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View Full Version : Forget Hillary care, what about School-Based "Health Care?"


speechlesstx
Oct 18, 2007, 09:18 AM
Middle school in Maine to offer birth control pills, patches to pupils


PORTLAND, Maine - Pupils at a city middle school will be able to get birth control pills and patches (http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gfRFNTLr1ZbJ26DucVKnuOiuEmwA) at their student health centre after the local school board approved the proposal Wednesday evening.

The plan, offered by city health officials, makes King Middle School the first middle school in Maine to make a full range of contraception available to students in grades 6 through 8, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.

There are no national figures on how many middle schools, where most students range in age from 11 to 13, provide such services.

"It's very rare that middle schools do this," said Divya Mohan, a spokeswoman for the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care.

The Portland School Committee voted 5-2 for the measure.

Chairman John Coynie voted against it, saying he felt providing the birth control was a parental responsibility. The other no vote came from Ben Meiklejohn, who said the consent form does not clearly define the services being offered.

Opponents cited religious and health objections.

Diane Miller said she felt the plan was against religion and against God. Another opponent, Peter Doyle, said he felt it violated the rights of parents and puts students at risk of cancer because of hormones in the pill.

A supporter, Richard Verrier, said it's not enough to depend on parents to protect their children because there may be students who can't discuss things with their parents.

Condoms have been available since 2002 to King students who have parental permission to be treated at its student health centre.

When I was in school about the only good school "health care" was for was a bandaid, an excuse to skip a class or a pan to puke in. What on earth (or in the constitution) gives public schools the right to prescribe drugs for our children without parental consent? If you ask me, public schools as a whole can't do much of anything right any more, how can they be trusted with the "health" of our children?

Go ahead, justify this egregious breach of parental rights...

ETWolverine
Oct 18, 2007, 09:34 AM
First of all, I didn't know that it was the government's job to provide birth-control to anyone, much less pre-pubescent minors.

Second of all, I didn't realize that my rights and obligations as a parent to take care of my kids were being abrogated by the government. Being an EMT, and having a brother who's an MD (a pediatrician, no less) and a sister who's a biology teacher, I of course know absolutely nothing about health care or the particular needs of my children. The school nurse knows better than I do, of course.

And finally, I wonder whether these schools are going to also offer pamphlets about abstinence to these same 6-8th graders to try to solve the problem of underage sex by stopping kids from having sex.

Actually, no I don't. I already know the answer.

Elliot

tomder55
Oct 18, 2007, 09:39 AM
Steve ;

If it's for the children how can you oppose it ? :D

I thought there were all types of release forms parents need to sign to have someone dispense medications to children.

Dark_crow
Oct 18, 2007, 10:03 AM
Bad parenting is notorious in the largest cities.

speechlesstx
Oct 18, 2007, 10:07 AM
Steve ;

if it's for the children how can you oppose it ? :D

I thought there were all types of release forms parents need to sign to have someone dispense medications to children.

On further review, the article does mention a "consent form" which apparently "does not clearly define the services being offered." It doesn't matter to me, schools have no business providing that type of "health care" to our children. Do you think "School-Based Health Care" might become the next S-Chip?

speechlesstx
Oct 18, 2007, 10:14 AM
First of all, I didn't know that it was the government's job to provide birth-control to anyone, much less pre-pubescent minors.

Second of all, I didn't realize that my rights and obligations as a parent to take care of my kids were being abrogated by the government. Being an EMT, and having a brother who's an MD (a pediatrician, no less) and a sister who's a biology teacher, I of course know absolutely nothing about health care or the particular needs of my children. The school nurse knows better than I do, of course.

And finally, I wonder whether these schools are going to also offer pamphlets about abstinence to these same 6-8th graders to try to solve the problem of underage sex by stopping kids from having sex.

Actually, no I don't. I already know the answer.

Yeah, you know the answer. It seems schools are becoming an arm of Planned Parenthood - one of the vilest groups on the face of the earth in my opinion - which also frames its services as "health care" and not only encourages teen sex but educates them on everything from anal sex to "rimming."

speechlesstx
Oct 18, 2007, 10:15 AM
Bad parenting is notorious in the largest cities.

With all due respect DC, that sounds like a copout to me.

ETWolverine
Oct 18, 2007, 10:43 AM
Bad parenting is notorious in the largest cities.

So what? What makes it the job of the government to take the place of parents... even bad parents?

Furthermore, do think that encouraging underage sex by handing out condoms and birth control pill is the "responsible" thing for a surrogate parent to do?

If you found out that a parent of one of your 14-year-old daughter's friends was giving her daughter condoms and birth control pills and letting her have sex with young boys (or worse, older boys), would you let your daughter hang out with that girl? Would you approve of that form of parenting?

If you would not approve of that form of parenting from a real parent, why would you accept it from a non-parental entity like a school?

Elliot

tomder55
Oct 18, 2007, 11:13 AM
And finally, I wonder whether these schools are going to also offer pamphlets about abstinence to these same 6-8th graders to try to solve the problem of underage sex by stopping kids from having sex.

Or telling the horny little boys that the age of consent in the State of Maine is 16 and having sex before that is a crime.

Are they going to dispense or adminster the drugs to the girls ? I know that some kids have been known to abuse perscription medicines before . Taking improper doses of prescribed ADHD medicines is a recreation in some circles.

I just find this hard to believe . There were so many times when my daughter was in school I had to sign waivers for one activity or another. If I were in this district my daughter would be signing into a private school today.

Dark_crow
Oct 18, 2007, 11:16 AM
So what? What makes it the job of the government to take the place of parents... even bad parents?

Furthermore, do think that encouraging underage sex by handing out condoms and birth control pill is the "responsible" thing for a surrogate parent to do?

If you found out that a parent of one of your 14-year-old daughter's friends was giving her daughter condoms and birth control pills and letting her have sex with young boys (or worse, older boys), would you let your daughter hang out with that girl? Would you approve of that form of parenting?

If you would not approve of that form of parenting from a real parent, why would you accept it from a non-parental entity like a school?

Elliot
The assumption being made in all of this is that there is a better alternative to cutting down on teen pregnancy; these idealistic notions about some morality or parental rights is filling up abortion clinics and then the same morality policeman rails against the teen when they want and need an abortion. Give us a break, your way has failed.

ETWolverine
Oct 18, 2007, 11:59 AM
The assumption being made in all of this is that there is a better alternative to cutting down on teen pregnancy; these idealistic notions about some morality or parental rights is filling up abortion clinics and then the same morality policeman rails against the teen when they want and need an abortion. Give us a break, your way has failed.

Over the past 20 years, there has been a marked decrease in the amount of teen smoking taking place. This is because the anti-smoking activists have been pushing an ad campaign to teach kids that smoking is bad for them. And the government has been helping by making and enforcing laws that prevent sale and targeted advertisement of cigarrettes to minors. Clearly ad campaigns work in influencing kids. Of that there seems to be no reasonable agument.

A similar, but more recent campaign regarding drugs has also been showing increased results, resulting in lower teen and pre-teen hard drug use and somewhat lower but still improved numbers for teen and pre-teen marajuana use.

So to all those who say that the "idealism" of a pro-abstinence campaign will fail, I give you the war in teen smoking and teen drugs. If it works there, it can just as easily work here. The problem is that unlike with smoking, there is a group of people who are actively work to keep such a campaign from taking place "because it could never work".

I hate to tell you this, DC, but it isn't the old-fashioned morals that have failed our kids and brought them to the abortion clinics. It's the decline of any moral standards, along with the sexualization of media and general permisiveness of society, that have brought us here. If parents, schools and not-for-profit organizations worked together to campaign for teen abstinence, I can almost guarantee that within 10 years we'll see a significant change in teen pregnancy and teen abortion rates. That is, if people were WILLING to work as hard to stop teen sex as they are to stop teen smoking and drug use. Clearly they are not.

But the point is that there is a clear precedent to show that such campaigns targeted to teens are indeed effective, and do change the behavior patterns of kids for the better. It isn't idealistic or foolish to think that it can.

Elliot

inthebox
Oct 18, 2007, 12:26 PM
The assumption being made in all of this is that there is a better alternative to cutting down on teen pregnancy; these idealistic notions about some morality or parental rights is filling up abortion clinics and then the same morality policeman rails against the teen when they want and need an abortion. Give us a break, your way has failed.


As I see it, the whole crux of the matter is public school, aka the government, funded by taxpayors, overstepping their duties and encroaching on those of the parent[s].

School is suppose to teach reading, writing, math etc...

maybe when they get 100% of students to be proficient at their respective grade level they can go on to other important subjects like science and history.

Sex education and providing birth control is way beyond this.



They have outlawed a moment of silence for the option of prayer , but want to promote birth control. Whose values are being instilled and forced upon the young?

What if schools promoted just abstinence till marriage? Would you, the ACLU, secular humanists be outraged.



Yet, all emotions aside, what works 100% in preventing pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases.

It does not take a mental giant to realize if you don't have sex [ oral, genital, anal ] you won't get stds.

What works 100% of the time in preventing pregnancy - yes that is right - don't have sex.

So why are these "educators" promoting, providing the worse alternative?
Condoms may be 90-95% effective IF they are used every time. They are never 100%.

Which would you take a 100% chance at winning one million dllars or the 90-95% chance?

One may argue that "they're going to have sex" anyway, why not make it "safe."
The question is why promote the basest instincts.
Oh they are going to fight so why not make it "safer" by having a referee and boxing gloves?


As I see it,
What fills up abortion clinics is the LACK OF traditional Judeo-Christian values.
It is those same values, that acknowledges that humans are not perfect, and that love and forgiveness of those who have had abortions is the ideal.






Grace and Peace

Dark_crow
Oct 18, 2007, 12:33 PM
Over the past 20 years, there has been a marked decrease in the amount of teen smoking taking place. This is because the anti-smoking activists have been pushing an ad campaign to teach kids that smoking is bad for them. And the government has been helping by making and enforcing laws that prevent sale and targetted advertisement of cigarrettes to minors. Clearly ad campaigns work in influencing kids. Of that there seems to be no reasonable agument.

A similar, but more recent campaign regarding drugs has also been showing increased results, resulting in lower teen and pre-teen hard drug use and somewhat lower but still improved numbers for teen and pre-teen marajuana use.

So to all those who say that the "idealism" of a pro-abstinence campaign will fail, I give you the war in teen smoking and teen drugs. If it works there, it can just as easily work here. The problem is that unlike with smoking, there is a group of people who are actively work to keep such a campaign from taking place "because it could never work".

I hate to tell you this, DC, but it isn't the old-fashioned morals that have failed our kids and brought them to the abortion clinics. It's the decline of any moral standards, along with the sexualization of media and general permisiveness of society, that have brought us here. If parents, schools and not-for-profit organizations worked together to campaign for teen abstinence, I can almost guarantee that within 10 years we'll see a significant change in teen pregnancy and teen abortion rates. That is, if people were WILLING to work as hard to stop teen sex as they are to stop teen smoking and drug use. Clearly they are not.

But the point is that there is a clear precedent to show that such campaigns targetted to teens are indeed effective, and do change the behavior patterns of kids for the better. It isn't idealistic or foolish to think that it can.

Elliot
In come the red herrings…smoking and drugs are neither biological needs. Sex is a biological need. Humans, like all creatures, have urges which lead to reproduction. Our biological urge is to have sex, not to make babies. Culturally-induced desires can be so strong that they seem to be biological, but that don’t make them biological.

michealb
Oct 18, 2007, 12:45 PM
They should teach abstinence in schools but that shouldn't be the only thing they teach. How many time have we all seen the "Am I pregnant?" thread? Any girl old enough to have sex should know at least everything I know which isn't that much but I can answer 90% of those threads. They should learn about stds and pregnancy and prevention of both. I think if you try to teach only abstinence, teens will know there is more information out there and may not get it from a reliable source.

speechlesstx
Oct 18, 2007, 12:46 PM
The assumption being made in all of this is that there is a better alternative to cutting down on teen pregnancy; these idealistic notions about some morality or parental rights is filling up abortion clinics and then the same morality policeman rails against the teen when they want and need an abortion. Give us a break, your way has failed.

That's where you're wrong DC. The gradual erosion of parental rights, the "childrens rights" movement, the "all sex is all good all the time they're going to do it anyway and if you get pregnant there's always abortion" and the "we can't punish little Johnny or damage his self-esteem" attitudes are exactly what has failed.

Parents in this country are automatically treated with suspicion. All a kid has to do (and virtually all of them all know this) any time he or she doesn't like their parents' rules is claim abuse of some sort and the parent goes through hell. Protective Services has the authority to remove a child basically for any reason at any time, and God forbid your child should fall and bump her head and you're responsible enough to take her to a pediatrician.

Planned Parenthood has arrogantly and condescendingly spouted the "your way has failed" and "Planned Parenthood would like to see an end to abortion (http://www.amarillo.com/stories/101207/opi_8651300.shtml)" lines for longer than I care to remember. And yet, the 519,958 abortion procedures they report for 2005-2006 (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/PPFA/Annual_report.pdf) is a 9.4 percent increase over the 2002-2003 numbers (http://plannedparenthoodrx.com/annualreport/report-04.pdf), which were a 6.1 percent increase from the previous period. They have more access and more influence with more people than ever and yet abortions are on the rise.

When kids are hammered 24/7 with sex on TV, in movies, books, magazines, music, and groups such as Planned Parenthood undermine parental authority and encourage kids to explore their sexuality while arming them with the tools to make them feel bulletproof, just what do you think is going to happen? Fewer teen pregnancies? Only a fool would believe that.

kindj
Oct 18, 2007, 12:48 PM
As I see it, the whole crux of the matter is public school, aka the government, funded by taxpayors, overstepping their duties and encroaching on those of the parent[s].

School is suppose to teach reading, writing, math etc....



I see your point, but being a public school teacher myself, I have to take issue at this point.

Countless times, we've talked to parents of the children we teach. We discuss grades, behavior, and other issues. You know what we get over half the time? "They're YOUR problem, not mine. You see them more than I do." Verbatim. Word for word.

I may not like it when this sort of responsibility is thrust upon me. In fact, I don't like it a bit. I agree with you: I should be devoting 100% of my time to learnin' 'em more gooder English skils and speling.

But regardless of whether we like or agree with some of the responsibilities being pushed off on us, the fact is they're still being pushed off on us. It's obvious the parents aren't going to do it in many cases.

That leaves us with two choices:

1. Say "Oh, well" and forget about it, leaving these kids to their own devices and allowing them to grow up unhindered by any sort of inconveniences such as social skills, manners, respect for oneself and others, or life skills.

2. Shoulder the additional burden and try our best to do our part to turn at least some of them into responsible adults.

It's obvious in so many cases: We are the only positive people many of these kids have. That obligates us morally to do our best to ensure they grow up reasonably healthy.

Just my two cents worth.

As far as the original issue itself, I DO see this as the schools overstepping their bounds and assuming a role that has NOT yet been assigned to them.

speechlesstx
Oct 18, 2007, 12:59 PM
In come the red herrings…smoking and drugs are neither biological needs. Sex is a biological need. Humans, like all creatures, have urges which lead to reproduction. Our biological urge is to have sex, not to make babies. Culturally-induced desires can be so strong that they seem to be biological, but that don’t make them biological.

So people can't learn or be taught how to control their urges? You're digging yourself a hole here DC.

jillianleab
Oct 18, 2007, 01:02 PM
Schools providing prescription drugs, in my opinion, is overstepping the boundaries of wise decision making. When a woman is on the pill (or patch) it is important she fully understands how to properly take it, what risks are associated with taking it, and so on. I find it hard to believe a school nurse is educating every girl properly about the medication. Beyond that, doesn't middle school seem a little young for all this, or am I that old (I'm not old!)?

Regarding abstinence education it is a problem when it is "abstinence only" education and children are told that having sex before marriage makes your willy fall off and other lies. I know many of you hate the Washington Post, but here's an article which mentions some of the lies being told:

Some Abstinence Programs Mislead Teens, Report Says (washingtonpost.com) (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26623-2004Dec1.html)

Teaching that refraining from sex is the ONLY method that gives you 100% protection from pregnancy and std's is OK with me. But it is important to still tell the kids who think "it won't happen to me" or the ones who don't care that there are ways of protecting yourself and the person you are with. Teaching that sex is this dirty, horrible thing isn't good for anyone. I don't think handing out condoms is telling kids to have sex, or even pushing them toward doing it. Teens are going to do it, so we might as well educate them with factual information and provide them with tools to prevent unwanted pregnancies and infections. I'm sure some of you think the HPV shot is like giving your daughter a free pass to have sex too, but I think that's another thread! :)

speechlesstx
Oct 18, 2007, 01:14 PM
It's obvious in so many cases: We are the only positive people many of these kids have. That obligates us morally to do our best to ensure they grow up reasonably healthy.

That's a good two cents I can't argue with, and I'm thankful for teachers such as yourself. I just have no faith in school administrations that make decisions such as this one and little faith in our colleges and universities graduating teachers that haven't been under years of the type of indoctrination that leads to these policies. As I see it, the kind of parents you're talking about are a product of this society, not a failure of traditional values as DC would have us believe.

Dark_crow
Oct 18, 2007, 01:20 PM
That's where you're wrong DC. The gradual erosion of parental rights, the "childrens rights" movement, the "all sex is all good all the time they're going to do it anyway and if you get pregnant there's always abortion" and the "we can't punish little Johnny or damage his self-esteem" attitudes are exactly what has failed.

Parents in this country are automatically treated with suspicion. All a kid has to do (and virtually all of them all know this) any time he or she doesn't like their parents' rules is claim abuse of some sort and the parent goes through hell. Protective Services has the authority to remove a child basically for any reason at any time, and God forbid your child should fall and bump her head and you're responsible enough to take her to a pediatrician.

Planned Parenthood has arrogantly and condescendingly spouted the "your way has failed" and "Planned Parenthood would like to see an end to abortion (http://www.amarillo.com/stories/101207/opi_8651300.shtml)" lines for longer than I care to remember. And yet, the 519,958 abortion procedures they report for 2005-2006 (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/PPFA/Annual_report.pdf) is a 9.4 percent increase over the 2002-2003 numbers (http://plannedparenthoodrx.com/annualreport/report-04.pdf), which were a 6.1 percent increase from the previous period. They have more access and more influence with more people than ever and yet abortions are on the rise.

When kids are hammered 24/7 with sex on TV, in movies, books, magazines, music, and groups such as Planned Parenthood undermine parental authority and encourage kids to explore their sexuality while arming them with the tools to make them feel bulletproof, just what do you think is going to happen? Fewer teen pregnancies? Only a fool would believe that.
That’s a strawman…"all sex is all good all the time they're going to do it anyway,” that I have never heard anyone advocate.

I grant that parental rights have eroded from Biblical times, and when I first heard a parent could not physically punish a child I was thankful mine were adults. But the fact is children are abused by their parents in so many homes across the nation and it became an epidemic of gigantic proportions. Of course abortion is increasing, just as the population is increasing; that’s the whole purpose for teaching safe sex.

Guess what, teens were getting knocked-up before there was TV or Planned Parenthood.

speechlesstx
Oct 18, 2007, 01:38 PM
They should teach abstinence in schools but that shouldn't be the only thing they teach. How many time have we all seen the "Am I pregnant?" thread? Any girl old enough to have sex should know at least everything I know which isn't that much but I can answer 90% of those threads. They should learn about stds and pregnancy and prevention of both. I think if you try to teach only abstinence, teens will know there is more information out there and may not get it from a reliable source.

These days, absolutely kids should know about STD's and such, but I have no faith in the organization most responsible for "teaching" our kids about such things.

Dark_crow
Oct 18, 2007, 01:50 PM
WASHINGTON, DC — Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) applauds Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) for introducing the "Responsible Education About Life" (REAL) Act today. The REAL Act is a landmark piece of legislation designed to provide funding to states for comprehensive sexuality education programs that include medically accurate information about abstinence and contraception.
"Teaching our teens a program that is dedicated to supporting sex education that includes responsible, age-appropriate and medically-accurate instruction emphasizing both the benefits of abstinence while also teaching about contraception, pregnancy and disease-prevention should be one of our top priorities," said PPFA Interim President Karen Pearl. "Too often our students are given incomplete or even inaccurate information that leaves them misinformed, confused and afraid. I applaud these lawmakers for introducing federal legislation that would guarantee critical health care information programs for our youth that have been proven effective.

And you prefer to leave it to Dead-beat dads or alcoholic mothers than PPH

Planned Parenthood - Planned Parenthood Applauds Senator Frank Lautenberg and Representative Barbara Lee for Introducing "REAL" Act (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/real-act-11152.htm)

speechlesstx
Oct 18, 2007, 01:53 PM
Regarding abstinence education it is a problem when it is "abstinence only" education and children are told that having sex before marriage makes your willy fall off and other lies.

LOL, I don't think any of the abstinence curriculum is teaching that sex before marriage will make your willy fall off. If they are telling lies that's not right, but it's also not right for Planned Parenthood to teach 13 year old girls how to masturbate (http://www.teenwire.com/ask/2006/as-20060908p1332-masturbate.php) or tell our kids "Let's give ourselves a hand — or two (http://www.teenwire.com/infocus/2004/if-20041109p332-masturbation.php)!"

michealb
Oct 18, 2007, 01:54 PM
These days, absolutely kids should know about STD's and such, but I have no faith in the organization most responsible for "teaching" our kids about such things.

Your always able to teach your kids more and I don't know about you but I think the more you know the better. You can also home school your kids so they don't get any of the dangerous knowledge stuff, if that's they way you feel about it.

Dark_crow
Oct 18, 2007, 02:00 PM
Your always able to teach your kids more and I don't know about you but I think the more you know the better. You can also home school your kids so they don't get any of the dangerous knowledge stuff, if thats they way you feel about it.
My daughter-in-law obtained her teaching credentials and is home schooling her two children, however, they still have to attend school two mornings a week.

speechlesstx
Oct 18, 2007, 02:12 PM
That’s a strawman…"all sex is all good all the time they're going to do it anyway,” that I have never heard anyone advocate.

I grant that parental rights have eroded from Biblical times, and when I first heard a parent could not physically punish a child I was thankful mine were adults. But the fact is children are abused by their parents in so many homes across the nation and it became an epidemic of gigantic proportions. Of course abortion is increasing, just as the population is increasing; that’s the whole purpose for teaching safe sex.

Guess what, teens were getting knocked-up before there was TV or Planned Parenthood.

DC, have you ever explored Planned Parenthood's Teenwire site (http://www.teenwire.com/)? Do you not know they will take children of all ages for "health care" with or without parental consent? Do you know they advocate "comprehensive sex education" for children in kindergarten? If you can't see a connection between their activities, the values they espouse and a rise in teen pregnancy and abortion you just haven't looked hard enough. When I was in school 30 years ago everyone knew if you wanted birth control go to PP, if you got someone pregnant they could 'take care' of it, and they didn't teach any of us about safe sex.

michealb
Oct 18, 2007, 02:15 PM
LOL, I don't think any of the abstinence curriculum is teaching that sex before marriage will make your willy fall off. If they are telling lies that's not right, but it's also not right for Planned Parenthood to teach 13 year old girls how to masturbate (http://www.teenwire.com/ask/2006/as-20060908p1332-masturbate.php) or tell our kids "Let's give ourselves a hand — or two (http://www.teenwire.com/infocus/2004/if-20041109p332-masturbation.php)!"

I suppose a pedophile in a chat room could teach your daughter how to masturbate but I'd prefer mine to learn it from planned parent hood. The point is that they will get the information from somewhere and if your not going to teach it to her why not let her get it from a trusted site instead of who knows where.

jillianleab
Oct 18, 2007, 02:36 PM
LOL, I don't think any of the abstinence curriculum is teaching that sex before marriage will make your willy fall off. If they are telling lies that's not right, but it's also not right for Planned Parenthood to teach 13 year old girls how to masturbate (http://www.teenwire.com/ask/2006/as-20060908p1332-masturbate.php) or tell our kids "Let's give ourselves a hand — or two (http://www.teenwire.com/infocus/2004/if-20041109p332-masturbation.php)!"

Ok, maybe no one is telling them their willy will fall off (I'm so glad you can take a joke!), but there are programs out there which are spreading misinformation and that's dangerous. It makes these kids ill-equipped for their adult lives, and while we all hope our kids wait until marriage to have sex, that's just not the case. It's important for kids and adults to know the scientific and medical facts so they can make informed decisions (did you get that joke? Teens making informed decisions - ha!)

As far as PP teaching about masturbation, to be honest, I don't see what the big deal is. Should you instead shame your child when she becomes sexually aroused by something? It's not like the offer group classes with live instruction! Masturbation is normal, it is healthy and it should not be treated as a shameful act. I think a majority of this stuff should be taught by parents, but you know as well as I do that most parents don't discuss these things with their kids. Hell, I didn't know what tampons and maxi pads were for until I learned in in 3rd grade sex ed!! My parents NEVER had the "where babies come from" talk with us or anything else. My siblings and I learned it on our own; I would have been grateful for some of the info from PP; it might have prevented some bad decisions I have made. Besides, look at all the questions we get from young boys and girls here about basic sexual knowledge - at least PP is honest - they don't say your willy falls off for having sex! :)

EDIT:


kindj agrees: Middle school isn't too young anymore. I teach 7th grade in a small town, and every year there's at least one or two girls that end up pregnant.

It's official then. I'm old. I was really hoping I could make it to thirty before I had to call myself old, but if there are kids that age getting pregnant, I'm officially old.

