Should condoms be made available at schools?

Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
Quote:
Originally posted by Ryuson
I think that they should be, but only in high schools and colleges. My college has started a program called 'condom mints' which is a bowl placed randomly around campus (on receptionists desks ect.) with free mints, condoms, and lube! ... more
My college's health center and student centers had these! There was a bowl of legit candy, and then a bowl next to it with condoms and little lube tubes! It was pretty cool and very helpful. I was almost a regular in the health center and always saw when the condom bowl was full or near empty, so a lot of people were using it! Plus, the free STD testing was awesome! It was really only supposed to be open to students, but as long as you had a student ID, whether it be an old one or not, they still let you get tested.
10/19/2011
Contributor: AngelvMaynard AngelvMaynard
Quote:
Originally posted by wrecklesswords
Wow! That's pretty awesome!

Man, it's crazy to see how far behind the US is in being open-minded about something as natural as sex. It's part of our nature and yet US Society just shuns it like it's something to be ashamed of!
It is crazy and when you look at the worldwide statistics on teen pregnancy, the U.S. percentage is unbelievably higher than most developed nations because of our lack of sex education and denying that sex is essentially the essence of life. Without sex there would be no us!

When Sex Culture debuted at The New York Television Festival I got Durex to be our main sponsor for the event. We handed out condoms and lubricant samples to people as they walked in the viewings. We were asked not to continue to give out the lubricants because it appeared as though we were "promoting anal sex"
This was New York for heavens sake! I was floored!
I still have boxes and boxes of lubricant samples in my closet! My friends come over and grab handfuls all the time.
We are so closed minded that, to me, it's dangerous!
10/19/2011
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
Quote:
Originally posted by AngelvMaynard
It is crazy and when you look at the worldwide statistics on teen pregnancy, the U.S. percentage is unbelievably higher than most developed nations because of our lack of sex education and denying that sex is essentially the essence of life. Without ... more
That is dangerous thinking. We really need to do something to change that in this country

Pretty much from my senior year through my second year of college, I wrote almost all of my debate papers, persausive papers, or whatever papers about how we need comprehensive sex education classes in our schools and no more abstinence-only. Because I really believe that abstinence-only only teaches ignorance. Our teens don't know how to protect themselves even IF they wait to have sex until they get married when they are told "OH NO JUST WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE MARRIED!!!!!!"

I realize it's not quite that extreme, but sometimes it feels like that.
10/19/2011
Contributor: BBW Talks Toys BBW Talks Toys
Quote:
Originally posted by Girly Girl
i know that´s it´s very safe ,, but it´s like telling kids to go have sex with everyone in school ,, i think if you need to teach a teen how to have safe sex it´s by telling them the bad and good things about it ,, and what they ... more
How is it telling kids to have sex with everyone?
10/19/2011
Contributor: padmeamidala padmeamidala
Quote:
Originally posted by AngelvMaynard
Should teenagers be able to visit their school health clinic or nurse and be provided condoms, no questions asked?
Denying teenagers birth control can wind up in a baby too young. I've told my teen that I would go with her to the Doctor for birth control if she ever wanted me to. Teenagers are going to have sex whether you supply them condoms or not. I'd rather have my teen using birth control.
10/19/2011
Contributor: jj1228 jj1228
why not there having sex regardless why not make sure they are protected.
10/19/2011
Contributor: Eliza Eliza
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
Excellent idea! I have girls. We had a copy of Our Bodies Ourselves on the coffee table and any of the girls were free to look up anything they wanted to ask me questions at any time. I also made sure that Planned Parenthood visits took place (they ... more
That last statement is awesome.

I wish my parents were as level-headed about things like this when I was a teenager.

This is one reason I love the Eden community, though! Saving up all these ideas for when I have my own kids (and some I use at school now as an RA - I keep a cup of condoms in our dorm bathroom, just in case).
10/19/2011
Contributor: Beck Beck
Quote:
Originally posted by Gallowraven
I think that might be pushing it. to a lot of people handing out free condoms is akin to saying, "Go ahead teens, screw your brains out, its ok because you have a rubber!" condoms are readily available at drug stores all over the country, ... more
Not very many teens have money and many are embarrassed to ask for money. This does not say it is ok. It says if you are not going to listen then at least be safe.
10/20/2011
Contributor: vanillaSpice vanillaSpice
They should absolutely be provided, in a dispenser or a discreet basket or something since, like someone said, teens get embarrassed and ashamed very easily.

