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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Misguided on birth control
Letters to the Editor | 11/20/07
Posted online at 10:05 PM EST on 11/19/07
/ Last updated at 2:17 AM EST on 11/19/07
To the Editor:
Eileen Smolyar's '10 concern for middle school girls' sexual health is surely genuine ("Lamb Chop, sexual education and birth control don't go together," Nov. 6 issue); unfortunately, it is greatly misguided. Regarding the decision of a Portland, Maine school committee to add prescription contraceptives to the list of services offered at its health clinic to middle school students, Smolyar writes, "What concerns me most about the endorsement (sic) of girls as young as 11 years old to have 'safe sex' is that it's promoting a tainted culture." While I am not quite sure what the author means by "a tainted culture," I can assure her that the school committee is not endorsing 11-year-olds to have sex. This much is admitted to by Douglas Gardner, Portland's director of health and human services, who believes "These kids are far too young to be sexually active, ... but there is a small group of kids, and thankfully it's a small group, who are reporting that they are sexually active, and we need to do all we can to protect them" (as quoted in The New York Times, Oct. 21 issue).
Additionally, Smolyar asserts that "King Middle School in Portland will be the first middle school offering a full range of contraception to students in grades six through eight." However, Clinics in six Baltimore middle schools offer access to oral contraceptives." According to Baltimore's health commissioner, the program has "helped to decrease teenage pregnancy rates" (New York Times, Oct. 21 issue).
Smolyar continues that "If Maine's school system allows for girls as young as 11 to practice sex with their school provided (sic) contraceptive, and they happen to become pregnant, then the next step of action is to raise that child because abortions are only legally provided to 18-year-old girls-unless they have the permission of an adult family member-the problem of younger mothers and families would continue to grow." The author misses the sad truth that these unintended pregnancies are already occurring. A practical solution to the problem is to provide more effective means of contraception. As to concerns that providing prophylactics will increase sexual activity among school-age children, the author of a 2003 study published in the American Journal of Public Health on condom availability in schools found that "Condom availability was not associated with greater sexual activity among adolescents but was associated with greater condom use among those who were already sexually active, a highly positive result." I do not see any reason to believe that making prescription contraception available in addition to already provided condoms will cause any deviation from the study's findings.
Teen and preteens in America are already sexually active. Providing various forms of contraception to this age group supports a healthier lifestyle, helps lower the risk of acquiring STDs and reduces unwanted pregnancies, all without encouraging further sexual behavior.
-Jonah Seligman '10
Eileen Smolyar's '10 concern for middle school girls' sexual health is surely genuine ("Lamb Chop, sexual education and birth control don't go together," Nov. 6 issue); unfortunately, it is greatly misguided. Regarding the decision of a Portland, Maine school committee to add prescription contraceptives to the list of services offered at its health clinic to middle school students, Smolyar writes, "What concerns me most about the endorsement (sic) of girls as young as 11 years old to have 'safe sex' is that it's promoting a tainted culture." While I am not quite sure what the author means by "a tainted culture," I can assure her that the school committee is not endorsing 11-year-olds to have sex. This much is admitted to by Douglas Gardner, Portland's director of health and human services, who believes "These kids are far too young to be sexually active, ... but there is a small group of kids, and thankfully it's a small group, who are reporting that they are sexually active, and we need to do all we can to protect them" (as quoted in The New York Times, Oct. 21 issue).
Additionally, Smolyar asserts that "King Middle School in Portland will be the first middle school offering a full range of contraception to students in grades six through eight." However, Clinics in six Baltimore middle schools offer access to oral contraceptives." According to Baltimore's health commissioner, the program has "helped to decrease teenage pregnancy rates" (New York Times, Oct. 21 issue).
Smolyar continues that "If Maine's school system allows for girls as young as 11 to practice sex with their school provided (sic) contraceptive, and they happen to become pregnant, then the next step of action is to raise that child because abortions are only legally provided to 18-year-old girls-unless they have the permission of an adult family member-the problem of younger mothers and families would continue to grow." The author misses the sad truth that these unintended pregnancies are already occurring. A practical solution to the problem is to provide more effective means of contraception. As to concerns that providing prophylactics will increase sexual activity among school-age children, the author of a 2003 study published in the American Journal of Public Health on condom availability in schools found that "Condom availability was not associated with greater sexual activity among adolescents but was associated with greater condom use among those who were already sexually active, a highly positive result." I do not see any reason to believe that making prescription contraception available in addition to already provided condoms will cause any deviation from the study's findings.
Teen and preteens in America are already sexually active. Providing various forms of contraception to this age group supports a healthier lifestyle, helps lower the risk of acquiring STDs and reduces unwanted pregnancies, all without encouraging further sexual behavior.
-Jonah Seligman '10
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