How does this differ from handing out condoms? The fact is that Birth control pills change the function of the body. While I am not a Doctor, I know that as a grown woman that the pill has certain risk factors. How can we not think that this will not affect these young not fully adult bodies in an adverse way. How can they know what is normal for their bodies and what is not. I am the mother of four ranging from 28 to 9. Three of these are girls. We have been very upfront with them about sex and its consequence. They have also been told the best reason for abstinence is their health. It is grievous that this school system has taken away the parents right to choose what is best for their child. Parents should have the school sign a paper that they will be responsible for all medical care of the children participating. If the school is not willing then they lose either local or government funding. We tell our children that there are long term consequences for decisions - the school system should have to bear the weight of theirs.

But parents don't "choose" when their children become sexually active. Beyond this issue of whether or not to give birth control to teens or preteens you have to know that you don't have control over their bodies, they do. Even if you are the best parent in the world, our children are out there everyday making their own choices, for better or worse.

You are 100% correct that parents don't have control over their child's bodies and are often not 'in the know' when it comes to what their child is doing. EVEN GOOD PARENTS like you say.

So why are we passing more laws that restrict info from the parents? How is hiding info from a parent (and I'm going to assume MOSTLY loving ones, even if they are ignorant) a step in the right direction?

I'm not religious (in fact I'm very anti-religion) and very liberal on sexual issues so my motive isn't from that angle. I just support open communication. Most of the post I have seen on this issue just ignore the parents and assume most parents are assholes (i.e. don't have the best interest of their child at heart).

I don't think anyone is trying to hide anything from us. I think they are thinking of trying anything they can to make the kids come to them and ask for help. Is there a choice? Either we let the kids come to us, knowing there will be confidentiality, or if not, the kids will go to their parents? No. This is not the choice.

Honestly, I think maybe they should just stick to condoms and very thorough sex education, but we can't keep thinking that our kids will come to us with everything. We should make ourselves completely available and open to them, but end the end, they really need to have other places to go as well.

I do see what you are saying; That if the child knows that if they go to a third party (e.g. nurse) that that third party will tell their parents that they will NOT go to that third party and thus they will have no one (other than friends that are also children) to go to. Very valid point.

Going for information is one thing but going for drugs or surgery is another. But if the assumption is that if a child is NOT allowed to go to 'other places' without their parent finding out they will NOT go to any place (thus they will suffer) than I guess what you have laid out is the only option.

I still don't like it but I cannot think of a logical point to counter this assumption.