Teens are going to have sex, with or without proper sex education/contraceptiv es. Teaching them how to be safe and actual facts can only help.

Love the candy dish idea, by the way!
10/20/2011
Contributor: The Curious Couple The Curious Couple
I think condoms should be provided at schools.
10/20/2011
Contributor: Lucky21 Lucky21
Dear god yes they should! I remember when I was 13 and in a sex ed class (not through school) I had to go buy condoms, and I went to this mom and pop store near our house and I was ridiculed by the pharmacist asking me if my parents new I was buying condoms and I was "too young". I explained to her why I was doing it, and that my mother was in the store with me and it was no longer an issue, but frankly, if I was a normal kid, it would probably have made me think twice about doing the responsible thing.

Frankly, I think condoms should just be free period. I will be keeping condoms in my house accessible to my kids when they are old enough because I would rather them be having safe sex then unsafe sex.
10/25/2011
Contributor: starklover starklover
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
It is my belief that most teenagers are going to have sex, pretty much regardless of what we tell them. I only have a few friends that didn't have sex in high school. I can understand that some students might be embarrassed to take free condoms ... more
agreed
10/26/2011
Contributor: CPTInsanity CPTInsanity
Condoms are just too important to leave out of schools. How many young peoples lives were altered from pregancy of stds(major ones). I know that I started at 14, and there are plenty of people even younger than that. If I didn't have protection then I wouldn't have enjoyed the success that I have had later on in life. An early pregnancy could have completely derailed my future, and done worse for the girls actually having the babys.
10/26/2011
Contributor: Brandon Lee Brandon Lee
Quote:
Originally posted by AngelvMaynard
Should teenagers be able to visit their school health clinic or nurse and be provided condoms, no questions asked?
Yes, restrict them at school is a restriction of freedom. We cannot expound on the virtues of freedom for adults, and then wait less than a breath before we start restricting the freedom of youth. We can educate students as the need for them, the desire to appriciate sexuality and wait until there is enough maturity to understand. But restricting them from school suceeds in nothing but making the religious right happy that they were able to control others for yet another day.
Condoms in school, the build character.
10/27/2011
Contributor: unfulfilled unfulfilled
I think they should be maybe it would lesson the instances of unwanted teenage pregnancies.
10/27/2011
Contributor: namelesschaos namelesschaos
In regards to the whole it tells the, "to go have sex with everyone in school". Not only does it not send that message, I'm going to take it one step further and argue even if it did send that message, even if the teacher stood up at the front of the class room and said "you can now have sex with everyone in the school", I strongly doubt it would have any meaningful on actual teen behavior. People very often confuse sending a message with actually persuading people to change their behaviors. To illustrate:

"Covert your Eden points to gift cards and send them to me."

You all got the message, but I strongly doubt this has persuaded you to do anything.

Now going back to sex ed. Riddle me this...

How high was "my teacher encouraged me" to on your list of reasons for having sex?
How much time did you spend thinking about "what would my teacher do" before having sex?
How much more sex would you have had if your teacher said you can screw the whole school?
At what age did your teacher stop being a major influence on your sexual decisions? Would you have sex with the entire university if your college den told you or does that only work at the high school level?

Bottom line: This who message line against condoms in schools is not only inaccurate it completely ignores why teens (and people in general) have sex. A teacher telling kids to go out and have sex would likely have the same effect a teacher (al la abstinence only) telling kids to go out and not have sex would have, not much.

