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Debate over DPS contraceptives

Health clinics would stock them

John C. Ensslin

Published February 22, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.
Updated February 22, 2008 at 6:07 a.m.

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Debate began Thursday night on a proposal that would make contraceptives available at health clinics in Denver Public Schools.

The school board took no action but accepted a report from a task force that mapped out the future for the 12 school-based health centers throughout the system.

The report calls for a wide array of improvements, such as a pilot project for preventive dental care, hiring additional school nurses and providing an intensive day school for students with severe and chronic mental illnesses.

But it was the recommendation on providing reproductive health services that drew most of the comments.

Carol Bowar, vice president for program services with Girls Inc. of Metro Denver, urged the board to adopt the task-force recommendation.

"Research tells us that contraceptives do not make girls more sexually active or promiscuous," Bowar said. "Quite the opposite, it makes them safe."

Opponents, however, urged the board to do more research and move cautiously.

"I believe, in my heart, there are some things that shouldn't be tampered with," said the Rev. Randolph West Jr., pastor of St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church.

West said he had no problem with any of the task force's other recommendations, just the stance on contraceptives.

Jim Pfaff, president and CEO of the Colorado Family Institute, said studies have been inconclusive on whether providing contraceptives leads teens to be more sexually active.

"The research is on both sides of this issue," he said. "The research isn't clear."

Several teenagers, however, argued that making contraceptives more readily available will help combat teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

"It's a big issue that needs to be confronted," said Vivie Duclos, a 17-year-old senior. "A lot of girls become pregnant because they don't have access to contraceptives."

The task force recommendation would require approval from a parent or guardian before a student could access any reproductive health care.

The recommendation would also require a school-by-school decision on whether to offer that care after consulting with the principal and the school's community advisory committee.

ensslinj@RockyMountain News.com or 303-954-5291

Comments

  • February 22, 2008

    6:39 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    vudumom writes:

    Looking at statistics of failing schools,failing kids and failing to graduate,what makes the school system think if a girl who is not doing schoolwork so she can get an education will consistantly use birth control?What make the school system think a boy who won't do the work to graduate will consistantly wear a condem?
    We have two separate issues here. One a girl who is having sex needs to be on birth control.If it is not taken correctly it is not going to work.Then we have the boys,who will be told by the girl she is on birth control.Hearing that he will think he doesn't need a condem.The girl can then be exposed to STD's and pregnancy.The boy thinks it's all good and he is not responsible if she becomes pregnant,because she is on birth control.
    Also,Who is qualified in the school system to correctly prescribe a birth control pill for a teenager,are actual Dr.'s going to give the girl a full examination?Or they just going to hand it out?
    What happens on school breaks and during the summer when their contraceptive's run out?Where are they going to get them.
    If the parent's aren't notified or involved in the decision,how can a school prescripe a prescription medication to a minor?
    If the parent's are involved in the process,what if their religious beliefs are against birth control of any kind?Where is the most pressure going to be?Of course on the girl to take a pill which may or may not protect her from pregnancy and certainly not from STD's.the boy will once again be given a free pass on responsibility,after all you can just give a girl a pill right?
    Who is going to monitor these girls for side effects and who is going to make sure they take their pill correctly?

    I am for birth control.I have already discussed it with my 11 year old.I am concerned when you are going to give kids birth control with no parental involvement and really these parents don't care about their kids getting an education,why should they care whether they get pregnant or not.Let's also face the reality of these girls are meal tickets for families who can get a whole host of services through the girl and let's not dupe ourselves into thinking this doesn't go on.

    I don't think the school's are doing a good job at educating the kids in reading and writing.How do we expect them to do a good job at something as important as this.A failed system trying to fix a failed system with the non-help of failed parents.I just can't see DPS doing anything that will be successful,everything the touch turns to crap.

  • February 22, 2008

    6:45 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    NRFC writes:

    While some research shows that providing contraceptives at school clinics may not cause more teens to have sex, making them available only helps to preserve permissive attitudes and behaviors towards premarital sex.

    There is not a single healthy reason for unmarried teens to have sex, not one – and in fact there are plenty of risks.

    To say that teens do not have access to contraception is a myth - condoms are available at almost every drug store, supermarket, gas station, and convenience store. Other forms can be discreetly accessed at public health departments and health clinics.

    Additionally, contraceptives, including condoms, cannot *always* prevent transmission of some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including syphilis, herpes, and HPV.

    Teens have a poor track record using contraceptives properly and consistently, recent improvements notwithstanding, and high levels of sexually active teens means high levels of pregnancy, abortion, and disease.

    Providing contraceptives in school clinics only sustains permissive attitude towards premarital sex and in the long run only preserves the problems it is supposed to solve - pregnancy, birth, disease, and abortion.

