PORTLAND, Maine — Pupils at a city middle school will be able to get birth control pills and patches at their student health center 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, who said she has worked as a school nurse in another district for eight years, called the proposal "tragic" and asked "What would God have us do?"
Nope, I fully approve. I knew kids in elementary having sex.
I don't understand how this proposal is tragic, or if this is a path to destruction. If these children are having sex they should be using protection and birth control. Bottom line. Their parents should be right there helping them, but something tells me if you're having sex that young you may not have the best home life.
Although I agree that any sex should be protected I think an 11 year old isn't ready physically or mentally. With birth control or any pill you never know if you will have a reaction so it is best through a doctor, with the parents informed. Additionally while this may handle one issue involved (pregnancy) the problem of STDs is still there and they may think of themselves as "safe." Further I am troubled at the responcibility of being that young taking a everyday pill. Like at 11 you don't forget lunch money let alone to take a pill. Plus the Portland Maine schools have been crunching the numbers because of over spending for needed items like books.
An 11 year old may not be ready, but they do have sex. I would rather an 11 year old take their risks with birth control than childbirth. I can't imagine what having an abortion or going through with a pregnancy would do to such a young body/mind.
Sometimes no matter how good a parent you are, the children are going to do stupid stuff. I think the ability to protect themselves from making that stupid stuff life-changing (pregnancy, stds, etc) is important. Involving the parents would be great, if the parents would be effective role models and assist the kids. That isn't necessarily the case with every family. A child may be denied the ability to get birth control by parents that believe that leads to sexual activity, while unaware that the child plans on continuing the sexual activity they are already doing, just without protection.
I'm not sure if it is too big of a responsibility for an 11 year old. At that age you're responsible for many daily routines. True, preventing pregnancy shouldn't be one of them, but I don't think taking a daily pill other than a vitamin would be overwhelming.
And I think this doesn't impact as many children as it sounds. If 5/134 children are sexually active (some may have been to embarrassed to admit it) then it sounds like the schools are making efforts to reach out to the small percent that may be at risk for pregnancy and early drop out rates. I'm not sure how this effects the school's bottom line--the article's focus was elsewhere.
Ah, if you have a child this age I can understand your response. No kids here, and it's honestly stuff like this that makes me not want children. I had enough problems when I was around this stuff the first time, I really don't enjoy the idea of having these conversations with my kids.
I'm always going to be for more sex education and planned parenthood in general because I grew up in a place where I am an anomaly that I don't have at least one child by now. I'm highly educated and happy with my life and I wish that for everyone.
I don't mind agreeing to disagree and I respect where you're coming from.
Ah, if you have a child this age I can understand your response. No kids here, and it's honestly stuff like this that makes me not want children. I had enough problems when I was around this stuff the first time, I really don't enjoy the idea of having these conversations with my kids.
I'm always going to be for more sex education and planned parenthood in general because I grew up in a place where I am an anomaly that I don't have at least one child by now. I'm highly educated and happy with my life and I wish that for everyone.
I don't mind agreeing to disagree and I respect where you're coming from.
Everybody has the right to their opinion. You have valide reasons behind your belief and I respect that.
Nope, I fully approve. I knew kids in elementary having sex.
I don't understand how this proposal is tragic, or if this is a path to destruction. If these children are having sex they should be using protection and birth control. Bottom line. Their parents should be right there helping them, but something tells me if you're having sex that young you may not have the best home life.
I totally agree. Once someone hits puberty, reproductive health should be addressed, and I don't think someone's home life can override what the hormones are demanding unless that home life is pretty restrictive and oppressive.
It's better to be a realistic parent and insist on protection from the start instead of just saying "no sex". I can't think of anyone who waited for permission to have sex. That would be like waiting for permission to get hungry.
17-A MRSA (253)(1)(B) & (C) It is a class A felony for anyone to have sex with Anyone under 14 years of Age (B) or under 12 years of Age (C). Therefore the kids asking for birth control are asking a nurse to help them break the law. It is Aiding a felon. The school board, the school and the city are being sued and even the Democratic governor is having the Maine Supreme Court look into it and review the case.
17-A MRSA (253)(1)(B) & (C) It is a class A felony for anyone to have sex with Anyone under 14 years of Age (B) or under 12 years of Age (C). Therefore the kids asking for birth control are asking a nurse to help them break the law. It is Aiding a felon. The school board, the school and the city are being sued and even the Democratic governor is having the Maine Supreme Court look into it and review the case.
Hmn. That is curious. I'll be interested in the result. And the later appeal. If the age of the offender doesn't matter, will that make the 13-12 year olds felons for having sex with each other? That would be rather odd.
Would that make many doctors, pharmacists and parents offenders too? I can't say that I like that idea at all.
Of all the sexual violations this is the only one that doesn't have age notes. I wonder about doctors and parents too. It may just be an over sight as many of the other laws have been changed. Personally, I don't thing two 13 year olds should be considered felons for playing doctor. However I still think it is really young for kids to be having sex to begin with. I don't think kids that age are physically or mentally ready. I understand the argument that there will be some that will do it anyways. I wish the parents had to be included in the decision.
The Portland School Committee will consider a proposal to limit access to birth control at a middle school health clinic.
The proposal by committee member Benjamin Meiklejohn (MIKE-el-jon) would give parents the option of blocking access to prescription contraceptives if they enroll their children in the clinic. It also would limit contraceptives to students who are at least 14.
The committee will consider the resolution on Nov. 7.
As it stands, children need parental permission to be treated at the clinic at King Middle School. Once at the clinic, state law allows the students to receive confidential care for reproductive health, mental health and substance abuse issues.
Birth control for 6th graders? No kidding?
