7th Grade: Readin' and Writin' and Birth Control Pills

So you are innocently rummaging through your 13 year old daughter Susie's room and - to your surprise and horror - you find a packet of birth control pills, prescribed by a doctor at her school. Tearfully, Susie explains that she had not wanted to disappoint you and had sought the school clinic's help when she decided to become sexually active with dreamy Biff, her 14-year-old boyfriend.

You are, understandably, mortified and then incensed at the school: How dare they prescribe this strong medicine and support Susie's becoming sexually active without so much as a by-your-leave to you, the parent?

* * * *

By a vote of 7-2, the school committee of Portland, Maine recently decided to offer oral contraceptives (OCPs or "the pill") to students in their middle school health clinic. There had been 17 pregnancies in their three middle schools over the past 4 years (which does not include those that were not reported, or terminated, or ended in miscarriage). The director of Maine's Health and Human Services put it this way: "Clearly they are too young to be engaged in sexual activity, but the reality is that they are sexually active. It is our responsibility to offer a full range of primary care services to students. Fortunately it's a small number."

Students must first have their parents sign a consent for medical treatment at the clinic (in the ensuing uproar, this is often missed: parents must consent for their child to receive care at the clinic, but they cannot dictate the nature of that care). The treatment is confidential and the students can decide what, if anything, to tell their parents. Birth control prescriptions will be given after the student has undergone a physical examination and counseling by a physician or nurse practitioner.

And so the controversy has begun: is this a good idea or a bad one? Let's lay out the positions.

* * * *

As a start, let's see if we can all find common ground by agreeing that:

• Children this young should not be having sex. Period.


• Kids should be discussing their sexual behavior with their parents, who should play a role in their decision-making.


• Oral contraceptives are very strong hormones. Who knows what effect they might have on such a young child in the short run and in the long run? It would be good to avoid their use in young children whenever possible.

* * * *

Why this is a bad idea:

• It is not the place of a school to provide such medical care to kids in the first place, especially when it does not include the minor child's parents. It's another example of the government usurping rightful parental authority.


• By prescribing OCPs, the school is endorsing and even encouraging sexual activity at an early age.


• By not advising the parents, an opportunity to promote communication between parent and child is circumvented.

Why this is a good idea:

• The kids who ask for OCPs have already decided to have sex. Nothing is likely to dissuade them. The fact she is looking to prevent pregnancy is a positive health decision and should be supported.


• If it is mandated that parents be included in the loop, then those kids who (for whatever reason) do not want their parents to know, will not receive contraception. Avoidable teen pregnancies will occur.


• The school is where the kids are. If the school does not offer easily accessible health care, most kids will not get any at all.

* * * *

Where I stand:
I have to say, I'm quite torn about this issue. It can't be healthy for young children's bodies to be exposed to these powerful hormones. And I'm heartsick at the loss of childhood we are witnessing, of which this another graphic example. Kids are prematurely exposed to content and experiences that are clearly inappropriate, they are having sex at earlier and earlier ages, etc.

But wishing it were otherwise won't change the following: A survey by the Massachusetts Department of Education showed 1 in 3 children (and they are children) under the age of 15 are sexually active. And, if I had to guess, I'd say very few of their parents have a clue as to that fact.

Yes, we need more strategies to promote abstinence and delaying initiation of sexual activity. Yes, we need to be sure kids know how to make good choices and not fall victim to unhealthy peer pressures. Yes, children need to understand how to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases should they become sexually active.

But it's also true - sad to say - that many young kids will no more listen to Dr. P than they will to you, their parents. And if your Susie has decided to have sex with Biff, and if she wants to be responsible and avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and if she doesn't want you to know, then, yes, a school-based clinic should provide her with the means to do so.

There are no good or perfect options here: we're talking the least bad. It ain't pretty but sometimes it may take a village to help Susie avoid getting pregnant - which, in my book, is pretty much the worst case scenario of all.

When your child's school asks for your opinion on this matter, how will you vote?

Related Topics:

• Sex Education: Who Should Teach It?
• Kids' Safe Sex: Supportive Mom Is Key

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