his mother was in hospital in SD in the 40s his mother shared a room with a 12 year old. that kid was there to have a baby. His mother an adult who was there for the same reason. His mother was birthing one of his older bros. We can read yer posts as we are the best spellers as the main thing is yer wish to share,

[grammawhamma]

I agree with giving them condoms...the kids that are sexually active will hopefully use them. The 11 year olds that aren''t sexually active can use them for water balloons.

I''m not against giving the girls birth control pills if they have the parents permission.

What next...turn the girl''s locker room into a confidential abortion clinic for those who forgot to take their pills??

[ladyjaneg]

I agree with giving them condoms...the kids that are sexually active will hopefully use them. The 11 year olds that aren''''t sexually active can use them for water balloons.

I''''m not against giving the girls birth control pills if they have the parents permission.

What next...turn the girl''''s locker room into a confidential abortion clinic for those who forgot to take their pills??


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by GrammaWhamma at 03:56 PM : Oct 19, 2007

Gramma, you just made my day, especially the water balloons remark!! LOL!!

[waralan]

I feel if we are believing young kids don''t pursue sexual activity, we have our head in the sand. It, therefore, seems more sense to prevent teen pregnancy

[yoopermom]

GrammaWhamma & LadyJaneG
I completely agree. A school has no right giving my child PRESCRIPTION medication without me knowing about it. This is much more than giving them a Tylenol or Tums. And as LadyJane has said, pregnancy is not the worse think that can happen. There are too many STDs out there. If they are going to be having s*e*x at this age I would bet that they are probably going to have multiple partners so who knows what they are spreading around.

As for the water balloons, I gave my son condoms a few years ago (he is now 18) to have {just in case} and this is exactly what they did with them!

[rohink-2009]

This is the way of the secular progressives and left wing politically correct crowd. Total moral decay. That''''s what they want and we have to make sure we vote all their pals out of office starting with the Fed and all the way down to the individual town councils.

I wonder everyday what kind of an America will my grandchildren grow up in.

Posted by nexgen99

~~~~~~~

I''m with you. There sure is a lot of ignorance in this country.

[michellem99-2009]

We are talking about under age. Children..boys and girls..school age...Why does the school system have to thach this as it is not a school subject. Yer won''t be parents..Do you think teachers don''t have sexx with a pupil..some do..That is a way a teacher who know a girl is on the pill will be used for sexx. What is the matter here...Ye ought know the pill may not work. No form of birth control is baby proof. They watch TV,movies,listen to hip hop and more white do,dress like hookers, yer think it is cute. Teachers and parents are NOT the child''s friend. They are teachers and parents. Parents yer ever watch the music visuals..May be yer ouhght. Get in that child''s world. Things have changed since we were children..I know Maine living.

[prolegomena]

Anyone else need another reason to get your children out of the public schools?

Lord, have mercy...