Home > Opinion > Peter Roff > D.C. School Reform? Public Schools' Absurd New Condom Policy

D.C. School Reform? Public Schools' Absurd New Condom Policy

Reader Comments
Back to blog

quickly becomes either a broken condom or one that isn't worn in the first place.
If you can't even fit it on, then it isn't going on! And yes, the larger sizes might cost slightly more.
These kids need to be given standard responses to peer-pressure lines (useful for gracefully getting you out of booze, drugs, sex), and techniques to negotiate safe sex.
Abstinence is great, but you'd better know what your other options are so you can make an informed choice and can't plead ignorance. Because at some point, you aren't going to abstain. Or were you hoping that would be the case until marriage? What is the current marriage rate for these kids in particular? Low.
Let's leave abortion and adoption out of the picture: neither should be needed in the first place. Used correctly, condoms don't fail.

Lydia Gynoa of CA 1:45AM May 27, 2010

Someone who actually lives in the District of Columbia. Who has children in the DC public schools.
Condom use is not being used only in the schools but also for adults in DC.
This is a public health issue and the money is not taken out of the school budget.
Great for you if you live in a world where no one has premarital sex, no one has HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases, and no one has sex outside of marriage. Many other people do not live in that world and I think it is not so bad to offer a way to people to help protect themselves from getting a virus that could kill them. And by the way, it is very expensive for the public health system to treat HIV and viral hepatitis. Condoms may be much less expensive in the long run.
Agreed, of course condoms like anything else is not 100% effective---mostly because of not being used properly (see training regarding the proper use prior to being permitted to distribute them) and not because of failure of the prophylactic. Still, 99% effective or even 90% effective (probably a low estimate) is much more effective than NOT using anything at all when having intercourse.

Melissa in DC of DC 12:55PM May 26, 2010

This might be a moral issue. Too bad she wants to move away from that idea. After all, atheism doesn't allow any room for such thoughts.
Condoms simply are unreliable. Think about it, one of the brand names for condoms is "Trojan." I'm sorry, but the Trojans lossed the war just as people will lose the war on "safe sex-education." Abortion is not an option. It is flat out murder. The embryo is a human being regardless of its size, shape, level of development, enviroment, or dependency on the mom. To say otherwise is to ignore the facts. Condoms don't completely prevent STDs, pregnancies, or scarred emotions.
Also, when sex is used between one man and one woman in a marriage, there are fewer problems. Chances for HIV and other diseases go down considerably. If the woman gets pregnant and they don't want or can not support the child, there is adoption.

Dryfire of IL 9:46PM May 25, 2010

Come at this problem from the point of view of students becoming future taxpayers. Tell the kids "You won't always be in school. You will start paying taxes. Make it easier on yourselves when that time comes. Also, make it easier on your taxpaying parents now. Condoms are paid for by taxpayers. Use them to prevent pregnancy because poor unwed girls usually go on welfare. Then they live off the labor of taxpayers, who provide welfare, food stamps, health care, ADC & subsidized housing. Condoms stop some venereal diseases that cost a lot to treat, also provided by taxpayers. Condoms can help to reduce the number of "Shotgun Weddings" to "give the baby a name." Often, they're followed by angry inlaws & divorces. VD rots brains, causes needy old patients. Instead of moralistic scoldings, tell the students how they can benefit from using condoms. Ask them which are the better quality brand condoms. Offer taxpaid voluntary sterilization & abortion. Do make it a Public Health Problem because it is. Also tell them to set a good example by regulating population all over the world. There are too many people, CONSUMING too much of everything & demanding more housing.

aURa dawn veirs of CA 8:21PM May 25, 2010

The fact that schools have "condom policies" is, in itself, absurd.
Hollywood spews filth over our children, most households require 2 wage earners nowadays, parents are desensitized to sex and violence by the media, advertisers promote teen sex, God has been forced from the public square and totally banished from public schools, the net and cell phones have brought porn into our kids bedrooms, schools have become centers of political and moral indoctrination, and kids are tossed the car keys - condoms and birth control pills, at 16.
Now all that... well, that's absurd.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 11:39AM May 25, 2010

Does anyone else here think our country is going down the drain morally?
I'm sorry, but condoms do not prevent the spread of STDs. There are some that are molecularlly small enough to go right through the microscopic holes in condoms. Also, the condom covers a small area of the body. There are various other parts where STDs and AIDS can infect by touch. And there is still a good chance the girl could get pregnant. Even if she takes a morning after pill.
"But we have studies showing that abstinence alone doesn't work..." Yeah, all you have proven is that humans are stupid. That people are going to do the wrong thing no matter the risks or consequences. Does that mean then we should start justifying road rage? Driving and texting? Drinking and driving? Cheating on tests? We all know that no matter how hard we tell people not to do these things, someone is going to do it anyway. Does that mean we should make them okay? If you say yes, then this nation is screwed.

Dr. Shade of NC 9:30AM May 25, 2010

Thank you for writing this. We have a failing school system thoughout the country, it is costing us taxpayers more and more for nothing more than to go further and further down the line of educated students in the world. We are focused more on political agendas, wheather it be to push a teachers agenda or brainwash our kids, bottom line, we and our kids are losing..
Sam of Tx and Jim at Madison, you two are prime examples why, push a social agenda in light of an education.. By the way to you two, please respond to my questions on Roffs previous blog if you can.

Hunter of WI 9:05PM May 24, 2010

Answer: Step.... Chew.... Step.... Chew.... Step.... Chew....
Question: How does a Republican walk and chew gum?
It's called multitasking, Roff. Everybody in the real world knows how to do it. Sure, D.C. schools have other problems, but that doesn't mean they should ignore pregnancy and STD issues.
No wonder things go to h-- in a handbasket when you guys are in charge. You can only handle a one-line to-do list.

jimatmadison of WI 7:52PM May 24, 2010

Condoms help prevent the spread of AIDS.
Abstinence works even better.
Is DC teaching both methods ?
Please advse

bill in Baltimore of MD 6:21PM May 24, 2010

Assuming even that the 3 percent number is accurate, how many of those who are infected are school-age children? Sounds like someone is not telling the whole story.

Sam 6:19PM May 24, 2010