by Elizabeth A. Marion

Created on: June 06, 2010

Teens will experiment with sex and the concern over the spread of STDs is not a concern that should be taken lightly. Most would agree with that, but whether schools distributing condoms is appropriate and effective is up for some discussion.

Schools already do what they can to address these issues by providing students with an education on STDs and condom use. Most teens who engage in sex are aware of the dangers of STDs and the importance of using protection. Distributing condoms at school can be effective in getting students to use condoms who would not have done so otherwise, but what are the other effects of this? For one thing, the school is encouraging and helping students engage in illegal activity since underage sex is against the law. Schools can give them condoms to engage in sex, but can't keep them from being charged for breaking the law. So in other words the government is giving the students the means to go against the law, but also holding them accountable for breaking the law.

Passing out condoms at school is also effective in taking away more responsibility from the student. One of the arguments in support of school distributed condoms is that students will feel more comfortable getting a condom from school than getting a condom from a store. Do we really want schools to have that attitude? That students should never have to do anything that makes them uncomfortable? Should we excuse those students from having to give school presentations who are too shy to do so? Should we stop giving tests to those students who say that tests make them uncomfortable? Someone who is too immature to be able to go into a store and purchase a condom is not mature enough for sex. By distributing condoms at school we are sending the message that it is still okay to have sex even if you don't have that level of maturity.

The other aspect of this issue is whether or not it is appropriate for schools to distribute condoms. It is inappropriate for several reasons. First of all it does encourage students to go ahead and have sex. Many parents would not want that message to be sent to their children, but it seems that they no longer have that choice. As usual, the government is sure that they know better than the parents. It is also inappropriate because it is a gross mismanagement of taxpayer money. Taxpayer money should not be used to help schools distribute condoms by going behind the backs of students parents. It also should not be used to pay for the choices of individuals. If someone chooses to have sex and chooses to use a condom, why should taxpayer money pay for that? Why is it acceptable that entitlement programs have gotten so out of hand that people aren't even expected to buy their own condoms?

Our schools teach students about the dangers of STDs, then they treat the students as if they incompetent with condom distribution by assuming that they are not smart enough to have learned anything about STDs. If they know what the risks are they will know the importance of protected sex. And they should bear the responsibility of having the maturity to buy their own condoms. If they want to play like adults, they should be able to handle some of the responsibilities that come with it.

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