Birth Control in Schools

New York City schools have been providing birth control to the students for over a year now.  It has just now stirred up much controversy about whether it is  positive or negative to teenagers.  Even though parents could opt their children out of receiving forms of birth control, the students did not have to have a parent consent.  Will giving birth control to students have a positive or negative impact on their health, safety, and future?

There are many types of birth control, but only oral contraceptives are given to the teenage girls in NYC schools.  Also, a type of pill is also given to students called Plan B.  Many people think that this is a type of birth control, but it is a back up pill in case your regular birth control fails.  It is also not an abortion pill.  Plan B should be used for emergence cases only.  Even though the NYC schools have been given out Plan B, they also give out regular birth control.  So the main question is whether or not birth control is helpful, or will it give a bad message to young teenagers. 

People say that just handing birth control to students promotes sex and gives the message that sex is okay.  Yes, some teenagers might see it that way, but everyone needs to realize that you can not stop teenagers from having sex.  Therefore, why not give out birth control to benefit students for their health, safety and future.  Most people do not realize that birth control health risks do not compare to the health risks of being pregnant.  And not only will being pregnant affect your own health, but it could ultimately affect the child's health and future in the long run.

Statistics have shown that schools who provide birth control and teach comprehensive sex education to teens have a lower pregnancy rate than that of schools who promote only abstinence.  People need to look at birth control as a new approach to prevent pregnancy and a measure that will be positive for our students.

Bibliography: 

"The Argument You Don't Hear About Birth Control In Schools." TIME.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://ideas.time.com/2012/09/26/the-argument-you-dont-hear-about-birth-control-in-schools/>.

"Birth-Control Pill Lands Fairfax Girl 2-Week Suspension." Birth-Control Pill Lands Fairfax Girl 2-Week Suspension. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2012. <http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/News/048391-2009-04-06-birth-control-pill-lands-fairfax-girl-2-week-suspension.htm>.

"Buy Birth Control Online: Yasmin, Alesse, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Mircette, Levlen." Buy Birth Control Online: Yasmin, Alesse, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Mircette, Levlen. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://buy-birthcontrol-online.com/>.

"Plan B One-Step® (levonorgestrel): Frequently Asked Questions." Plan B One-Step® (levonorgestrel): Frequently Asked Questions. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://www.planbonestep.com/plan-b-faq.aspx>.

"Sex Education." Sex Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2012. <http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/sex-education-home>.