Should high schools give contraceptives to students?

Con: The distribution of condoms to students in high schools is inappropriate, because it does not take into account the wishes of parents to educate their children regarding the responsibilities of adults. Many parents strictly oppose the use of condoms, so schools that distribute them violate the wishes of those parents.

Reply: Schools may require students to get permission from parents to receive contraceptives.

Pro: Adolescents need to develop their ability to make independent decisions regarding the conduct of their sex lives. To develop this ability, they need freedom of access to information, and they need the freedom to obtain contraceptives, if they choose to engage in sexual intercourse.

In many cases, the determination of the adolescent to engage in sexual intercourse is likely to occur whether condoms are available or not. In other words, adolescents are in fact autonomous. If adults hinder the distribution of contraceptives and, in particular, condoms, the consequences to society may well be unfortunate.

Con: Distributing condoms without providing expert instruction in their use is not likely maximally to benefit students. Without instruction regarding the limitations and risks of using condoms, the use of those devices might give a false sense of security.

Pro: The schools may be the only place where some students feel comfortable in learning about and obtaining condoms.

Pro: The use of condoms helps to prevent the transmission of several diseases including AIDS.

Con: The fear of contracting a venereal disease is a deterrent to sexual activity that might result in the transmission of such a disease. The availability of condoms might remove that deterrent without providing a guarantee that an infection will not occur.

Pro: The use of condoms can reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies.

Con: The fear of pregnancy is a deterrent to sexual activity that might result in the procreation of illegitimate children. The availability of condoms might remove that deterrent without providing a guarantee that procreation will not occur.

Con: The fear of contracting a deadly disease and the fear of causing a pregnancy and being burdened with the responsibilities of parenthood are powerful deterrents to sexual intercourse. The availability of condoms would reduce the intensity of these fears or remove these deterrents altogether.

But condoms are unreliable in preventing the transmission of disease and the impregnation of females. Their availability would give some people a false sense of security and at the same time promote attitudes that favor sexual activity without a commitment to full and lasting relationships.

Con: The distribution of condoms to students in high schools is inappropriate, because such a plan would convey the sense that society approves of sexual activity among those who are not legally committed to each other. It would encourage, promote, or increase the incidence of the sexual activity, along with the additional illegitimate pregnancies, that one hopes to prevent.

Reply: Distributing condoms is not sanctioning illicit sexual activity.

Con: School systems would have to pay for the training of those adults who would provide instruction in the use of contraceptives.