"Middle-Schoolers Get the Pill"

Should middle schoolers be able to receive the contraceptive pill and patches from the student health center without their parents knowing? Realists as well as Margery Eagan argue some students are already having sex, and by taking actions such as these we are keeping students “as safe as possible.” The district is trying to make the same health care available to lower class girls who cannot afford a gynecologist. The nurses at the health center also inform girls who go to receive the pill the many risks of underage sex and the urge to talk to their parents. This provides girls with knowledge and maybe even persuasion to stop them from having sex. Although, the opposing side which involves Charles Sykes, states that middle school girls are too young to be having sex and that they should wait to have sex until they understand their hormones. If we look at this issue logically we might see that the evidence is urging kids to delay sex, or helping them to avoid getting pregnant or a sexually transmitted disease.

The opposing argument is that no one thinks it’s a good idea for 11-year-olds to be having sex. This argument was presented to challenge the argument of 11-year-olds having ability and choice of sex. The age of eleven is so young, and they have not yet realized the danger is having underage sex. They need to wait until they are informed about the risks of sex in order to make decisions they are comfortable with. This is in hopes girls will delay having sex. The only argument with this, is girls are already having sex at this age, and for those that are sexually active, they have a place to go in which they trust. It is a form of protection that makes them feel secure. They know it is private, and it’s a way for them to be able to make their own decisions without the consent of their parents, and also knowing they are being safe.

The article covered two main perspectives. They included the perspective of urging kids to delay sex, or helping them to avoid getting pregnant or a sexually transmitted disease. I think an issue that was highly overlooked was the concern of a parent, and their feelings toward their daughter receiving the pill without their knowledge. I think this is a major concern parents have, and it’s something they want to be able to inform their children about themselves. This brings up the concern again that: “Nobody thinks it’s a good idea for 11-year-olds to have sex,” (Eagan 1). If this is the case then why is it being overlooked and how come parents aren’t stepping up to take action to change this issue?