Gloucester, Mass., School Committee Votes To Allow School To Distribute Contraception

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 13 Oct 2008 - 2:00 PST

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The seven members of the School Committee in Gloucester, Mass., on Wednesday voted unanimously to allow the distribution of contraceptives at the high school about four months after a reported "pregnancy pact" was made among several students, the Boston Globe reports. The new policy will require parental consent in order for students to obtain contraception through the school's health clinic. The policy will go into effect after the final language of the consent form is voted on by the school board. A Time Magazine article in June reported that some of the 17 teenagers at the school who became pregnant formed a "pregnancy pact" to raise the infants together.

According to the Globe, the number of pregnancies reported last year was four times the average for the 1,200 student school. State Department of Public Health Medical Director Lauren Smith said the city of Gloucester's teen birth rate decreased from 45.7 pregnancies per 1,000 teens in 1990 to 21.1 pregnancies per 1,000 teens in 2006. Although the mayor of the city and school officials denied that a pregnancy pact existed, the attention from the high number of pregnancies led to a series of debates about contraception distribution at the high school, according to the Globe. A survey conducted recently by students at the high school showed that 86% of students support contraception distribution and 49% feel uncomfortable discussing sex with their parents.

School Superintendent Christopher Farmer said he agrees with Wednesday's decision, adding, "People are increasingly realizing the lives of adolescents now are very complex. We have a significant number of teenagers who are sexually active." During the debate, committee members agreed that an informed student and parent population is important for sexual health and education. They also cautioned parents to consider all options outlined in the plan before making a decision. Committee member Melissa Teixeira asked parents to "self-reflect" and consider whether they are "approachable" to their children. She added, "Please strongly consider your choice to opt out or not." Val Gilman, secretary of the School Committee, said parents "need to be mindful of their obligation to their children" (Nuss, Boston Globe, 10/9).

Gary Verga, School Committee chair, supported the measure and said he hopes the decision will remove some of the national attention the school has received from the alleged pact. Verga said, "There were four or five television cameras in [the meeting]. I looked up after the vote and they were gone. I thought, 'I hope this is a sign that they've moved on to the next topic'" (Johnson, Boston Herald, 10/9). Gloucester, Mass., School Committee Votes To Allow School To Distribute Contraception
[Oct. 10, 2008]

The seven members of the School Committee in Gloucester, Mass., on Wednesday voted unanimously to allow the distribution of contraceptives at the high school about four months after a reported "pregnancy pact" was made among several students, the Boston Globe reports. The new policy will require parental consent in order for students to obtain contraception through the school's health clinic. The policy will go into effect after the final language of the consent form is voted on by the school board. A Time Magazine article in June reported that some of the 17 teenagers at the school who became pregnant formed a "pregnancy pact" to raise the infants together.

According to the Globe, the number of pregnancies reported last year was four times the average for the 1,200 student school. State Department of Public Health Medical Director Lauren Smith said the city of Gloucester's teen birth rate decreased from 45.7 pregnancies per 1,000 teens in 1990 to 21.1 pregnancies per 1,000 teens in 2006. Although the mayor of the city and school officials denied that a pregnancy pact existed, the attention from the high number of pregnancies led to a series of debates about contraception distribution at the high school, according to the Globe. A survey conducted recently by students at the high school showed that 86% of students support contraception distribution and 49% feel uncomfortable discussing sex with their parents.

School Superintendent Christopher Farmer said he agrees with Wednesday's decision, adding, "People are increasingly realizing the lives of adolescents now are very complex. We have a significant number of teenagers who are sexually active." During the debate, committee members agreed that an informed student and parent population is important for sexual health and education. They also cautioned parents to consider all options outlined in the plan before making a decision. Committee member Melissa Teixeira asked parents to "self-reflect" and consider whether they are "approachable" to their children. She added, "Please strongly consider your choice to opt out or not." Val Gilman, secretary of the School Committee, said parents "need to be mindful of their obligation to their children" (Nuss, Boston Globe, 10/9).

Gary Verga, School Committee chair, supported the measure and said he hopes the decision will remove some of the national attention the school has received from the alleged pact. Verga said, "There were four or five television cameras in [the meeting]. I looked up after the vote and they were gone. I thought, 'I hope this is a sign that they've moved on to the next topic'" (Johnson, Boston Herald, 10/9).

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