Sunday, April 27, 2008

Should Schools Provide Free Birth Control to Teenagers?

I do not believe that schools should pass out free birth control. The free distribution of contraception products will only add to a world wind of problems with schools in the country. Schools already have enough issues figure out funding for books, the shortage of teachers because of low pay, and test scores lowering throughout the nation (not even mentioning that the students are way behind other students around the world) for school nurses having to give out birth control.
Schools would have to be concerned about the age limit of when a student is “age appropriate” to be responsible enough to be given birth control. Teenage girls are just starting to develop their bodies so who to say if the birth control could have a negative side effect hindering their puberty. Also, birth control does not solve the issue of Sexually Transmitted Diseases; the birth control will only encourage adolescences to engage in risky behavior and not think about the repercussions of STDs. Another issue is that parental consent will start to raise its ugly head. Morally speaking parents would not want their children given birth control because the purpose of school is to educate not prescribe medication.
Therefore, giving birth control to teenagers should not even be considered as an option. It is not only morally and ethically wrong; it can be very dangerous. So my best option would be to continue to teach sex awareness and stress abstinence its much safer!

No comments: