Oregon District Halts Condom Giveaway to 6th Graders Amid Community Uproar

[bonnie]

Oregon District Halts Condom Giveaway to 6th Graders Amid Community Uproar

August 1, 2014

Ben Velderman

Ben is a communications specialist for EAG and joined in 2010. He is a former member of the Michigan Education Association.

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GERVAIS, Ore. – Unhappy parents have forced an Oregon school board to re-think its plan to begin handing out condoms to students – sixth-graders on up – when school starts up again this fall.

During a May meeting, school board members approved a plan in which trained teachers (presumably health teachers) would hand out prophylactics after first having “a discussion with the student,” StatesmanJournal.com reports. Some of those students could have been as young as 11 years old.

But when parents and community members caught wind of the “condoms-upon-request” plan, they flooded a June board meeting to express their displeasure.

“Some members of the public were offended that schools were stepping into the parents’ territory of addressing their children’s sexuality, according to minutes of the June board meeting,” StatesmanJournal.com reports.

“Others said condoms were not an effective solution to the problem. A few said students may need mental health help, not condoms. Another said abstinence should be promoted, not condoms. Many said they wanted help finding an alternative solution. No one spoke in support of the decision.”

On Wednesday, the Gervais school board voted to halt the plan until more research could be done.

Just-hired Superintendent Matt Henry “said his research found that other districts don’t put the responsibility of giving contraceptives to students on teachers. Instead, they might be referred to the health clinic, a counselor or an off-campus partner,” the news site reports.

“We would be the only district in Oregon if we proceeded to implement this as it is laid out in September,” said Henry.

The superintendent “suggested bringing in a consultant to help advise the board on how to go forward, and while there was no official vote, board members agreed,” adds StatesmanJournal.com.

High school principal Mike Solem noted at Wednesday’s meeting that students were “beating down teachers’ doors” asking for condoms when the plan was announced this spring.

Solem’s anecdote fits with the revelation that 5 percent of the district’s middle and high school females became pregnant during the recently completed school year.

Board members say they want a more comprehensive plan, beyond condoms, to address teen pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, StatesmanJournal.com reports.

Whatever they decide, they can be assured the Gervais community will be watching closely.

[Gerr]

Condoms to 6th graders? Oh, mercy!!!

[Tom Wetmore]

Do you think middle school kids are not having sex? Just the pregnancy stat of a 5% pregnancy rate indicates that significantly more than 5% are having sex and putting themselves at risk of STDs and pregnancy. What should be done?

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Gervais, Oregon, huh?

The majority of students at Gervais are Hispanic. And, unfortunately, Hispanics have the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country. (Gervais is right in the heart of migrant country here in Oregon)

Perhaps the problem might be helped if there was more of a focus on cultural sexual mores...

[Gerr]

Am I to infer from your reply that we should also pass out sterile needles and narcotics antidotes?

[bonnie]

Gervais, Oregon, huh?

The majority of students at Gervais are Hispanic. And, unfortunately, Hispanics have the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country. (Gervais is right in the heart of migrant country here in Oregon)

Perhaps the problem might be helped if there was more of a focus on cultural sexual mores...

I am thankful my son and DIL are homeschooling their two beginning this year.There is no way I would want a child of mine in the public school system at this time.

Why are such young children so unsupervised that they now need condoms?

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I think homeschooling would be great! I wish I'd had it...I'd have been done with high school waaay before I was 17.

(I've been seeing TV commercials for free homeschooling websites K-12)

[bonnie]

I think homeschooling would be great! I wish I'd had it...I'd have been done with high school waaay before I was 17.

(I've been seeing TV commercials for free homeschooling websites K-12)

There are so many great options today that there is a program for every level.

So many fear their kids would be isolated but the home school groups have so many activities that is not the case.

There are to many area's I would not want the public school system in charge of where my kids would be concerned

[Gregory Matthews]

Quote:

Am I to infer from your reply that we should also pass out sterile needles and narcotics antidotes?

It has been stated that 5th grade children are giving birth.

It has not been stated that 5th grade children OD on illegal narcotics.

Where there is a demonstrated problem, seek a solution.

We do not need to impose a solution where a problem does not exist.

[Gerr]

Quote:

Am I to infer from your reply that we should also pass out sterile needles and narcotics antidotes?

It has been stated that 5th grade children are giving birth.

It has not been stated that 5th grade children OD on illegal narcotics.

Where there is a demonstrated problem, seek a solution.

We do not need to impose a solution where a problem does not exist.

But if there were, would sterile needles and narcotic antidotes be your solution?

[bonnie]

It has been stated that 5th grade children are giving birth.

It has not been stated that 5th grade children OD on illegal narcotics.

Where there is a demonstrated problem, seek a solution.

We do not need to impose a solution where a problem does not exist.

Handing out condoms to children that young is not apt to rectify the problem.It is a problem that can not be fixed by the school,that goes directly to the parents

[Gregory Matthews]

Quote:

Handing out condoms to children that young is not apt to rectify the problem. It is a problem that can not be fixed by the school, that goes directly to the parents.

O.K. the solution lies with the parents. The school cannot fix that. Does that meant that the school should ignore the one thing that they can do?

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

It has been stated that 5th grade children are giving birth.

It has not been stated that 5th grade children OD on illegal narcotics.

Where there is a demonstrated problem, seek a solution.

We do not need to impose a solution where a problem does not exist.

1) I didn't see anywhere on this thread where it was stated that 5th grade children are giving birth in Gervais. Did I miss something?

