Good News About Adolescent Sexual Behavior Never Seems to Make the Headlines

The articles and TV news stories on the Portland school board's 7 - 2 decision to provide prescription contraceptives at school based health clinics in middle school have featured alarming headlines like "Kiddie Birth Control," "Birth Control for Kids?" and "Birth Control Pills for 11-Year-Old Girls." What most have failed to mention is that only five students seen in the middle school clinic reported that they were having sexual intercourse, and they were all 14 and 15. They also don't mention that parents have to give permission for their children to be seen in the clinics.

The debates rant about the sexualization of the culture, but they have also ignored the fact that 94 percent of middle school adolescents have not had sexual intercourse [PDF, page 20], and that fewer young teens are having sex today than did 15 years ago. This is good news about young adolescent sexual behavior that never seems to make the headlines.

No one thinks that 11- and 12-year-olds should be having sex of any kind, not even 11-and 12-year-olds. As a minister, as a public health professional, and as a parent of two teenagers, I strongly believe that middle schoolers are not physically, emotionally, or spiritually ready for mature sexual relationships. I also know from the research that when young teens are having sex it's often with people who are much older than they are and that these teenagers are most often not doing well in other parts of their lives. Sexually involved early adolescents are often disconnected from their parents, doing poorly in school, and engaging in other high risk behaviors like drinking and drugs. In other words, they are troubled young people and they need our help.

And our support. I'm hoping the protocol in those middle school clinics requires offering these young teenagers extensive counseling about the risks of sexual behaviors and encouragement for involving parents and other adults in their decisions. Based on my own 30 years experience counseling teens, I know that most young teens will involve their parents if they are encouraged to do so and many can be helped to rethink their decisions about sex.

But, not all of them. And that's where the Portland school board got it right. For surely if we don't think young teens should be having sex, we also know that those who are, should be protected from pregnancy and STDs. We agree as a society to say to our young people, we don't want you to drink, but if you are going to drink, don't risk your lives by driving under the influence. Scary headlines aside, can we agree to say, we don't want you to have sex, but if you do, don't risk your health and your future?

Comments

[MsLiz]

Hey, I knew the facts as you cited them. But then, I read the Huffington Post and watch MSNBC. I also watch some Fox News in order to keep my blood pressure up, and that's where the S was hitting the fan.

[Kissydee]

Agree with poster thejazz...no money in common sense.

If only we could start to accept public breastfeeding alongside ads that use breasts to sell everything BUT motherhood...

Not the main problem, of course, but one that does highlight our messed up attitudes towards sex. I think this is a great idea. Kids need to talk about sex. It's on their minds all the time. Better an adult who has facts and experience than 11 year old comrades.

[ihavenobias]

You're exactly right.

And to bolster an unoriginal point on the topic of America's often illogical attitudes toward sexuality, I was flipping channels the other night and stopped briefly on some horror film on the Sci-Fi channel.

This isn't a premium channel as I believe it comes free with most cable/satellite packages.

At any rate, I watched 5 minutes and saw some *incredibly* gory stuff. And this is coming from someone who isn't prudish about tv violence.

But I could only imagine the uproar if one of the characters exposed a breast, or God forbid, any full frontal nudity (because, of course, that would traumatize any kid watching).

PS---Don't forget about the HPV vaccine uproar. Isn't it obvious that this vaccine would lead to wild orgies in the streets? After all, it's not like there are any *other* sex-related concerns (AIDS, herpes, pregnancy and on and on).

And who doesn't have fond memories of chewing rusty nails on the way home from their first tetanus shot?

[BlackJAC]

It is decidedly strange that you can show the wholesale death of people onscreen from nuclear detonations and even the destruction of entire planets, but you can't show two consenting adults engaging in the physical act of love.

[Kansas Evans]

I wish the good news would get out more.

I can certainly feel your pain.

[BoredwithExcuses]

At last someone is talking about the actual issue and the reality of teen sexuality. Thank you! I live in the South of Georgia where our local high school had 60 pregnancies last year. (Gulp). Abstinence seems to be the continued approach and the head-in-the-sand attitude as by the local education authority. I am disgusted that we have let this get so out of hand, but as the Sex Ed Committee consists mostly of local pastors, a solution doesn't seem to be imminent. I sent out a frustrated email to local women in the community asking for their involvement and help for creating some solutions. Got no responses back. Am I alone thinking we are letting our teens down and that we need to deal with issue with urgency?! Well Done to Portland who seem to have a well-thought out strategy that doesn't involve force feeding girls the pill, as the conservatives so think.

[Alice A.N.]

My position exactly - and as is so normal these whenever I see such headlines, I sigh and resign myself to the knowledge that it will work on it's intended target: the simple minded reactionary. One extra paper will be sold that otherwise wouldn't have been. And while the newspaper rakes in the money, we are left holding the basket of a society in which rational discourse becomes impossible. Where those in charge of policy succumb to the mindless mob of reactionaries.

[GeoNorth]

Most adults don't want to talk honestly and open with their kids about sex because the parents have all this emotional baggage that they can't deal with, so the kids suffer. This rational policy in Portland has some parents going crazy because they can't deal with sexuality in a rational manner. Of course, if they could, there would be no reason for this program.

[LeftRight]

You're right, if the parents could deal with their own problems, this wouldn't even be an issue. Unfortunately, I also understand the terror of talking to your kids about it. I overcame it enough to learn that my daughters were both having sex, and was therefore able to provide birth control (pills and condoms) for them so that they wouldn't be as likely to get pregnant, or get an STD. Was it uncomfortable? You bet! Was it one of the hardest things I ever did? Absolutely! Was it worth it? No doubt!!

I'm glad that the school board is attempting to limit these two tradgedies that all too often affect our young children. And I think that the parents who have trouble with it need to get over their own problems and TALK to their kids. Then they wouldn't have to worry about the school district providing birth control without their knowledge.

[thejazz]

holy crap that makes sense!

The U.S. isn't ready for this attitude at all, there's no money in common sense.