CONDOM DISTRIBUTION.   Term Paper ID:19479 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Argues for contraception hand-outs to high school students as part of sex education. Outline.... More...

6 Pages / 1350 Words 6 sources, 9 Citations, APA Format $24.00 Return to List of Papers

Paper Abstract: Argues for contraception hand-outs to high school students as part of sex education. Outline. Paper Introduction: OUTLINE I. Introduction A. Argues that condoms should be handed out to high school students on both practical and moral grounds. B. Condom distribution will prevent spread of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. II. Argument against condom distribution is usually based on the view that such distribution will encourage students to have sex. A. To the contrary, statistics indicate that high school students are already having sex. B. The use of condoms would prevent many unwanted pregnancies and much transmitted disease C. Condom distribution would eliminate the need for many Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. The content area might becommunicable-disease education, AIDS/HIV education, sex education, orfamily-life education. In fact, as Sroka writes, "American teenagers are sexually active.The average age for first-time sexual intercourse is 16 for girls and 15.5for boys. Therefore, the argument goes, for such youngsters it is dangerous togive them condoms, for otherwise they would not even have sex in the firstplace. Condom distribution will prevent spread of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.II. B. Education Digest. The basis of the argument will be that the passing out ofcondoms to high school students will help prevent the spread of venerealdiseases, especially Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, and will helpreduce the number of unwanted teenage pregnancies. A. . as the best way toavoid diseases and unwanted pregnancies . (1991, November). Sroka presents an overview of a comprehensive sex education programwhich includes as an element the distribution of condoms. In the Los Angeles Times, we read of a program in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District which approved a condom distributionpolicy..... With respect to the earlier argument, Cassell writes that "You may beuneasy broaching the topic of contraception because you don't want to giveyour teen the impression that you are condoning their having sex or, insome way, encouraging it. Importance of abstinence argument. Suchdiscussions would not likely discourage young people from having sex inmany cases, but it would make clear to the students that the distributionof condoms does not mean simply that adults are encouraging them to havesex. EducationDigest. We have seen that, as a number of our sourcesemphatically indicate, high school students are already having sex in greatnumbers, and will continue to do so, whether or not adults approve andwhether or not condoms are distributed. References Cassell, Carol. (1975). Conclusion: Condoms should be distributed as part of comprehensive sex education program. Let's make sex a household word. It isnot simply a matter of whether to instruct high school students on how touse condoms. It is important to note that the argument should not be isolated tothe issue of whether to pass out condoms to high school students. Sroka suggeststhat the community, and especially parents, be included in "condomeducation" planning. pp. The use of condoms would prevent many unwanted pregnancies and much transmitted disease C. 6 -63. Los Angeles Times. 68). (1991, July/August). However, even common sense directs us to see that it is unlikely thata young person who is planning to have sex will wait until he or she has acondom in order to do so. However, in somecommunities, opposition to this option exists, and distribution of condomsto sexually active youngsters has been prevented or eliminated in thoseareas" (Engs 62). Strauss, Anselm, et al. Society, pp. . In conclusion, condoms should be distributed, but that distributionshould take place as a part of a comprehensive sex education program whichargues first for abstinence, and which includes community and parentalinvolvement. The handing out ofcondoms would clearly cut back on the costs of medical care for youngpeople with AIDS (Strauss et al. Importance of community and parental involvement. New York:John Day. (1992, March 11). There are anestimated 1 million teen pregnancies a year, and 3 million teenagers---oneout of six--will contract a sexually transmitted disease this year" (Sroka69). In addition, the same program had included the provision that parentscould block the students' access to condoms. Introduction A. 63-73.----------------------- 8 note that, from a social and economic point of view,the AIDS crisis is one of the most destructive forces imaginable,particularly with respect to the health care system. The distribution of condoms should be part of a comprehensive sex education program. This argument will bepresented on both practical and moral grounds. A. Engs, Ruth C. This approach helps desensitize and clarify thecondom issues as well as allay fear" (Sroka 7 ). In fact, studies show that teens do not rush into sex because theyknow about contraception" (Cassell 166). The moral aspect of the argument should not be dismissed out-of-handby liberals who see as meaningless the conservative view that moralityprohibits the distribution of condoms to high school students. Argues that condoms should be handed out to high school students on both practical and moral grounds. Every thirty seconds a teenager becomes pregnant . E. pp. But, since many high-schoolstudents are already sexually active, many schools teach about condoms withthe message that they reduce but do not eliminate the risk of disease orpregnancy" (Sroka 71). Importance of moral argument. C. The only restriction is a small cost, designed