Portland schools to allow birth control

[PsyOps]

Prescribe 'the pill' at middle school?

Students who have parental permission to be treated at King Middle School's health center would be able to get birth control prescriptions under a proposal that the Portland School Committee will consider Wednesday.

If the committee approves the King proposal, it would be the first middle school in Maine to make a full range of contraception available to some students in grades 6 to 8, said Nancy Birkhimer, director of teen health programs for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Most middle schoolers are ages 11-13.

Although students must have written parental permission to be treated at Portland's school-based health centers, state law allows them to seek confidential health care and to decide whether to inform their parents about the services they receive, Belanger said.

Now don't read this wrong... this does not say parents are giving the school permission to give their kid a condom or the pill; it's saying that if the parent gives the school permission to treat their child at the "health center" for anything, it is implied this means condoms or the pill as well, if the kid asks for it. And they (the school) don't even have to tell the parent they gave the kid a birth control item.

 

[thebird]

Kids aren't going to tell their parents that they are having (or thinking of having) sex so as long as they're being safe about it...

 

[Lenny]

Kids aren't going to tell their parents that they are having (or thinking of having) sex so as long as they're being safe about it...

Boy, now you opened the can.

 

[PsyOps]

Kids aren't going to tell their parents that they are having (or thinking of having) sex so as long as they're being safe about it...

Are you a parent?

 

[PsyOps]

Boy, now you opened the can.

 

[Nickel]

So that means they'll be administering pelvic and breast exams at school? That sounds a little creepy.

 

[runnerboy1500]

Should condoms and the pill be available to teens? Yes
Should you need parent permission if under 18? Yes

Does anyone else see a silly lawsuit to the tune of "My son/daughter now has a baby because you didnt give them the right pill/condom/teach them how to use it correctly!" ???

 

[PsyOps]

OMG... I missed this...

Types of prescription birth control available through the health centers include contraceptive pills, patches or injections, as well as the morning-after pill. Diaphragms and IUDs are not usually prescribed, she said.

 

[MMDad]

Although students must have written parental permission to be treated at Portland's school-based health centers,

As long as the parents are informed prior to giving permission, I don't see the problem. Read the fine print, know what you are signing. Easy-peasy.

Any parent that signs the form and is then surprised that they aren't informed when their kid gets birth control is an idiot.

If you want control over your child, and you want your rights as a parent, don't sign over those rights and control.

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

Kids aren't going to tell their parents that they are having (or thinking of having) sex so as long as they're being safe about it...

:

 

[PsyOps]

As long as the parents are informed prior to giving permission, I don't see the problem. Read the fine print, know what you are signing. Easy-peasy.

Any parent that signs the form and is then surprised that they aren't informed when their kid gets birth control is an idiot.

If you want control over your child, and you want your rights as a parent, don't sign over those rights and control.

What parent, in their right mind would, give someone permission to prescribe medication to their child without wanting to be notified of it?

What school would set up such a program? Can you imagine the lawsuits for malpractice? Regardless of the fine print you know this opens the door to massive lawsuits aganst the schools if a child takes a medication that the child ends up being allergic to.

 

[MMDad]

What parent,

Th parents in Portland.

What school would set up such a program?

The Portland Schools

Can you imagine the lawsuits for malpractice?

No different than any other medical clinic that is licensed and has consent from the parent.

I seriously doubt that teachers will be handing out prescription drugs on a whim. The clinic would obviously have to meet the same licensing and regulatory standards as any other clinic.

If the parents of Portland want to sign away their rights and have informed consent, why shouldn't they be allowed to?

 

[thebird]

Yes, I am a parent of a son. But I'm not so far from my teen years that I don't remember the sneakiness that I used to get my birth control. Though reflecting on it now, I realize that I was being sneaky and should have spoken to my mother, at the time I was only thinking about myself...like most teens do. I know this probably opened up a can of worms and I totally undestand all of your points, I just know that teenagers are always going to lie to their parents (except for the select few) and I'd rather them be smart about having sex and be properly informed of the dangers, STDs, pregnancies, etc. then be too afraid to speak to their parents about the issues. There should be limits though...I agree with the parents signing the forms so that they can't come back on the school for the care they provide.

