Boston Teens Propose More Access To Condoms, Sex Education

Disheartened but still hopeful

While I appreciate people's efforts in trying to reduce the rates of unplanned pregnancies and STD's, I am disheartened by the approaches being sought by both the students and adults involved here.

Comprehensive sex education is probably Planned Parenthood (PP) type of sex education (Have you seen they have recently been exposed for sex trafficking of minor girls?). What is PP sex education? It is one where the students are told that they cannot control themselves, that they are bound to have sex, so here, take the Pill or take these condoms or whatever other contraception they give out.

This is a fallacy. First, no contraception is 100% safe from pregnancy or STD's. Yes, the Pill may have only a 1% to 2% risk of pregnancy, but it is a highly loaded risk. We're talking pregnancy. Do we really want to take chances with that? Also, people do not know if they are in the 1% range or 99% range; so they could be the next one to get pregnant while on the Pill.

Back to comprehensive sex education. Chastity, high self-esteem, saving yourself for marriage, etc. is the only education that gets to the root of the real problems with unplanned pregnancies and STD's. If students want to have sex, then we need to be asking them, "So, You Want to Have Sex?" and all the questions that follow that. See page 27 of The Valley Patriot's Februaray issue

That article is not comprehensive, but it is a good start. STD questions need to be added, for sure.

Chris Pham stated it well, when he said, "Teens are being misled into believing that they can strap
on a condom, have sex with whomever, and be safe."

I hope school committees and students and parents start taking a more holistic approach to this incredibly important social issue.

Kathleen Laplante

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