Condoms for kiddies

[Greenday]

I think that is the way it should be I just object to a blanket sex ed for kids that haven't yet hit puberty because some may hit puberty before junior high case by case basis. Teach reproduction to my daughter, teach her about the changes that will happen to her body but I know she isn't in puberty yet and it would be nice if she got to be a kid as long as possible.

Teaching kids how to be safe during sex doesn't make them an adult all of a sudden.

[jackfaire]

Teaching kids how to be safe during sex doesn't make them an adult all of a sudden.

No it doesn't but it makes them less innocent.

[Bright Star]

It doesn't matter in what context the school is doing it under, the parents MUST have a final say in this. The parents are the ones who raise the children, NOT the school.
Handing out condoms like they're candy is just asking for problems. It's almost as if the school wants the kids to have sex, no matter how old they are.

[McDreidel09]

Handing out condoms like they're candy is just asking for problems. It's almost as if the school wants the kids to have sex, no matter how old they are.

The thing is, they AREN'T handing them out like candy to the elementary school children. The nurses have to ask them questions and are most likely going to deny the younger children. I honestly don't see how the school wants the kids to have sex. They want the condoms available to the middle school children too because middle schoolers are having sex now. At most schools (that I know of), the middle school and elementary school were basically one place and had the same rules.

If parents weren't such prudes, then their children could probably be more open to them. If parents talked about sex more often and of the consequences, then children probably wouldn't be as stupid about their actions. This is why I have these talks often with my 15 year old sister. She feels she can be open with me and not with Mom because Mom doesn't want to deal with it.

[Greenday]

It doesn't matter in what context the school is doing it under, the parents MUST have a final say in this. The parents are the ones who raise the children, NOT the school.
Handing out condoms like they're candy is just asking for problems. It's almost as if the school wants the kids to have sex, no matter how old they are.

As McDreidel already pointed out, you have to go through some questions in order to get a condom. And even if you prevent kids from getting condoms, guess what? They will still have sex anyway. So in the end, which would you prefer?

Kids have sex and be safe.
Kids have sex and don't be safe.

[AdminAssistant]

It doesn't matter in what context the school is doing it under, the parents MUST have a final say in this. The parents are the ones who raise the children, NOT the school.

Fine. And if Little Suzy gets knocked up because she didn't know to insist her boyfriend use a condom, then her family should not be allowed to get any federal assistance for the raising of the child, because her family chose to keep her ignorant of sex and its consequences.

I don't usually scream and yell about "my tax dollars," but this is such a simple way to save money. Spend money on real sex education, and watch teen pregnancy rates go down. Or we can continue to spend a billion dollars per year on ignorance, because heaven forbid we offend a few ultra-religious parents who still think people wait until marriage to have sex.

[Greenday]

Seriously, if you don't want your kid to get decent sex ed, send them to a private school.

[McDreidel09]

Seriously, if you don't want your kid to get decent sex ed, send them to a private school.

I almost spit out my Dr Pepper because sadly, it is true. I know this from personal experience.

[Lace Neil Singer]

As McDreidel already pointed out, you have to go through some questions in order to get a condom. And even if you prevent kids from getting condoms, guess what? They will still have sex anyway. So in the end, which would you prefer?

Kids have sex and be safe.
Kids have sex and don't be safe.

There's a third option; teach kids to respect their bodies and for fuck's sake, wait to have sex with someone who respects them, too. You can talk about kids having sex all you want, but the fact remains that kids aren't mature enough to deal with all the emotions that come with sex. There's no shame in waiting; in fact, anyone who waited to have sex til they were truly ready, whether that's at age fifteen or fifty, rather than spreading their legs for everyone who winks at them, would get better respect from those around them.

[infinitemonkies]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the 'just say no/wait till you're older approach.'

After all, it's how we won the war on drugs, and why there aren't any teenagers who smoke and/or drink.


Seriously, we live in such a sexualized society. Find me a single episode of any prime time sitcom that doesn't mention sex. Sure there are some, but it's a hell of a lot easier to find an episode that is only about sex.
Look at billboards, tv ads, magazine covers. The 6 year old at the grocery store with mommy will see the cosmo cover that reads "6 secrets to giving the best blowjob EVEH!" Or any of the approximately 14 million entertainment mags that exclusively talk about which celebrity is cheating with whom.

I knew all about sex by the time I was in kindergarten. How? By watching tv. Now in the internet age, I guarantee every kid knows way more about sex at any given age than their parents did. I think our mistake as a society is that we're so obsessed with sex, yet at the same time have such huge hangups about it.

And it's seriously fucked up to live in a culture that views violence as entertainment but sex as taboo. I'd much rather find my kids watching hardcore porn than graphic murder/torture scenes found in a great many films.

Millions of poeple freaked out over the superbowl a few years ago. Not because there are 300+ lb steroid using guys in skin tight pants, many with criminal records involving violent crime and illegal drug use, pounding the crap out of each other. That's good wholesome all american entertainment for the whole family. But a not-even half-second flash of Janet Jackson's nipple 'scarred our children for life.'

[Lace Neil Singer]

By the way, I never said that kids shouldn't be given contraception; just that I don't see how just handing out condoms like candy is going to solve the problem of teenage pregnancy when there's no education behind it on the emotional side of sex as well as the physical. Like I said before, it's like saying, "Well, since gang members are going to stab each other anyway, let's hand out clean, sterile knives!" instead of trying to educate teens on not joining gangs and of finding other ways to feel that they belong.

[Red Panda]

No it doesn't but it makes them less innocent.

How is the innocence of children any kind of defense against controceptives? If they know about condoms and how to use them I don't think it will make them more innocent if you don't let them have them. Beisdes, the innocence of children is largely a myth. When have children ever been innocent? Children have always has worries, responcibilites, and pressures.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

By the way, I never said that kids shouldn't be given contraception; just that I don't see how just handing out condoms like candy is going to solve the problem of teenage pregnancy when there's no education behind it on the emotional side of sex as well as the physical. Like I said before, it's like saying, "Well, since gang members are going to stab each other anyway, let's hand out clean, sterile knives!" instead of trying to educate teens on not joining gangs and of finding other ways to feel that they belong.

That makes no sense at all. The free condoms aren't a catch-all, they're just one part. No one's saying that the other parts are completely useless or shouldn't be implemented, merely that this part is important too.

Also, providing condoms doesn't correlate at all with handing out knives. It's more like teaching students to use tourniquets and bandages and providing them so that, when they do get stabbed/shot they can at least treat themselves/each other and stand a better chance of surviving.

[AdminAssistant]

A better corollary might be the clean needle swaps available in major cities. Yes, in a way, they are enabling drug use. However, at least it's slowed down the spread of HIV/AIDS from dirty/shared needles.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Again, I NEVER SAID THAT IT WAS A BAD IDEA. I just would like to see respect etc TAUGHT ALONG SIDE.

It might just cuz I'm not clarifying properly; a better example would be how abortion clinics are. Which is better?

a) Abortions just handed out and women sent away right after without a word.

Or

b) Counselling offered before and after, negative and positives about the option given and the woman given every bit of information and allowed to make the choice.

Is that a better comparison?