Dark_crow
Oct 18, 2007, 02:45 PM
DC, have you ever explored Planned Parenthood's Teenwire site (http://www.teenwire.com/)? Do you not know they will take children of all ages for "health care" with or without parental consent? Do you know they advocate "comprehensive sex education" for children in kindergarten? If you can't see a connection between their activities, the values they espouse and a rise in teen pregnancy and abortion you just haven't looked hard enough. When I was in school 30 years ago everyone knew if you wanted birth control go to PP, if you got someone pregnant they could 'take care' of it, and they didn't teach any of us about safe sex.
I’m sure that I don’t approve of everything they that they do especially on the net. However I don’t believe we can count on parents either. It appears that like so many choices we have it’s, between the lesser of two evils.

speechlesstx
Oct 18, 2007, 02:54 PM
WASHINGTON, DC — Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) applauds Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) for introducing the "Responsible Education About Life" (REAL) Act today. The REAL Act is a landmark piece of legislation designed to provide funding to states for comprehensive sexuality education programs that include medically accurate information about abstinence and contraception.
"Teaching our teens a program that is dedicated to supporting sex education that includes responsible, age-appropriate and medically-accurate instruction emphasizing both the benefits of abstinence while also teaching about contraception, pregnancy and disease-prevention should be one of our top priorities," said PPFA Interim President Karen Pearl. "Too often our students are given incomplete or even inaccurate information that leaves them misinformed, confused and afraid. I applaud these lawmakers for introducing federal legislation that would guarantee critical health care information programs for our youth that have been proven effective.

And you prefer to leave it to Dead-beat dads or alcoholic mothers than PPH

DC, I wouldn't leave ANYTHING to PP. They are the ones that provided "health care" to my daughter, leaving her HIV undiagnosed to the point her CD4 count was 16, leaving her with full blown AIDS and having to spend roughly 3 months in the hospital overcoming kidney failure, PCP (http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35429#PCP) and a host of other problems. They are the ones that provided her abortion, taking what is likely to be our only grandchild. Planned Parenthood is the one of the most deceptive, underhanded, undermining, incompetent groups ever conceived. There isn't a soul in the world that can preach to me about the virtues of Planned Parenthood, I know better - firsthand.

inthebox
Oct 18, 2007, 02:55 PM
On Margaret Sanger - founder of Planned parenthood.


The Negro Project and Margaret Sanger (http://www.citizenreviewonline.org/special_issues/population/the_negro_project.htm)

“'Civil rights' doesn't mean anything without a right to life!” declared Hunter. He and the other marchers were protesting the disproportionately high number of abortions in the black community. The high number is no accident. Many Americans—black and white—are unaware of Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger's Negro Project. Sanger created this program in 1939, after the organization changed its name from the American Birth Control League (ABCL) to the Birth Control Federation of America (BCFA).1






Grace and peace

speechlesstx
Oct 18, 2007, 02:58 PM
Ok, maybe no one is telling them their willy will fall off (I'm so glad you can take a joke!), but there are programs out there which are spreading misinformation and that's dangerous. It makes these kids ill-equipped for their adult lives, and while we all hope our kids wait until marriage to have sex, that's just not the case. It's important for kids and adults to know the scientific and medical facts so they can make informed decisions (did you get that joke? Teens making informed decisions - ha!)...

As far as PP teaching about masturbation, to be honest, I don't see what the big deal is.

Yeah, I can take a joke, and the one about teens making informed decisions is sadly all too true. See my last post to DC on why PP does not deserve the benefit of the doubt (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/politics/forget-hillary-care-what-about-school-based-health-care-142147-3.html#post673979). They have no business teaching our kids anything.

Dark_crow
Oct 18, 2007, 03:02 PM
DC, I wouldn't leave ANYTHING to PP. They are the ones that provided "health care" to my daughter, leaving her HIV undiagnosed to the point her CD4 count was 16, leaving her with full blown AIDS and having to spend roughly 3 months in the hospital overcoming kidney failure, PCP (http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35429#PCP) and a host of other problems. They are the ones that provided her abortion, taking what is likely to be our only grandchild. Planned Parenthood is the one of the most deceptive, underhanded, undermining, incompetent groups ever conceived. There isn't a soul in the world that can preach to me about the virtues of Planned Parenthood, I know better - firsthand.
I of course offer my deep felt sympathy for the tragedy's you have had to face and can well understand your dismay. I've fortunately not have had any occasions to know much about PPH and have been speaking from strictly a philosophical position. Again, my condolences.

magprob
Oct 18, 2007, 03:13 PM
Have you ever wondered why so many pedophiles get just a slapp on the wrist?
Do you remember that Federal Prosecutor that was arrested for trying to have sex with two little girls and then committed suicide in jail?
You can call me crazy but I say that a very large number of prosecutors, judges and attorneys are sexual deviants and pedophiles. There seems to be a move to desensitize the public to believe that these things are OK. That there really is nothing we, as parents can do to stop them so the best we can do is prevent an unwanted birth.
Hogwash, bullsh@*, poppycock, pure drivel. But, since we can't whip our children's asses to make them mind and teach them there is a price for deviant behavior, for fear of going to jail, (attorneys, judges, prosecutors) I guess we have to conform into the mould that these people are creating for us. If you want your 11 year old girl on birth control, then you welcome and condone her sexual activity.

michealb
Oct 18, 2007, 03:37 PM
You can have a good child and without having to beat them.

