MPS To Discuss Providing Free Condoms to Kids

Good idea?

Milwaukee Public Schools’ health officials want to make condoms freely available to students in many of the district’s high schools, as part of an effort to combat the health risks that sexually transmitted infections and other communicable diseases pose to young people.

If the proposal wins the support of the School Board, the new policy could take effect as early as next school year, making MPS one of a few districts in the nation that provide contraception to students.

I’m not sure it’s a bad idea.  Childhood pregnancies and STDs have been devastating in Milwaukee.  While there are many other issues that need to be addressed - like a culture that celebrates unwed teen sex - but while we work on the bigger issues, it might not be a bad idea to make it easier for the kids to put a helmet on their soldiers before sending them out to war.  On the other hand, I would like to see some evidence that providing free condoms actually has a positive impact on reducing STDs and pregnancies.  After all, free condoms are already readily available from a lot of places.  Is it really the cost that is deterring condom use or is it the culture?  If it’s the culture, then providing free condoms is just a wasted cost. 

That’s my quick two cents. 

Thoughts? 

1. Or, kids could get the free condoms at school and sell them for slightly less than MSRP in front of gas stations or outside of bars. Then they could learn about economics, too.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 03, 2009 at 1010 hrs




2. Well, it IS the culture, and that ‘culture’ is not limited to MPS students.

   The question is not one of utility, Owen.  It is a question of right/wrong.  We note that MPS (along with lots of other entities) will NOT discuss right/wrong.

   It’s all relative, you know…

   Posted by dad29 on December 03, 2009 at 1011 hrs




3. Yesterday, Sykes talked about an R Kelly song about intentionally getting a girl pregnant.  One caller said his son indicated the line “I want to get you pregnant” is code for wanting to start a relationship.  And this kid was from the middle of the state.

   Unless we’re going to figure out a way to have some government bureaucrat supervise every encounter, free condoms will not make kids use them.  If the notion is “they’re just going to have sex anyway”, then people should realize they’re not going to use condoms - no matter if they’re free.

   And it is an issue of right and wrong.  Single motherhood is one of the biggest factors contributing to poverty.  The breakdown of the family - specifically a father’s responsibility to his child(ren) - has devastated the black community, and causes harm everywhere else too.  We cannot in good conscience encourage them to perpetuate these dismal cycles of abandonment and poverty.  Children need married, responsible parents.

   Kids do not need to have sex or free condoms to encourage it.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 03, 2009 at 1052 hrs




4. When I was in school an average of three girls a year got pregnant in high school.  Then SIECUS took over and introduced sex education, kids got condoms freely available in stores, not counting the theft. Everything else loosened up to stop teen pregnancy.
     Now 90% of births in the inner city are out of wedlock, (bastards), they used to be called and everything else has gone to hell.
     Wasn’t the right solution then and it isn’t now.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 03, 2009 at 1123 hrs




5. I wasn’t aware that the cost of condoms was a hindrance to their use.

   Let’s not focus on fixing MPS - lets spend time trying to fix social issues. What is MPS supposed to be doing? Next think you know we’ll be feeding and clothing them too…

   Oh wait - we already feed them breakfast and lunch.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 03, 2009 at 1141 hrs




6. Tiger Woods could make an appearance and hand them out.
   It is the culture, if every student received a free case I doubt the stats would change.
   At some point in time parents need to partake in childrens education, you could put a condom around the entire school and it will not help unless parents step and teach responsibility.
   Instead of fixing the zoo interchange lets just pass out hard hats to all motorists.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 03, 2009 at 1142 hrs




7. MPS is at such a low point that they might as well hand out condoms… heck, for that matter they might as well give out certificates entitling the student to a free 2 hour stay at a local motel. Maybe throw in a couple of Vicadin, a pint of Jack Daniels, and a tube of Astroglide while they are at it.

   Normally I’d say that they are simply reinforcing the notion that underage sex is ok… even though we all know it leads to huge problems. Normally I would say that the school should be teaching kids about the trouble that can be caused by teen pregnancy. Normally, I would want a school system to be more interested in working against a social ill rather than supporting the dysfunctional culture that leads to it’s proliferation.

   Normally. In the case of MPS, they have come so close to rock bottom that I rather doubt they could mount any real effort to fight teen sex and teen pregnancy. Most of those kids can barely read and 30% don’t even attend school on a regular basis… except to show up on the official attendance/pizza party days. Condoms? Who cares. MPS is the Afghanistan of public school systems. At least they aren’t exporting opium.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 03, 2009 at 1211 hrs




8. I think its a graet idea. MPS has such a dismal record educating kids in that city that the last thing Milwaukee needs is more kids. But please dont stop with the schools….hand them out to everyone in the city. 

   I would think a tour of the public schools and a quick read of their progress reports would be enough birth control but maybe not.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 03, 2009 at 1247 hrs




9. Perhaps they should hand out homework and expect that it gets done.

   Is part of the problem that these kids have to much time on their hands?

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 03, 2009 at 1722 hrs




10. There’s nothing more important to deal with at MPS.

    No…really.

    Posted by Steve on December 03, 2009 at 2118 hrs




11. We already have free breakfasts and free lunch so why not free condoms? It’s a feel good project that will have no effect whatsoever on the pregnancy rate in MPS, just as free breakfast and lunch have had no effect on student achievment. Perhaps MPS should also offer free abortions in case the free condoms are defective or have been sold on the street. Most MPS high schools already have a police presence so a Planned Parenthood presence would be a logical step.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 03, 2009 at 2122 hrs




12. They can’t pass out Tylenol or asprin without the parents written permission and perscription meds without a doctor’s order.  So, they can give out condoms without notifying parents?  That part is wrong.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 03, 2009 at 2127 hrs




13. “Can you give me a couple dozen?  I’ve got a big week end planned.” 

