The Availability of Condoms in Middle and High Schools
The Availability of Condoms in Middle Schools and High Schools Written by: Teegan Batiz T/Th 12-1:15 Virgina Relph
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs’) are at an all time high in the U.S. (http://www.avert.org/stdstatisticusa.htm ). Every year, 19 million new STD cases are reported. Over half of these cases occur in teenagers’ ages 15 thru 18.
(http://www.sexedlibrary.org/index.cfm?pageId=801 ). This being the case, public middle and high schools should make latex condoms available for students. In the United States alone, 34 percent of freshman in high school admit to having had sexual intercourse at least once. (http://www.sexedlibrary.org/index.cfm?pageId=815 ). Six percent of those freshman reported having sexual intercourse before the age of thirteen. There really is not a quick fix to this ever-growing trend among American children between the ages of 10 thru 17. Children in this age range will continue to experiment with sexual encounters and sexual intercourse. In April of 2009, The University of Texas School of Public Health researched 1279 students in the seventh grade of a low-income public school. The research questions were about any sexual encounters they had been involved in. Twelve percent of these SEVENTH grade students admitted to having had sexual intercourse. Four percent of these children admitted they DID NOT use any protection of any kind in the last three months. Three percent admitted to having FOUR OR MORE sexual partners!! (Journal of School Health) Children are subjected to sex thru the news and media every day. It is in magazines and television shows. The show “Private Practice”, a drama on Thursday nights on ABC, recently aired a show in which a thirteen year old girl and her mother went to the girls’ pediatrician asking for birth control. The news show 20/20 on ABC is in the
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs’) are at an all time high in the U.S. (http://www.avert.org/stdstatisticusa.htm ). Every year, 19 million new STD cases are reported. Over half of these cases occur in teenagers’ ages 15 thru 18.
(http://www.sexedlibrary.org/index.cfm?pageId=801 ). This being the case, public middle and high schools should make latex condoms available for students. In the United States alone, 34 percent of freshman in high school admit to having had sexual intercourse at least once. (http://www.sexedlibrary.org/index.cfm?pageId=815 ). Six percent of those freshman reported having sexual intercourse before the age of thirteen. There really is not a quick fix to this ever-growing trend among American children between the ages of 10 thru 17. Children in this age range will continue to experiment with sexual encounters and sexual intercourse. In April of 2009, The University of Texas School of Public Health researched 1279 students in the seventh grade of a low-income public school. The research questions were about any sexual encounters they had been involved in. Twelve percent of these SEVENTH grade students admitted to having had sexual intercourse. Four percent of these children admitted they DID NOT use any protection of any kind in the last three months. Three percent admitted to having FOUR OR MORE sexual partners!! (Journal of School Health) Children are subjected to sex thru the news and media every day. It is in magazines and television shows. The show “Private Practice”, a drama on Thursday nights on ABC, recently aired a show in which a thirteen year old girl and her mother went to the girls’ pediatrician asking for birth control. The news show 20/20 on ABC is in the