Should schools give out condoms?

What are your thoughts?

Although I am pretty liberal and support sex education including frank discussions on birth control and disease prevention beyond the abstinence "just say no" programs in the schools, I do not believe condoms should be made available in schools. Education is important but it is not the school's responsibility to provide such items.....Schools cannot give out aspirins, why should they be allowed to provide condoms?

Condoms are accessible to individuals at most grocery stores and/or pharmacies and it is the responsibility of the individual to get them.

I think giving out condoms to kids is like trying to put out a fire with gasoline. I think Maize had a great idea with requiring the kids to take a class first. Just because you have a condom doesn't mean you can really have "safe" sex. That is just a myth. Condoms don't provide protection against all std's, and are only 90% effective against pregnancy. Kids should be taught about sex, and what a big responsibility it is. They should also really be warned that sometimes condoms do break!

Maize said:

While I agree with what civilcynic said, I wouldn't be opposed or offended if schools did decide to give out condoms. They would be doing so out of concern for the kids, and I think that's a good thing. However, I think if a school does give out condoms, they shouldn't just be in a box in the nurse's office and have a free for all. I think that kids who want the free condoms should be required to attended addtional sex education class in order to receive the condoms.

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Great idea, Maize! My main opposition to condoms distributed in schools is if it is done without any strings attached. Having to request condoms from the nurse and being required to receive instruction:
- a teen not mature enough to actively seek out a condom from a store or school nurse (ie: because they are embarrassed), have no business having sex. Teens need to take responsibility for their actions.
-It would give the nurse an opportunity to educate the teen on the condom use, limitations and risks.

Of course, the downside of condom distribution in schools is that condoms have a way of showing up at school functions such as assemblies where they are filled with either air or water and used for the students' entertainment much to the dismay of school officials.

A very good idea, however like civilcynic said, few would take the free rubbers because of the stigma that would accompany it.

Here's my plan...
I read about this plant that, when eaten, renders the person impotent--this lasts for about a week. Now, we take this herb and lace the cafeteria food with it. And for those who try to get around it by bringing lunch from home (yes thats why they bring a sack lunch...), we spike their drinks when they're not looking.

Hey, its better than trying to get kids not to bang before they're hitched.