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.

[michellem99-2009]

I wanted to use my legla name Michelle on some site.. My mame was blocked. I asked Why..The lady said Michelle has the word HELL in it. Their sofeware blocks as they feel kids will see hell in my name. I boycott their building parts in stores. What ones I have paked them up and them in storage. Michelle is the female form the male name and afther the angel St Michael.

[michellem99-2009]

It is their software,

[michellem99-2009]

They ouaght not give out any meds to a child as they could kill him''her. I have always gotten charlie horses in my legs and feet and still do.they hurt. Is there any thing parents can do to make sure they don''t give yer child birth control..Like sign a paper as a Mum did raise good points. I would not allow it..I am just a pay person.

[missygurl1]

Why does CBSNews **** out the correct names for body parts and the work s***e****x???These are not vile or offensive words. I have seen far more offensive words published.... (Every man well mostly lol) has a p *n*s

[missygurl1]

I see both sides on this issue, But would not want anyone giving my 11 year old b/c. There are so many reasons. I have an open relationship with my child we talk about anything that has to do with ***, and answer questions. I am always going over situations and senerios, which we plan out and talk about. What about the blood clot issues? if my child was on this and had cramping in her calf or could not straighten it out I may thing muscle spasm or sports injury instead of blood clot. I know you do not have to be informed about med. info such as b/c pills this disturbes me. Then there are people whom are not responsible in talking with their kids who are getting std''s and think that just because their *** starts to mature or it feels good its on!So this plan would/may be beneficial for them. My cousin who does not smoke drink is thin has great b/p almost died one day due to blood clots, so it is a scary slop when you are not informed what your kids are not doing or takin. I never slep around or had *** till I was married at 22, I tell my children I hope they do the same. It is hard but very possible.not braggin here just saying put standards up for your kids tell them you have faith in them but if they fail try again and let them know they can come to you with out judgement because Everyone makes mistakes.

[michellem99-2009]

I mean by free I am not in a cage.

[michellem99-2009]

erasmus6,Dear Yer make a good piont. We don''t have the freedoms yer talking about as the govt has us where it wants us. If we take a stand against than we are threated with lock up.I don''t care about guns you know that. It is not lazy but told what we can/can''t do. I speak my mind I am told if I wish to remain free from what ever they may do I best roll with the program...

[erasmus6]

One thing that I have noticed in reading the articles on this website over the past months is that the people in the U.S. are OBSESSED about being FREE and in CONTROL. You panic at the thought of loosing your guns. Alot of you are totally against universal health care because you are afraid it takes away your "control" or something. The problem is you have a completely distorted view about what universal health care is. Of course what the U.S. thinks universal health care is and what our healthcare is here in Canada, may be two different things.

Now for people that are so obsessed with FREEDOM and being in CONTROL, I have never seen people so far away from the freedom as you in the U.S. Is freedom HAVING to have a gun to protect yourselves? Is freedom having to worry constantly about your medical or lack of? Is it having to pay an arm and a leg for your medications?

And now there is this thing about the birthcontrol. You don''t like the fact that they are taking the control out of your hands, yet you never really had control of the situation anyways or your children wouldn''t be getting pregnant and catching diseases to begin with.

None of you have any control over anything. Your government controls you. The people have no say. I am starting to think the reason for that is a lot of you are very lazy and are not doing what needs to be done. You aren''t taking care of your kids and you are also not standing up to your government and making it clear what you want.

[bhappy2-2]

Maybe it has something to do with the story AP is reporting concerning teachers molesting their students. They report that the law in Maine requires confidentiality about teachers investigated for molestations.

[batmanhatguy]

They shouldn''t be enabling these children to commit a crime (*** under the age of 14). There are serious ethical issues with that. Children ought to be taught that it''s illegal. The government has already conclusively decided that minors are NOT competent to engage in that kind of activity with an adult (this is why statutory rapists and pedophiles are put in jail), and yet now they''re implying that 12 year olds are competent to make the decision to engage in sexual activity with each other? This is inconsistent.

[vrum1]

It%u2019s common sense that a child of the age of 11-13 shouldn%u2019t have s e x; our society teaches this is LOVE.