to counter theargument that the program would be funded by taxpayers. (1987) Straight from the heart. . It would be desirable that the sexual education course suggestedwould include discussion of the complexity of human relationships and theundesirability of sex with strangers, sex engaged in as a result of drugsand/or alcohol, and sex without some emotional commitment. They can bedefective. Relax. Therefore, that aspect of theargument against condom distribution---that it will encourage high schoolstudents to have sex---is meaningless on both moral and statisticalgrounds. Need for education on "all human relationships" as part of condom distribution program. (1991, October). There is no evidence that if youngpeople knew how to prevent pregnancy they would be indiscriminate aboutsex. Condom distribution would eliminate the need for many abortions and would cut back on health care costs associated with AIDS.III. . Condoms can be improperly used. As Gordon writes, "the area of sex education that is mostneeded, and in the long run will be the most effective in curbingirresponsible sex, disease, and pregnancy, deals with the basic attitudesand orientations to all human relationships" (Gordon 148). (LA Times B2). As Sroka writes, "A 1988 Gallup poll indicated that81 percent of public school parents wanted 'teaching the use of condoms'for AIDS education." Sroka adds that "Successful programs incorporatecondom educationinto a sound educational framework....... Advantages of condoms as contraceptive alternative.IV. Thoseadvocating such condom distribution should wholeheartedly embrace the moralelement. The argument against the passing out of condoms in high schools, or,for that matter, significant sexual education of any sort, is usually basedon the view that young people who are subjected to such information oravailability of contraceptive devices will immediately rush out and havesex. The latterargument is preposterous, for, as Cassell points out, young people thinkabout sex often, whether or not they have a condom handy. New York: Simon &Schuster. Common sense about condomeducation. As we read in Sroka,for example, "Almost all schools stress abstinence. AIDS & health caredeficiencies. D. The program hadoriginally contained the provision that the condoms would be distributed bycounselors, but the students argued that there were many students who wouldnot take advantage of the program if they were forced to confront acounselor in order to do so. To the contrary, statistics indicate that high school students are already having sex. 69-72. OUTLINEI. Is it not moral to prevent the occurrence of countless casesof venereal diseases which come about as the result of sex among highschool students? B. The argument also includes the assertion thathanding out condoms will make young people think about sex whereas beforebeing handed a condom they were not thinking about sex. that would make condoms easily accessible to students at SantaMonica High School....... Engs writes that "In some school clinics, condoms are distributedwith parental consent to sexually active youngsters. On a practical basis, then, hundreds of thousands of unwanted teenpregnancies and millions of cases of venereal disease would not occur ifcondoms were passed out to high school students as part of an enlightenedsexual education effort. It is hoped that such an enlightened condom distribution policy wouldbe part of a comprehensive sexual education course in the high schoolsystem which would include the kind of concern for "basic attitudes andorientations to all human relationships," as suggested by Gordon. . Specifically, the policy willdistribute condoms "with the following: instructions on use, a statementthat abstinence is the only 1 % effective way to avoid sexuallytransmitted diseases, a statement that many teenagers choose abstinence,and instructions on how to get more information" (LA Times B2). Plan gives students easyaccess to condoms, B2. B. Argument against condom distribution is usually based on the view that such distribution will encourage students to have sex. and every13 seconds one contracts a sexually transmitted disease. Even when properly used, disease can be transmitted, as in thecase of venereal warts, crabs, and other ailments. Strauss et al. Clearly, this massive sexual activity is occurring without thehanding out of condoms on any significant scale, and it is likely that inmost of these cases, had condoms been properly used, the pregnancy and/orthe transmission of the venereal disease would not have occurred. Gordon, Sol. Is it not moral to prevent countless unwanted teen pregnancies,and the abortions which in many cases occur as a result of those unwantedpregnancies? 'Clean living' is back. Santa Monica High School program. F. It is ironic, as Strauss et al. point out, that the people who areagainst handing out condoms to high school students--an act which wouldprevent teen pregnancies---are the same people who are against abortion.Clearly, the handing out of condoms to high school students would makeunnecessary many abortions. Sroka, Stephen. It is preposterous to imagine that a youngster---or two youngsters--- who wanted to have sex would simply not have sex onemoment because they did not have a condom, and then would have sex the nextmoment when handed a condom. This study will argue that condoms should be passed out to highschool students. Condoms are the contraceptive which sit at the center of the debatebecause they are cheap, do not require the intervention of a doctor forindividual fitting (such as diaphragms), and are quickly and easily used.At the same time, despite the arguments of the handout which accompaniesthe Santa Monica High School distribution of condoms (according to the LosAngeles Times, in any case), condoms are not 1 % effective in preventingdisease and pregnancy. . If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.