I don't know about you all but a 11 year girl should NEVER be without supervision for so long that she could get to the point of having sex with a boy. When your child is 11 you should know where they are who they are with and that the adult that they are with has the same ideas about parenting as you do. If your doing that, what do you care if some other kids parent doesn't watch them well enough goes on birth control because you will know your kid is doing the right thing.

Dark_crow
Oct 18, 2007, 03:38 PM
Have you ever wondered why so many pedophiles get just a slapp on the wrist?
Do you remember that Federal Prosecutor that was arrested for trying to have sex with two little girls and then commited suicide in jail?
You can call me crazy but I say that a very large number of prosecutors, judges and attorneys are sexual deviants and pedophiles. There seems to be a move to desensitize the public to believe that these things are OK. That there really is nothing we, as parents can do to stop them so the best we can do is prevent an unwanted birth.
Hogwash, bullsh@*, poppycock, pure drivel. But, since we can't whip our childrens asses to make them mind and teach them there is a price for deviant behavior, for fear of going to jail, (attorneys, judges, prosecutors) I guess we have to conform into the mould that these people are creating for us. If you want your 11 year old girl on birth control, then you welcome and condone her sexual activity.
Spam, do you have any evidence that there is a move to desensitize the public to believe that pedophilia: a preferential or exclusive sexual attraction by adults to prepubescent youths--- is OK?

Interestingly enough “The extent to which pedophilia occurs is not known with any certainty. Historically, sexual contacts between older pre-pubescents and adults were relatively common and accepted in many places, including the United States and England, where the legal age of consent typically ranged from 7 to 12 years until the end of the 19th century”


Pedophilia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedophilia)

N0help4u
Oct 18, 2007, 04:52 PM
Yeah they can get in trouble for giving more than a tylenol or bandaid but they have no problem with taking your kid across the border for an abortion with the parents never knowing a thing about it. Go figure! They also say it is important to teach a grade schooler how to put a condom on a banana or cucumber.

magprob
Oct 18, 2007, 07:41 PM
Spam, do you have any evidence that there is a move to desensitize the public to believe that pedophilia: a preferential or exclusive sexual attraction by adults to prepubescent youths--- is ok?

Interestingly enough “The extent to which pedophilia occurs is not known with any certainty. Historically, sexual contacts between older pre-pubescents and adults were relatively common and accepted in many places, including the United States and England, where the legal age of consent typically ranged from 7 to 12 years until the end of the 19th century”


Pedophilia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedophilia)

Nothing other than personal experience as a prison guard for way too many years but here is a good place to start. Should this be allowed to exist. Should the "North American Serial Killers Assoc. be allowed to exist. I put them both on the same level.

Welcome to NAMBLA's Home Page (http://www.nambla.org/)

Prosecutor: What is "the love that dare not speak its name"?
Wilde: "The Love that dare not speak its name" in this century is such a great affection of an elder for a younger man as there was between David and Jonathan, such as Plato made the very basis of his philosophy, and such as you find in the sonnets of Michelangelo and Shakespeare. It is that deep, spiritual affection that is as pure as it is perfect. It dictates and pervades great works of art like those of Shakespeare and Michelangelo, and those two letters of mine, such as they are. It is in this century misunderstood, so much misunderstood that it may be described as the "Love that dare not speak its name," and on account of it I am placed where I am now. It is beautiful, it is fine, it is the noblest form of affection. There is nothing unnatural about it. It is intellectual, and it repeatedly exists between an elder and a younger man, when the elder man has intellect, and the younger man has all the joy, hope and glamour of life before him. That it should be so, the world does not understand. The world mocks at it and sometimes puts one in the pillory for it."

[The speech caused a loud burst of applause to erupt from the gallery of the courtroom.]

~ Oscar Wilde, playwright

Although this is really a gay site, it speaks to the same issue, children.