With the rather dramatic increase in teenage pregnancies and the higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases in recent years, the issue of safe sex among teenagers has been thrown into the national spotlight. One of the many potential fixes for this problem is in school condom distribution. This proposal has gained the favor of many anti AIDS groups because of its promises to increase condom usage among sexually active teenagers. However, it is my belief that the drawbacks of distributing condoms in school far outweigh any potential benefits to the students.
The distribution of condoms in school gives the image that the school is in favor of sexual activity among teenagers. It is my belief that most (if not all) teenagers are not ready for sex; by the schools distributing condoms it is essentially endorsing sex among students. This is completely wrong, the image of the school should not be to endorse sexual activity, but rather to teach the students about its potential dangers and nudge them towards following abstinence. .
If one truly believes in distributing condoms freely, then schools are not the correct place. Not only does school condom distribution create an unhealthy environment, but there are other places such as health clinics and such that are more appropriate places for birth control devices and will also allow the condoms to reach a wider variety of people besides simply students. If condoms are to be distributed freely to students, why limit them to students and instead distribute them freely to all people?.
The other qualm that I have regarding the distribution of condoms in school is that there is no guarantee that it will be effective in increasing the usage of condoms among teenagers. Of those teenagers having sex, there are many who do already use condoms, obtaining them by buying them at a pharmacy or some other store. The teenagers who practice unsafe sex are already aware of the existence of condoms and make a conscious decision not to use them.
