Should publicly supported education programs include the distrib

Wherever the issue has emerged, whether it be in the inner city schools of America, the primary schools of Wales, or in health education programs in the developing world, the suggestion that condoms be actively promoted as a solution to unwanted pregnancies, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and the proliferation of HIV infection has been controversial. While scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports the contention that condoms, when properly used, reduce the incidence of these problems, numerous critics fear that active encouragement of condom use advances the onset of sexual activity among young people. In particular, more conservative religious traditions, as well as religious groups that oppose contraception, oppose the move to the distribution of condoms in schools out of fear that basic values of their religions might be undermined in their children.

As an alternative, critics of condom distribution advocate abstinence-only education. This variant of sex education encourages young people to abstain from sexual activity as a way to avoid pregnancy and disease. Unfortunately, such programs have had mixed or negative results. In the developed world commercial influences and social pressures contribute to student defiance of abstinence. In developing countries, where cultures often encourage the development of large families and educational programs are not as well funded or comprehensive, critics feel the message lacks impact.

Because this issue has received a great deal of attention in the United States and the United Kingdom as regards implementation in public schools, the temptation is to see this topic through only that lens. However, debaters may just as easily consider broader educational programs instituted by governments to improve public health and population control. Debaters may also consider multinational and foreign aid programs designed to control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and regulate population growth.

So my question to you is, Should publicly supported education programs include the distribution of condoms?

^^ I agree with you Kristen

In most colleges they have them in the bathrooms where you have to put a quarter in to get one, or they have them for free in the Nurses office.

So if they can implement something like that to highschools, middle schools, etc. It might be a help to this problem, but on the other side of this, there is religon, many people that are religious feel it shouldn't be done.

I think it would be best on a case by case basis. If you live in an area where teen pregnancy is already a problem then yes those kids are having sex anyway so that would only help the problem. If you live in an area where such a thing isn't an issue then no. The real issue behind this I would think is. Why should the state take it upon itself to educate children about sex. That's a parents job. The state has no right to interfer. However as stated above if you live in an area where unwed teenage mothers are spiting out kids like sweet tarts from pez dispencers(sp?) then obviously the parents aren't doing a good job of it.

Even if teen pregnancy isn't an issue, why allow it to start to be one? I say let them be handy in the nurses office, etc. Why let a problem start if it could have been nipped in the bud?

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Because if it's not an issue why mess with it? Do you really think suddenly encourging or even condoning teen sex in an area where it wasn't an issue before won't lead to an increase in sexual activity. And in such an area obviously the parents do care otherwise that area would have the same problem. Why should the state have a say in the issue? If the parents in a certain area have already taken care of such a problem the state stepping in is not likely to help or worse it'll cause an issue where no exsisted before.

I think if we are realistic,most kids today are not going to practice abstinence .I would rather know that my child went privately to the school nurse and got a condom than to find out they were dying of aids or pregnant, Would I rather they abstain,yes but if not then at least be safe. If they can get them in school then maybe they would be more likely to use them.

We had four teens get pregnant while I was in high school.
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You forget some people are just stupid no amount of sex ed will ever change that.