2) there's a difference between a solution *to* a problem and prevention *of* the problem. The former gives up on addressing the root cause of the problem (underage sexual intercourse) and focuses only on addressing the possible outcomes (i.e., pregnancy, STD's) by handing out condoms. The latter focuses on the sociological, root causes of the problem... that might be a better way to address the situation. (If a 12 yr-old boy can't be persuaded to keep it in his pants, I doubt he'll be persuaded to go to the extra trouble of putting a lid on it...)

[Gregory Matthews]

O.K. Pam:

I guess I was reading into it my personal experience as a pastor in a district where many became parents at 14 & 15 and grandparents at 28, 29 & 30.

NOTE: A 14 YO parent often began having sex at 13.

[Tom Wetmore]

I don't think this a solution, nor do I think the measure is intended to address the root problem. But as some reactions have indicated, that is more of a parental issue to address. But that is also not a solution and will not prevent kids from having sex. Kids with significant moral direction and parental involvement still have sex. Many of those kids do not set out with the intent to have sex when it happens. And many of the that have been thouroughly indoctrinated in the abstinence approach are not adequately equipped/educated to be able to have sex responsibly when it does happen. Those kids too often end up pregnant or with STDs. The consequences of such irresponsible behavior takes it beyond just a parental problem. Unplanned pregnancy becomes a societal issue and an issue for the educational system to address. And STDs are a public health issue regardless of age.

That means that he school system cannot ignore that which effects the kids placed in their care to be educated. And let's be realistic, just leaving it to parents to take care of it obviously doesn't work. Parents have not prevented those kids from having sex and parents alone have not prevented the teen pregnancies or STDs among teens.

So what is the solution that does work?

[bonnie]

I don't think this a solution, nor do I think the measure is intended to address the root problem. But as some reactions have indicated, that is more of a parental issue to address. But that is also not a solution and will not prevent kids from having sex. Kids with significant moral direction and parental involvement still have sex. Many of those kids do not set out with the intent to have sex when it happens. And many of the that have been thouroughly indoctrinated in the abstinence approach are not adequately equipped/educated to be able to have sex responsibly when it does happen. Those kids too often end up pregnant or with STDs. The consequences of such irresponsible behavior takes it beyond just a parental problem. Unplanned pregnancy becomes a societal issue and an issue for the educational system to address. And STDs are a public health issue regardless of age.

That means that he school system cannot ignore that which effects the kids placed in their care to be educated. And let's be realistic, just leaving it to parents to take care of it obviously doesn't work. Parents have not prevented those kids from having sex and parents alone have not prevented the teen pregnancies or STDs among teens.

So what is the solution that does work?

As long as we have the sexually permissive society we have

there really isn't a solution.

It is a rare teenager that doesn't understand how to have sex responsibly.

First we needed more and more sex education.I am not opposed to common sense education,but the graphic sex education in our schools beginning earlier and earlier hasn't changed the problem.So now it is go ahead and the school will protect you.

The shame for a lot of behaviors has been removed and now it is the new normal. I am not talking about shame as in branding and forcing them to walk down the street with a sign that says they have STD.

It does belong with the parents. Under our current system the parents are not held responsible for their child's behavior.

Until the parents take their responsibility we can just keep handing out more "solutions" to their behavior

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

a 5th grader who is 13, 14, or 15 yrs old?? Good heavens! Things have really changed. I was 10 yrs old in 5th grade...

[Tom Wetmore]

As long as we have the sexually permissive society we have

there really isn't a solution.

It is a rare teenager that doesn't understand how to have sex responsibly.

First we needed more and more sex education.I am not opposed to common sense education,but the graphic sex education in our schools beginning earlier and earlier hasn't changed the problem.So now it is go ahead and the school will protect you.

The shame for a lot of behaviors has been removed and now it is the new normal. I am not talking about shame as in branding and forcing them to walk down the street with a sign that says they have STD.

It does belong with the parents. Under our current system the parents are not held responsible for their child's behavior.

Until the parents take their responsibility we can just keep handing out more "solutions" to their behavior

You response is more a lament about the facts and reality of life. But it really is not an answer to what solutions that might work given the reality and facts of your lament.

However there are a couple things I would observe about what you say. We are not likely to change the sexually permissive society we live in. But we still live in it and must coexist with those who do not hold our values. That includes the reality that our kids do too. The consequence of that is that they can be drawn in to behavior and situations we would not approve of, and quite frankly contrary to our best efforts to raise them to live as we wish they would. They will make mistakes and poor choices and yield to peer pressure despite their own values and how we raised them.

And you would be wrong about teenagers really knowing how to act responsibly when it comes to sex, relationships, drugs or alcohol. I mean really understanding. Many are very naive and interacting with those much less so. They may have information. But they don't have a plan prepared knowing edge or forethought of what to do when they find themselves in a situation confronted with the real temptation. And how to look peer pressure in the eye and say no. The chances of a a boy and a girl using a condom if one or both of them have not thought this through ahead of being in the situation where they need to is absolute zero. They are not likely to stop and go buy condoms. But if one or both of them have one already in their purse, wallet or pocket, have a much higher possibility of using it, not a guarantee, but a much higher chance.

And quite obviously parents haven't done a great job and so embody has to address the societal burden that irresponsible behavior's consequences force on us.

[bonnie]

You response is more a lament about the facts and reality of life. But it really is not an answer to what solutions that might work given the reality and facts of your lament.

However there are a couple things I would observe about what you say. We are not likely to change the sexually permissive society we live in. But we still live in it and must coexist with those who do not hold our values. That includes the reality that our kids do too. The consequence of that is that they can be drawn in to behavior and situations we would not approve of, and quite frankly contrary to our best efforts to raise them to live as we wish they would. They will make mistakes and poor choices and yield to peer pressure despite their own values and how we raised them.