Teen and Preteen Birth Control in Portland Maine
King Middle School in Portland, Maine will let students get birth control pills. The Portland School Committee voted 7 to 2 in favor.
This has caused tremendous controversy. But why? Most of the students there are age 11 to 13 but some are from 10 to 15. Do you think 15 and 14 year olds aren't having sex? Most teens in America have sex by the time they're 16. And a lot of them start younger.
One of my friends had her second baby right after she turned 16. She had her first at 14 but she got pregnant at 13. Her middle school didn't give birth control. Do you think that stopped her?
Some people say that middle school students aren't old enough to get birth control. If you're old enough to have sex you're old enough to get birth control! And even if people say that middle school is too young that won't stop them.
Mary the mother of Jesus was probably about 12 years old when she got pregnant. She definitely wasn't older than 16. Most Christians then said Joseph was about 50 or 60. So even then there was teen sex and preteen sex. And Muhammed had a wife who was 12. So preteen sex is nothing new!
And giving out contraceptives will not make everybody have sex! I'm 19 years old and I'm still a virgin. I could have gotten birth control when I wanted it and even had friends who gave it to me. Guys have wanted to do it with me but I'm still a virgin and that's my choice. One of my best friends had an extremely strict father who spied on her and didn't want her doing anything. But she still had sex as a 14 year old.
So what can parents do? You can't lock your kids in the closet all day. You can keep birth control away from your teen or preteen daughter which means she might get pregnant or your teen or preteen boy might get some girl pregnant. Or you can let them have access to it if they need it. Which would you rather your kids do? Have sex and not get pregnant, or have sex and get pregnant?
The article is at http://news.mainetoday.com/updates/017432.html
Comments
I work at a school for girls in "trouble." Many of them are pregnant and even more have been sexual active. Preteen sex and teenaged sex are nothing new, certainly. And neither is preteen pregnancy and teen pregnancy. You will never stop it completely.
But if you want to do something about it then let them have all the birth control they want. Even better is teaching them about their bodies and their feelings long before they're ever tempted to have sex. These means starting as soon as they can talk!
And fathers, fathers are to blame for much of this. DO NOT stop being affectionate to your daughter when she has her first period or starts growing breasts! If Daddy stops loving her that way then she will find a boy or man who will.
Posted by: Pope Hilde | October 20, 2007 04:58 AM
You want to give birth control to 11 year olds? If one of my kids had sex before 16 I'd whomp their butt good! If you don't want a kid having sex, why in God's name would you give her birth control pills? If you don't want your preteen daughter or preteen son driving, would you give them a car?
Posted by: Johnny Wombat | October 20, 2007 04:09 PM
Say, where's this middle school again? Just asking.
Posted by: Rev. Bootie | October 21, 2007 04:18 AM
If you want help with your problem, Lorien, just let me know.
Posted by: Rev. Bootie | October 21, 2007 04:19 AM
Hey, look at reality, folks. Birds do it, bees do it, preteen girls and boys do it. Kids shouldn't jump out of a moving car on a freeway--does that mean we shouldn't let them wear seatbelts? If they're going to have sex, let them get protection.
Posted by: Big Al | October 26, 2007 08:13 PM
Dum! Why can't they leave us alone? Do they want pregnant 11 year olds or what?
Posted by: UnVirgin Mary | October 27, 2007 07:15 PM
Say, Johnny Wombat has a great idea. Spank your kids and they won't have sex! I guess that's why every kid who ever got spanked never had sex! Unless they're into being spanked.
Posted by: Gerald the Herald | November 2, 2007 09:13 PM
Hey there Little Red Riding Hood. You sure are lookin' good!
Posted by: Bad Wolf | November 5, 2007 10:42 PM
Reality check. People have sex. It's gonna happen, you can't stop it, so get prepared.
Posted by: Alicia Mohair | November 15, 2007 05:19 PM
My little sister got knocked up when she was 12. She didn't even know what sex was! We're in a really strict religion that doesn't believe in it. If she knew what was happening she wouldn't have gotten pregnant!
Posted by: Aunt Ashley | November 17, 2007 05:38 PM
Don't give them birth control. America needs more babies!
Posted by: City Jug | December 26, 2007 10:34 AM
Babies should not have babies! They shouldn't be having sex either. But if they're going to anyway at least they should have birth control!
Posted by: Pristine Queen | February 27, 2008 07:11 AM
Let em f*** up there lifes
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Posted by: nate | May 22, 2009 03:07 AM
Kids never think about sex. Doesn't happen. Nobody under age 18 ever does it. Never.
Posted by: Defense of Dooty | December 2, 2009 07:31 PM
Can I quote you in my report for school?
- - - - -
Sure you can.
Posted by: Lyle Wolsey | July 26, 2010 11:33 AM
It still remains a mystery why Jesus allows that. :)
Posted by: Hard Gorilla | August 21, 2010 09:36 PM