Therefore, what a child sees being done by their parent who are likely divorce, separate, widow or single have a relationship with out the bond of marriage, they to will believe this is the way love is dealt with. Therefore, they will fulfill their own void by having intercourse with another and believe this is love.

And as other posters have indicated, if the parents weren%u2019t so wrapped up in their own personal quota this sad situation wouldn%u2019t be happening.

Pray for Peace, and God Bless You.

[helenw4-2009]

Of course they have to defend it; it''s indefensible. Schools are not charged with being Mom and Dad nor should they be. While it''s unfortunate that society has sexed up childhood and many parents are negligent of their parental duties, the fact remains that birth control for 11 year olds is not, and should not, be the business of a school. If they would concentrate on scholarship, and less on regulating social issues, and parents would step up to the plate and actually BE parents, we wouldn''t be addressing this issue.

[kevzgrl]

I don''t see this as giving kids a green light to go and have s-e-x. They are ALREADY HAVING IT, parents - and for the most part, it''s because you are too busy and too selfish to sit down with them and talk to them and spend time with them and teach them right from wrong!!! Our society today lets children get away with more and more outrageous behavior, in the name of "empowerment" and "self-determinism" and any other gobbledy-***, sort of psychological sounding bullsh-i-t you want to call it. When teens can destroy property and cause mayhem in the schools and streets and local shopping centers and get a pat on the wrist and a "Don''t do it again", what exactly are we teaching them? If you parents in Maine don''t want your children having birth control (or, if not having it, make you young grandparents) then, for God''s sake, teach them that *** is for after marriage, and provide guidance and supervison and some MORALS!

[keithle1]

The religious right in Maine must be doing their nut.

[erasmus6]

I look at it this way: Right now there are kids having s-e-x. They are getting pregnant and getting all sorts of diseases. Obviously there is something wrong or this wouldn''t be happening. AND obviously nothing is being done about it or it still wouldn''t be happening. I am trying to figure out what it is some of you are not seeing. Do you think that ******* parents are suddenly going to get a brain and start looking after their kids and teaching them right from wrong??? If you do, you need to give your heads a shake. Something needs to be done NOW.

Some of you think that it is just a simple matter of getting parents to start being better parents, well let me tell you that is going to be next to impossible. So in the meantime children are STILL going to be getting pregnant and STILL going to be getting diseases.

At this point in time, until there is some other solution (which isn''t going to be any time soon), the only option to prevent children from destroying their lives, is to make available, condoms and education.

Whatever is being done now (which is NOTHING), obviously AIN''T working.

[michellem99-2009]

I AM TRYING TO GET THEM DUMB KIDS TO THINK BEFORE THEY RUIN THEIR LIFE AND HAVE TO BE FORCED IN TO WHAT THEY DON''T HAVE TO..They should be children and we should allow that.Now their parents need to take this matter in their hands tell the school to butt out.

[Krazcarl]

Michelle what has that to do with anything I wasn''t hitting on you just debating a point but am glad your happy my life is full I have few complaints if I don''t dwell on them.

[michellem99-2009]

i have a dear friend that I live with and love dearly as he is there for me. We have been togeter going on 25 years.

[Krazcarl]

MichelleM100..friend. At 50 I''ve dealt with a lot of ladies half my fault half theirs but have heard these stories to many times I''ve been through 15 major surgeries from everything from gunshot wound car accidents to and brain aneurism spleen rupture so folks hid there secrets with me I don''t like it but they see me as refuge in the storm so I know more about these situations than I need or want to know most girls under 15 are being put up to it by bubs friend a relative or from a broken home and looking for love in all the wrong places or just plane acceptance and if these are your reasons for a intimate relationship you need counseling not pills and a pat on the back.

[michellem99-2009]

crzmeat I understand yer stand and there are preteens that are look more adult than I. They can pass as shch. They ride the public bus. I thot yer still lived in Maine. The birth control should be between the parents pupil and Dr. This is an adult matter. Girls if they have their period can carry a child. They have no business having sexx but some do. This sound crazy but where are the parents who are to raise them..Too busy.Should the schools give them birth control no.