The Abstinence Clearinghouse Blog

This article makes you wonder about how much influence we want the public schools to have in our children’s lives.  Young teenagers having free access to all the condoms they want does not seem rational to me. I can’t imagine who will donate to this distribution project.  Read this article by Elizabeth Braun and Charles Benson and see what you think of this idea.

MILWAUKEE - Condoms will be handed out at many Milwaukee Public Schools.

The board approved the controversial measure 7- 0 with no debate.

That disappointed Tony Couppee. He home schools his kids but he’s outraged with MPS.

“I know that if you cannot teach abstinence, for them to keep abstinent and be responsible, they’re not going to be responsible when you throw condoms at them,” Couppee said.

The district claims 63% of MPS high schoolers are sexually active and nearly a third of them didn’t use a condom the last time they had sex.

The board believes handing out male condoms will reduce teenage pregnancy and the number of sexually transmitted diseases.

“It’s something that is a happening around the country. You’ll see a lot of information about pregnancy rates falling,” said MPS Health Services Coordinator Kathleen Murphy.

School nurses will be in charge of condom distribution and they can say no for a number of reasons, but age will not necessarily be one of them even if the sex involved is illegal.

“I think it’s a good proposal, if it’s done right,” said school board member Tim Petersons.

I asked Petersons about who should be getting condoms in school. “An 18-year-old having sex with a 15-year-old in my world is against the law,” said Petersons.

Benson: “But the nurse could still give that person a condom?

Petersons: “The 15-year-old, correct. They could, yes. But at least they are getting the advice that they need.”

Condoms won’t be distributed in schools until next year.

By the way, tax dollars will not be used to buy condoms. MPS says they will be donated.

The district adds that only 4.5% of high schools in the country make condoms available to students.

The board hopes this new policy will make students more aware, but not sexually more active.

 Source:  Today’s &MJ4 Milwaukee