 

[Sweet 16]

Something's definitely wrong when kids can be suspended for carrying aspirin in their purse, but they are free to obtain and carry birth control pills...at age 11. UFB!

 

[PsyOps]

Th parents in Portland.

The Portland Schools

No different than any other medical clinic that is licensed and has consent from the parent.

I seriously doubt that teachers will be handing out prescription drugs on a whim. The clinic would obviously have to meet the same licensing and regulatory standards as any other clinic.

If the parents of Portland want to sign away their rights and have informed consent, why shouldn't they be allowed to?

Your complacent attitude explains a lot. I hope you're not one of those people that runs around all about why kids have gone so bad then :shrug: to things like this. More authority out of the hands of parents and more into the children. Children should not be allowed to make these decisions without a parent.

 

[thebird]

Something's definitely wrong when kids can be suspended for carrying aspirin in their purse, but they are free to obtain and carry birth control pills...at age 11. UFB!

Good point. Hadn't really thought of it like that.

 

[MMDad]

Your complacent attitude explains a lot. I hope you're not one of those people that runs around all about why kids have gone so bad then :shrug: to things like this. More authority out of the hands of parents and more into the children. Children should not be allowed to make these decisions without a parent.

What part of "the parents have to give permission" don't you understand?

Don't try to turn this around onto my parenting. I read what I sign, and there is no damn way that I would ever sign away my rights.

You're so freaked out about this that you are blaming the school and refuse to put the responsibility where it belongs: on the parents who sign away their rights.

Children aren't making the decisions. The parents are turning the decisions over to the school.

 

[PsyOps]

Yes, I am a parent of a son. But I'm not so far from my teen years that I don't remember the sneakiness that I used to get my birth control. Though reflecting on it now, I realize that I was being sneaky and should have spoken to my mother, at the time I was only thinking about myself...like most teens do. I know this probably opened up a can of worms and I totally undestand all of your points, I just know that teenagers are always going to lie to their parents (except for the select few) and I'd rather them be smart about having sex and be properly informed of the dangers, STDs, pregnancies, etc. then be too afraid to speak to their parents about the issues. There should be limits though...I agree with the parents signing the forms so that they can't come back on the school for the care they provide.

Did you ever get your BC from a nurse or doctor without your parent’s knowledge? Are you okay with your kid, as a young teen, receiving prescription drugs or condoms without your knowledge? It’s one thing for a kid to lie to their parents, but to have adults (those in the medical profession) complicated in that lie moves this into a completely different realm of parental subjugation. This equates to “we know our kids are going to drink, so why don’t we go ahead and give them the booze safely anyway, and the parents don’t have to know”.

I don’t trust some nurse or school “doctor” or teacher to “properly inform [my kid] of the dangers of STDs, pregnancies, etc…” If that nurse doesn’t feel this is something the parents would want to know about, do you think they really give one d@mn about your kid’s well-being? And I find it bizarre that a kid would feel more comfortable talking to a stranger (a nurse or teacher) about their sexual behavior than their parents. An interactive parent would find ways to make their kid comfortable to come to them. And that’s where the problem is with this whole discussion… it’s just one more example of parents pushing their responsibilities off on someone else.

 

[Sweet 16]

put the responsibility where it belongs: on the parents who sign away their rights.

Children aren't making the decisions. The parents are turning the decisions over to the school.

That is very true, but should schools even be in the birth control business? I thought the schools' purpose was to educate children on academic subjects, not facilitate their sex lives. The school is implying it's okay to go have sex at age 11, with their parents permission of course.

 

[PsyOps]

What part of "the parents have to give permission" don't you understand?

The part that a parent would want some nurse or school doctor to give their kid a contraceptive and not be notified about it.

Don't try to turn this around onto my parenting. I read what I sign, and there is no damn way that I would ever sign away my rights.

I’m doing no such thing, and apologize for coming across that way. I don’t know the first thing about your parenting. But you also clarified a lot here.

You're so freaked out about this that you are blaming the school and refuse to put the responsibility where it belongs: on the parents who sign away their rights.

I have, from the beginning of this discussion blamed the parents. Go back and read my reply (#11) to you.

Children aren't making the decisions. The parents are turning the decisions over to the school.

Children are making the decision. All they have to do is go to the nurse and ask. Do you think the nurse or school doctor is going to say no? How do they decide who they say yes or no too?