"Teacher told me to" is not a major factor in sexual decision making, access to contraception on the other hand is a major factor in the decision to engage in safer sex.
10/28/2011
Contributor: Jaimes Jaimes
I believe they should be available. I am disheartened that being a parent at 14 in some areas is considered no big deal. That's not meant to sound judgemental of anyone who had a child young, of course. But it's a scary thing to realize that we having been sticking our heads so far down in the sand for so long, that this new generation doesn't think its strange or irresponsible to have a child before you make it to highschool. If we are thinking of these kids as kids, rather than as responsile adults they are not, we should be aware that they are still having sex like adults, and as kids, they need a little direction in regards to safety measures. Confusing sentence, but I'm all for education, responsibility and protection.
10/28/2011
Contributor: beachluv51800 beachluv51800
if they are going to have sex, and they are, then provide a way to make it safe for them.
10/28/2011
Contributor: GenderSexplorations GenderSexplorations
High schools and colleges should have condoms readily available. And not in an 'ask the nurse for them' kind of way. But moreso in a 'here's a bowl, no one's watching you really, take some' way.
10/28/2011
Contributor: TheSlyFox TheSlyFox
Yes. it should be.
10/29/2011
Contributor: Breas Breas
Quote:
Originally posted by Liz2
I first had sex w/o condoms as a teen and I just consider myself damn lucky not to have gotten pregnant. As others have said, availability of birth control does not necessarily increase teenage sex but hopefully makes teens responsible.
To deny ... more
I absolutely agree with that last sentence!
10/29/2011
Contributor: emilia emilia
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
It is my belief that most teenagers are going to have sex, pretty much regardless of what we tell them. I only have a few friends that didn't have sex in high school. I can understand that some students might be embarrassed to take free condoms ... more
agreed
10/29/2011
Contributor: MrWishyWashy MrWishyWashy
Absoultely...they were available at my college when I attended, so why not in high school?!
10/29/2011
Contributor: Dee.Fox Dee.Fox
Quote:
Originally posted by Liz2
I first had sex w/o condoms as a teen and I just consider myself damn lucky not to have gotten pregnant. As others have said, availability of birth control does not necessarily increase teenage sex but hopefully makes teens responsible.
To deny ... more
You are so right about that.. and i agree. We can talk to kids and teens all day long about what is right and wrong about sex, but in my opinion we are even more wrong for talking to them about it and not giving them the resources they need such as condoms and birth control. If they fail its partially on us.
10/30/2011
Contributor: Errant Venture Errant Venture
Quote:
Originally posted by Jaimes
I believe they should be available. I am disheartened that being a parent at 14 in some areas is considered no big deal. That's not meant to sound judgemental of anyone who had a child young, of course. But it's a scary thing to realize that ... more
While it does sound iffy that kids could get condoms from their school, I do agree with this almost whole-heartedly.
10/31/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by namelesschaos
In regards to the whole it tells the, "to go have sex with everyone in school". Not only does it not send that message, I'm going to take it one step further and argue even if it did send that message, even if the teacher stood up at ... more
You are absolutely right! I had sex in High School (and used birth control) and never once thought about what a teacher thought about my behavior.

Now going back to sex ed. Riddle me this...

How high was "my teacher encouraged me" to on your list of reasons for having sex? Not at all high

How much time did you spend thinking about "what would my teacher do" before having sex? None. I couldn't have cared less.

How much more sex would you have had if your teacher said you can screw the whole school? I wouldn't have had more, that's for sure. I had as much as I wanted, with or without teacher "approval" or "disapproval" ;.

At what age did your teacher stop being a major influence on your sexual decisions? About 4th grade, probably younger
.

You make perfect sense, namelesschaos. Kids don't care what their teachers "approve" of or not, not when I was a kid, not now. People have sex because it feels good and cements relationships. Giving kids access to NOT get pregnant and NOT get STDs only helps them.

Thank you for your logical and well thought out response.
10/31/2011
Contributor: Rainbow Boy Rainbow Boy
I was actually going to vote "No" when I initially saw the title, but then when I read about visiting the school clinic, I chose "Yes." I don't think they should be available out in the open, but going out of one's way to ask for them is better. It would deter those who feel hesitant about it, and for good reasons, too.
10/31/2011
Contributor: LavenderSkies LavenderSkies
Quote:
Originally posted by AngelvMaynard
Should teenagers be able to visit their school health clinic or nurse and be provided condoms, no questions asked?
Yes.
11/01/2011
Contributor: BBW Talks Toys BBW Talks Toys
Quote:
Originally posted by Rainbow Boy
I was actually going to vote "No" when I initially saw the title, but then when I read about visiting the school clinic, I chose "Yes." I don't think they should be available out in the open, but going out of one's way to ... more
I disagree. Not having condoms readily available won't deter them from having sex. It will only deter them from having safe sex.
11/01/2011
Contributor: Girly Girl Girly Girl
no way
11/01/2011