    In closing, abstinence never fails – abortion and STD clinics are not full of people who abstained at their last risky sexual act which led to their problems. But they *are* full of people who did not abstain from sex, many of whom used contraception. Instead of preserving the status quo, every attempt should be made to discourage adolescent premarital sexual activity.

    More information can be found at:

    http://www.noroomforcontraception.com

  • February 22, 2008

    7:28 a.m.

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    jay writes:

    No brainer. If you're anti-choice, you should be pro-contraception and pro-realistic sex ed. Anything less means no decrease in abortion occurence.

  • February 22, 2008

    8:11 a.m.

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    DahmersCookbook writes:

    If they provide (male, female condoms) it will hurt an already declining system. They (DPS) are struggling to get kids to graduate and not kill eachother, literally. Education would be A positive thing, hell scare them with pictures of STD's like the military does. DPS cannot provide perscription (The Pill).

  • February 22, 2008

    9:04 a.m.

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    Scott writes:

    STOP THE PRESSES! I agree with Jay! My observation is that a number of the anti-abortion are also anti-contraceptive, e.g. roman catholic. Hence, their "dilemma." The rest feel that birth control, sex, i.e. "the birds and the bees" should be taught by the parents. I agree with the latter view, but the next paragraph helps illustrate why you can't rely on the parents.

    My eldest was talking with one of her classmates (college) last night and was told that the classmates' little sister (high schooler) was knocked up. When asked, what type of contraception were you using the high schooler replied, "The pull out method."

    (To the tune of Dragnet)
    Dumb-de-Dumb-Dumb,
    Dumb-de-Dumb-Dumb,
    Dumb-de-Dumb-Dumb-Duuuuumb!

    Scott

  • February 22, 2008

    9:31 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    DahmersCookbook,

    Oh thanks for the memories of those Navy training videos ... NOT :-) At RTC Great Lakes they even had drawing of how to "holster" your "gun." My reference to a "gun", versus a "piece", should bring back loving memories to any Navy enlistedman :-) Ah, boot camp,

    Scott

  • February 22, 2008

    10:51 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    wow writes:

    DPS will not authorize my middle schooler's nurse to use Peroxide or Neosporin to treat a wound at school, but they think this is a good idea?

    I'm all for sex ed in DPS, and even for a teacher, councilor or school nurse to give information about how & where to get contraception, but I don't trust DPS to do anything else when they don't even trust their staff's ability to dispense basic first aid when needed.

  • February 22, 2008

    1:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    wow,

    It's not that DPS (or any other school district) doesn't trust their staff to deal with minor cuts and scrapes, it's the fear of having a prostitute (lawyer) show up with a lawsuit because you treated junior's wound. Don't blame the schools for this one, blame the State Brothel (Bar) Associations for allowing their member prostitutes to sue at the drop of a hat.

    Remember a number of years ago about the old broad that sued McDonalds because the coffee was too hot and supposedly burnt her ... and won!? She had to hire a prostitute to file and argue the lawsuit.

    Scott

  • February 22, 2008

    3:21 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jane writes:

    I would not feel comfortable with the school being in any parenting role without my consent. This includes counseling of any kind. I don't have a problem with dispensing with parent approval, but no non-emergency medical or psychological treatment should be given to a minor without parental consent. You can't say you crave parental involvement and then systematically shut it out.

    I don't really understand why it's necessary for schools to dispense contraceptives in modern day Colorado, last I checked condoms were in the aisle and there's no age requirement to purchase them. If you're old enough to have sex, you are certainly old enough to go to Walgreens and pay 4 bucks for a box of condoms.

  • February 23, 2008

    10:33 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    eagleye writes:

    I am very much against public schools dispensing birth control for many reasons. Setting aside religious reasons (which one must when arguing in the public forum), here's one of my main objections: The teen who addressed the school board said, "A lot of girls become pregnant because they don't have access to contraceptives."

    What do you mean "they don't have access"? I assume that DPS wouldn't be dispensing the pill, since that requires a dr.'s exam and a prescription (plus they don't protect against STD's). So we're talking condoms here. Every single pharmacy, Wal Mart, Walgreens, King Supers, etc., etc., sells condoms. Heck, even most gas stations sell them in the men's room. If they're not getting them there, why would they get them at school? Certainly, it couldn't be that they're too embarrassed to buy them in the store. Think about it. Which would be more potentially embarrassing: To walk into a busy WalMart and buy them from some anonymous clerk, or to walk into the clinic at your own high school and get them from a nurse who knows you and whom you see every day?

    The argument that public schools need to dispense birth control because teens don't have adequate access just doesn't add up.

  • February 23, 2008

    9:14 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    LiveWell writes:

    I have a couple of questions. This article started out by talking about the school based health clinics, which I believe means there is a doctor available. If so, what level of contraception are they talking about? It also states that this care would only be provided with parental consent. Does anyone know the whole story here? Any more information would be greatly appreciated.

  • March 4, 2008

    10:30 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    nicolexue writes:

    Share it with std people at stdromance.com