    “Spring break is coming up!  What am I supposed to do for condoms if the schools are closed???”

    And what are these kids supposed to do for condoms when school is out for the summer?

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 03, 2009 at 2138 hrs




14. We need to put a condom ON MPS.

    Posted by GAMazy on December 03, 2009 at 2158 hrs




15. @ Wendy: Yes, having the kids sell the condoms might teach them more than they learn in an average school day. Unfortunately, if they try to sell the condoms cheap in Wisconsin they will run afoul of the minimum mark-up laws and Jim Doyle will have something to say about that. I can just imagine a huge new condom resale windfall profits tax flying through a special session of the legislature.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 03, 2009 at 2252 hrs




16. Stats on teens and sex
    The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System is a national longitudinal study that discerns the rates at which U.S. students in grades 9-12 engage in activities that put them at risk of poor health and life outcomes; sexual activity is just one of the areas surveyed through this instrument.

    A 2003 YRBS survey showed that while recent years showed that there was a decrease in adolescent sexual activity, nearly 50% of the young people surveyed had had sex at least once, more than 1/3 had been active beyond an initial encounter, and one quarter had made decisions about sex while under the influence of alcohol.  Communities and constituencies differ.  For example, 51% of teens in Alabama had ever had sex and 21% have had four or more partners.  In Wisconsin, 37% of teens had ever had sex and 9% have had four or more partners.  In short, community norms vary.

    Age and ethnicity are other factors to look at:  The Guttmacher institute noted that YRBS data showed the number of high school students reporting having sex before age 13 declined in the last years of the 20th cent, but figures increased again in 2001 and 2003.  The Guttmacher institute also noted that minority youth were far more likely to have sex before age 13 compared to their white peers and to continue sexual activity. 

    Add Health findings indicate that young people are more likely to have sex younger if they are from rural areas, southern states, if they received public assistance/welfare, and if they were of African-American ancestry. 

    The National Survey of Family Planning found in their 2002 data that most, but not all, teens were interested in preventing pregnancy and some (12%) intended to get pregnant.  Condoms were the most often used method of birth control. 

    The Centers for Disease Control reports that each year there are approximately 19,000,000 new STD infections in the U.S., and almost half of them are are among youth age 15-24.  Thirty four percent of young women become pregnant at least once before the age of 20 - approximately 820,000 each year.  In 2003, 47% of HS students had ever had sexual intercourse, 14% of HS students had four or more partners, and 37% did not use a condom the first time. 

    Child Trends in 2003 reported that the vast majority of young people described their first sexual encounter as part of a romantic relationship: A significant number of teens 14 and younger reported partners two or more years older than themselves and 21% said they never used contraception during the relationship’s length.  Intimate partner violence occurred in 25% of the relationships of those surveyed, with higher figures amongst Hispanic teens.  Child Trends noted that 80% of those first intimate relationships lasted, on average, 6 months (Ryan, Manlove, and Franzetta 2003). 

    On media: television viewing had a more demonstrable factor for white teens versus African-Americans (Collins, Rebecca 2004).  The Rand Corporation published analysis of survey data indicating that aggressively sexual lyrics in contemporary popular music are associated with earlier initiation of sexual activity (Martino, Steven, et al 2006).

    Recommended uplifting reading (We live in better times):
    Google books: American families and the nostalgia trap By Stephanie Coontz: Comparisons of 1950s families to yr 2000 families.  p180-254 cover sex, marriage, reproduction, toxic parents, super-moms, absent fathers, pregnant girls, wilding boys, crack babies, the underclass, and the myth of the black family collapse.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 03, 2009 at 2346 hrs




17. Thanks for all the stats - but what does this have to do with MPS dealing with social issues?

    Their job is to educate children for the workforce. How does passing out free condoms (which may not even be legal) further that goal?

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 04, 2009 at 1221 hrs




18. How many can spell condom.  Or prophylactic?

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 04, 2009 at 1225 hrs




19. Bill,
    If, as you state, the Milwaukee public school’s only purpose is to create workplace bodies, the passing out of free condoms would enable Wis taxpayers resources to be diverted less towards:
    1. young people with STDs/ AIDs
    2. pregnant teens that leave school temporarily or permanently
    4. new recipients of welfare systems
    5. chasing down nonsupporting fathers

    The condemnation of MPS shown herein belies a misunderstanding of the system: Not all Milwaukee schools have horrible programs and Milwaukee stats are heavily weighed down by the low attendance and dropout rate, which in part is influenced by the lack of decently paying low-skilled labor in Milwaukee like Detroit, LA, and Flint, MI.  Milwaukee once thrived on low-skill, decent wage assembly line/industrial work that grew during WWII and withered in the late ‘60s as these jobs moved overseas.  The lack of opportunities created a blight that few escape. Sex (and other indulgences) takes the edge off that blight.

    Free condoms would be a band aid that will keep some # of kids from dying, getting sick or acquiring a kid they likely can’t afford and they are too stuck on to give away to a family higher up the social ladder.  Though it’s a thrifty social investment, dollar wise, a long-term solution is to build the low-skilled, living wage, job opportunity back in Milwaukee, but that’s another blog.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 04, 2009 at 1916 hrs




20. So, JP…teaching responsibility to children and helping restore some sort of family life in the inner city isn’t part of the answer? Just condoms and jobs….sounds SO much better than “bread and circuses”.

    Posted by Steve on December 04, 2009 at 2024 hrs




21. Ditto what Steve said.

    Posted by GAMazy on December 04, 2009 at 2254 hrs




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23. Thank you for the post, i really liked it.

    Posted by Ameda Ultra on December 25, 2009 at 1331 hrs