Sometimes people want to open the door, they just don’t know how far. School leaders in Providencetown, on the Cape, have run into such a dilemma. They believe sex among children is inevitable, and therefore want to make condoms available for free, and without parent permission, in their schools. But at what age should condoms be provided? High schoolers? Middle school kids? Rather than make a tough, subjective decision, P-town officials decided to make condoms available to any kid who asks, including elementary students.
From an AP article:
Provincetown School Board Chairman Peter Grosso says because there is no set age when sexual activity starts, the committee decided not to set an age for condom availability.
And there lies the problem. Sexual activity doesn’t just “start”. Those who engage in sexual activity make the choice to do so. And as responsible adults — parents, teachers, nurses, counselors — we need to be black and white when guiding students toward making the right choices. And for tweens and early teens, some choices are the right choices. They shouldn’t smoke, drink, use drugs, eat too much junk food, drive a car, swim without a lifeguard, or stay up too late. And they shouldn’t have sex.
Providing these kids with condoms is shameful. Doing so without telling parents should be criminal.
