Hand Them Out!

It said in a recently Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article that the school district was considering allowing school nurses to distributed condoms to the kids.

This isn't the first time such things have been discussed in many school districts. The cries of conservatives have usually drowned out such considerations, though.

After all: If we let that happen, what percentage of the kids will start having sex? Half? More?

Good question. It is now assumed, based on district statistics, that sixty percent of the kids in Milwaukee public schools who can have sex, are.

Guess abstinence training didn't work, huh?

Why should it? As long as having sex, and having babies, are prestigious acts in a given culture, young people will mimic adults.

Those are values that are overtaking others. You can complain and point fingers all you want; what good is that doing now?

But the schools still want to help, and it's in their best interests to do so. I knew a Milwaukee school administrator who, before he moved into administration, told of the time a girl went into labor in the classroom. She was 15 at the time. It was her fourth child.

Perhaps that's an unusual case. But the above statistic suggests not.

Hand out the condoms, for heaven's sake. Stop the posturing. While continuing to discuss the benefits of healthy choices, let's slow down unwanted pregnancies in the meantime.

Mister Mark