The San Francisco Unified School District’s board is poised to expand its Condom Availability Program for high school students into middle schools. The school district no longer offers Algebra I as an eighth-grade course — Algebra I has been folded into a two-year, eighth-grade and ninth-grade class that is supposed to be more comprehensive. But the board is ready to bring a high school program to middle school by handing out condoms to sixth-graders.
What could possibly go wrong?
Superintendent Richard Carranza backs the proposal to distribute condoms to middle schoolers “in conjunction with a session with a school nurse or social worker to identify risk factors and provide referrals or resources as necessary.” The idea, supporters say, is not to encourage preteens to have sex, but to make sure that the estimated 5 percent of San Francisco middle schoolers who are sexually active protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancies.
“It’s not going to be like Mardi Gras,” school district Director of Safety and Wellness Kevin Gogin told me. (There will be no floats with school nurses tossing out condoms.) The idea is to allow students to visit a social worker or nurse, who can ascertain if he or she is already sexually active and taking precautions. Everything is confidential unless a social worker sees a problem — an adult sexual predator — and sees a need to contact Child Protective Services.
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4 comments:
Kids are going to put them to use.
I know from personal experience, when we were taught sex ed in Jr. High, yes many years ago, the girls and boys talked and a few of us decided to try the stuff we had just learned. 8th. grade spring was the best time of my life!
A little knowledge goes a long way.
they should also give em a six pack of beer and some smokes for before and after their sexual experience
I don't foresee a whole lot of kids signing up for a chat with Thelma the school "nurse", in order to score a few free rubbers.
Put condom machines in the bathrooms, with a discreet sign that directing students that individual "counseling" is available to discuss any concerns. Most will likely end up as industrial-grade water balloons rather than contraceptives anyway.
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