The issue of distributing condoms in schools as a means to promote safe sex and to curb the growing epidemic of STD's in the country has been a center of controversy for some time now and it once again resurfaced. Many argue that quite a large number of high school students are partaking in unsafe sexual practices, thus putting themselves at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. There are two main sides to this difficult puzzle, those who are for condoms in schools and those who are against issuing condoms to these minors.Some from the pro condoms conclude that preaching abstinence to teens with raging hormones who are bombarded with sex from almost every angle is futile or is just not enough. So if these minors are going to have sex anyway, why not give them the means to protect themselves and so it safely. I must agree that the do have a point to some extent. Teens and children alike are surrounded these days with sex and sexual overtones constantly from readily available sources: music, 'blue movies' (pornographic films), printed material, their peers and adults alike, television shows and even commercials, and the list continues. Not all children have "model parent" who will guide them in the right direction and even that is not full proof. Hence, simply encouraging them to abstain from sex does little to stop these children from engaging in risky sexual behaviors and I still haven't seen a store that sells chastity belts. Therefore, teaching these children about safe sex and providing them with the tool, the condom, to protect themselves seems like a very good way to retard the spread of STD's among these school teens.
But I also agree with the stance taken by those who are against handing out condoms in school. Why? Well they argue that giving condoms to these teens in school, these minors, is tantamount to giving them a license to engage in illicit sex. And if you think about it, they have a point as it could be viewed by these minors, that by giving them condoms, we condone their sexual activities and have accepted that they can do as they feel.
Minors should not be having sex, but they are and they are doing it recklessly at times. The issue of whether or not we should distribute condoms to minors in our nation's schools is a very sensitive issue. Also, it may not be the answer to this ever growing problem of minors having sex and the side effects of teenage pregnancy and STD's. This problem is bigger than the schools can handle, it needs the wider community, religion, parents, government, our entire society. Maybe we need to go back to the drawing board: remove the sexual stimulants in our entertainment and advertisements, instill good moral values in our children by being better parents, talk with our children about sex, closely monitor our children, implement stronger penalties for adults who take advantage of the youths, and of course teach them about safe sex.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you agree with distributing condoms in schools or are you against it? What do you think is the solution?
