Emergency Contraception in High Schools

Parent Cafe
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<p>HH, I do not claim to be an expert in Catholicism. I do apparently know more about Catholic theology, Church history, Vatican II and the role of the laity, and some extent of various contemporary currents in the Church than did the person who was disputing me, but that’s a different kettle of fish. Many people know the current orthodoxy, period, without appreciating much of the longer-term context, the why/when/who/how of things. Even at that, my knowledge is sketchier than I really like, knowing some of the terrain in broad detail but not necessarily fine detail. There are those, however, at whose feet I will sit and listen.</p>

<p>As to offense, those of us who are Catholic, Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian, Unitiarian, Church of Christ, etc., had, during the last presidential campaign, to apologize and explain more than once to our colleagues who are Jewish, atheist, agnostic, Buddhist, whatever, that “we’re all not like that.” </p>

<p>You are free to claim whatever beliefs, political or religious, as you wish but I take strong issue and great offense at attempts to co-opt my religion for a social and political agenda that I find so odious.</p>

<p>Frankly, I believe the matter of religion to be a private affair and I take seriously the New Testament injunction about praying in the privacy of one’s closet and thus am not terribly comfortable in discussing faith in public. However, having my faith hijacked to serve as window dressing for some political views is even less comfortable.</p>

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<p>Well, at least such an excercise of brute political power would dispense with the sham posture that different results for different women would be due to differences in individuals, not opportunity.</p>

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<p>Marite, </p>

<p>With regard to State statistics for pregnancies, birth rates, and abortions, it’s also worth considering how legal and illegal immigration affects the border states. In Texas, where I live, Hispanic births are more than twice the rate of white births. Typically, new and younger immigrants marry at an earlier age so teen birth rates in Texas cannot be easily compared to teen birth rates in states like North Dakota or New Jersey. The fact that border state statistics may be skewed by immigration also makes it difficult to compare the effectiveness of pregnancy planning and abortion programs.</p>

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I don’t understand your comment. Why is it “brute political power” to allow the voters of each state decide what will happen in each state? Is it more fair to let the Supreme Court decide for everyone?</p>

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<p>It’s certainly more fair if you’re truly interested in providing equal opportunity. The “local option” at least drops the pretense of seeking same.</p>

<p>The same arguments are being recycled 40-50 years later after they were used in defense of segregated schools.</p>

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<p>DRJ4,</p>

<p>I totally buy in that there are diffentials in class, race, heritage that can drive some of the differences. It may be the Texas statitics are affected not only by the predominate Southern culture but also the large Hispanic population. </p>

<p>Why do I think both play a part? Besides Texas, 4 of the other top 10 states in terms of high teen pregnancy rate are Southern States: FL, GA, MS and NC. 3 of the other 5 are border states CA, AZ, NM. The other 2 are DC (I’m counting it as a state) and NV. (The high pregnancy states in the NE I mentioned are in the next 10.) </p>

<p>Note that none of the 10 states that have the lowest pregnancy rates are in the South. Those states that made it are IA. ME. MN, NE, NH, ND, SD, UT, VT and WI.</p>

<p>I should also mention that the tables shown in the link had data through 2000. If someone knows of some updated information, I’ll see if the groupings hold up.</p>

<p>There is good news. From 1991 through 2000, teen pregnancy rates were down throughout the U.S.; looks like for just about every state.</p>

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<p>I am posting late to this and I HAVE NOT read all the posts but I have to ask
Zooser mom a question after reading zoosermom “I’ve worked with Planned Parenthood for about 18 years”
I am a charge clincian at a large PP. NO offense but there are NO medical CONTRAINDICATIONS to ECP other than already being pregnant/allergy to progesterone (incredibly rare- havent seen it after 13 years of full time clinical work and thousands and thousands of pts) In want capacity did you work at a PP - even in a school setting the ECP will have to handed out by a licensed person with appropriate screening questions. Though actually, it would be perfectly appropriate in terms of safetly to just hand it out. I am suggesting that you ask the PP you work with to update on ECP and its safety. Your ethical issues are personal and of course appropriate for you. But please don’t use your PP contact as indication you know the clinical procotols/safety issues.
Janie</p>

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<p>TheDad: I have no intention of co-opting your religion - why would I? I have no agenda, other than seeing that my individual rights under the law are granted.</p>

<p>As of today my state law and federal law and the instructions of my religion are PERFECTLY compatable:</p>

<p>“The right and duty of parents to educate their children are primoridal and inalienable.”</p>

<p>“Public authorities have the duty of guaranteeing this parental right and of ensuring the concrete conditions for its exercise.”</p>

<pre><code> -Catechism of the Catholic Church
</code></pre>

<p>“…parents…have the ultimate responsibility for imparting values regarding human sexuality to their children…”</p>

<p>-California Department of Education</p>

<p>CA law goes on to say parents can opt-out of all instruction concerning the above if they wish. They have, in otherwords, ensured the “concrete conditions” specified in the Catechism.</p>

<p>My own state of PA has similar wording in its school code; I believe most if not all other states do also.</p>

<p>The only problem I have with things the way they are presently in our school system is that I have had to FIGHT for my rights to do the above. Textbooks, assemblies, outside speakers, and now, apparently, health clinics involving themselves in reproductive services are used to “educate” my children in “human sexuality” without my knowledge.</p>

<p>I am not part of any group; when I used the term “we” I was referring to people whose children must attend public school but who are still interested in raising their children according to the tenants of their faith.</p>

<p>Ten or even six years ago our local district was very careful to inform parents about the above, and their rights regarding such. Not any more. As I’ve said, I had to force the issue with our district that they abide by the law (and if you read CA’s law from my previous link it is the same) of informing parents. </p>

<p>Granted, I suppose not many really care. But the law is there for a reason. Districts are getting more and more brazen, in my opinion, in cutting out parental influence.</p>

<p>I have no interest in converting the schools, or anyone else for that matter, to my beliefs. I respect all other belief systems, btw, and always have. I am just asking for a little respect for my beliefs from school officials, and that they obey the law. I used the word “pesky” because, in my experience, that is how I’ve been treated. Although I have been consistently respectful to them, they’ve been very arrogant in their belief that it is their right and duty to educate all children as THEY see fit, even when they were exposed as breaking the law.</p>

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<p>Also, I don’t usually go around discussing my faith either. In this case, unfortunately, it is inextricably intertwined with the issue put forth in the OP. That’s just the way it is.</p>

<p>sorry for above: “primordial”</p>

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<p>Janie, </p>

<p>It is clear that Plan B is a generally safe and effective contraceptive, but you may want to refresh your understanding of the contraindications and warnings. The manufacturer’s website lists additional contraindications and warnings than those you mention: <a href=“go2planb.com”>go2planb.com;

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There are additional precautions and adverse reactions listed at this website. For instance, the manufacturer recommends closer monitoring of patients with diabetes who use Plan B.</p>

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<p>Following up on the teenage stats from yesterday, I looked into the breakouts by ethnic group, white, hispanic and black (reverse alphabetical order, OK?) , Someone asked if the presence of a lage hispanic population could tilt the Texas stats.</p>

<p>The tables have limited information by state for ehtnic groups in the pregnancy rates and abortion ratios. However, there is such information for birth rate (live births per 1,000 of general teen girl population). Last year available in the tables in 2000 and I comparing stats for that year.</p>

<p>For all ethnic groups and in total the birth rate for teens had been coming down throughout the preceeding decade.</p>

<p>All groups combined of the top ten high birth rate states for teens, 7 are in the south (AL AR, GA, LA, MS, NV, TX, OK), 2 are border states (AZ and NM) and NV. I commented earlier on the high pregnancy rates and the low abortion ratios (abortions divided by the sum of births pus abortions) in the South. All were red states in 2004</p>

<p>More intetesting perhapswere the top ten low birth rate states - 5 New England states (CT MA ME NH VT) - I had mentioned the low pregnancy rates and high abortion ratios in this region., 3 were Metro Coastal states (NY NJ and PA), an area with high pregnancy rates and high abortion ratios and MN and ND. All but ND were blue states in 2004.</p>

<p>Birth rates nationally by group - (w,h,b) = (32,87 and 77 per 1,000, respecitvely). Race could be a poor proxy for class or education here but it’s what we have to look at. :(</p>

<p>The ten birth rates for white teens - wait for it - are all in the South - AL AR GA KY MS NC OK SC TN WV.</p>

<p>Of the top ten birth rates for hispanic teens, 4 are in the south (AL GA NC TN). The other 6 are spread around - AZ CO ID MN NE NV UT.</p>

<p>Top ten birth rate states for black teens 4 are in the South and the other 6 are spread-around</p>

<p>Texas in not on any of the individual group top ten lists but has abive average rates for whites and hispanics, so I think the population distribution among groups was the extra push needed to make TX an overall top ten state.</p>

<p>TN made each top ten list. NY made each low ten list.</p>

<p>In recent years there have been studies which showed by state the amount of federal funds that came in versus the taxes that went out. Red states generally fare better than blue states. I had always thought that this was due to agricultural subsidies and disproportionate defense spending (look at all the bases down South). </p>

<p>It occurs to me that the difference in teen brirth rates may have something to do with it. It’s nice to think that the family of each pregnant teen will take care of her and the baby on their own but there’s often welfare or some other family asisstance associated with teen mothers who often lack the means to provide for themselves.</p>

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<p>How about adding the following to any opt-out provision to sex education or birth control offered through the schools: “…in addition, should my daughter become pregnant at any time before the age of 20, her family will fully support her material needs and no effort will be made to seek government assistance for her and her baby either at the federal, state or local levels”?</p>