School Board Debates Offering Pill at Rindge and Latin

While the Cambridge School Committee has delayed a final verdict, the debate over contraceptive distribution to high school students remains an issue of much contention in the city.

On Tuesday, the school committee deferred a decision on a proposal allowing Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School to expand their program for distributing birth control devices. The committee instead scheduled a public hearing on November 30.

Currently, students can obtain condoms directly from the school's Teen Health Center (THC)--an on-campus branch of Cambridge Hospital. For any other types of contraceptives, however, they must obtain prescriptions which can only be filled at a city pharmacy.

The new proposal would give students direct access to daily birth control pills; Depo Provera, a three-month injection; and Norplant, an implant which lasts for about five years.

If the plan is approved, Cambridge Rindge and Latin would become the first public high school in the state to distribute a variety of contraceptives. Already in 1990, Rindge and Latin became the first public high school in Massachusetts to distribute condoms.

But the new plan, drafted by the Cambridge Health Policy Board, has sparked a spirited debate among both students, parents, and community members at large.

Widespread Student Support

Students who support the proposal say it is necessary to halt teen-age pregnancies which could have devastating future consequences.

"It's your life and you don't have much of one if you're forced to drop of school or care for an unwanted baby," said senior Sheila Kadagathur. Since teens are sexually active "the solution is not to withhold birth control."

A 1992 survey taken by the THC showed that sexual activity among Rindge and Latin students remained stable at 51% in 1989 and 50% in 1992. At the same time, the condom use rose from 54 to 77 percent.

But while condom use has increased, the survey showed nearly 25% of students still practice unprotected sex. For that reason, additional forms of birth control should be made available, said Barbara Ackerman, chair of the Cambridge Health Policy Board.

"We need to protect the women who engage in sex with men who don't use a condom," Ackerman said. "Also, condoms have a 15% failure rate while the pill is virtually failsafe."

Several people said that providing students with all types of contraceptives through the health center is the only way to ensure students will use them.

"People are not getting their pre- Lscriptions filled, not consistently getting protection, and there are many factors we can't control," said Elizabeth Miller, medical director for THC.

"We want to practice effective reproductive health care like any other hospital clinic. At every other facility in the city you can get birth control services," she added. "The high school should be no exception."

Parents and Teachers Doubtful

But critics of the birth control say since high school students are not responsible enough to practice safe sex regularly, any proposal would be ineffective. They point to the 165 pregnancies reported at the school from 1988-92.

"Kids don't have the life experience or the reasoning capacity to make those judgements," said Esther Splaine, a parent of a junior who became a father at Rindge and Latin.

Those who oppose the plan also say the availability of birth control pills may lead to decreased condom use and to increased transmission of AIDS and other sexual diseases.

"Condoms were billed as a way to stop AIDS," said City Councillor William H. Walsh. "Now, we hear most boys don't want to wear condoms so we'll switch to the pill. How are we going to prevent disease?"

But Ackerman denied a link between more availability of contraceptives and a decrease in condom use. She added that since the clinic is located right on campus, doctors will be able to check on their patients and help guide their behavior.

"The counseling you'd get here is much better than in a regular hospital because you build a relationship with the doctors," senior Emile Bard agreed.

But critics insisted that increased availability of birth control only encourages students further to engage in sex.

"People should not be having sex," freshman Lissetth Dongo said. "It's just plain wrong."

The best way to address the problem is "from education--like with our anti-smoking campaign," Walsh said. "We should not try to stop it by encouraging it."

Education and Prevention

Supporters of the proposal agreed that education should be the first line towards prevention. But they said that back-up plans should be provided for students who will not abstain.

"We need education, then counseling and then birth control," Bard said. "In an ideal world, abstinence would be great. But those who don't [abstain]...should be rewarded for being responsible enough to seek birth control."

English teacher Joann Walther noted that conditions in inner-city neighborhoods are important issues to consider.

"Society has changed, and the worst crime would be to prevent kids who want birth control from having it," Walther said. "Then, when they end up pregnant, we are the ones who deserve the blame."

And Ackerman said schools have a responsibility to help protect those children who lack that guidance.

"Students who have a supportive home are blessed, but in our society many do not. They depend on us," she said.

Morality

The debate about contraception availability at Rindge and Latin seems to have boiled down to an issue of morality.

Regardless of societal ills, schools should serve as guardians of morality and should not compromise their standards, many argue.

"We can't just throw up our hands and quit," said reading teacher William Reagan. "We are looking merely at possible good that may come. But the ends do not always justify the means."

But Walther dismissed the link between birth control availability and the poor home life suffered by many inner-city youth

"We want to practice effective reproductive health care like any other hospital clinic. At every other facility in the city you can get birth control services," she added. "The high school should be no exception."

Parents and Teachers Doubtful

But critics of the birth control say since high school students are not responsible enough to practice safe sex regularly, any proposal would be ineffective. They point to the 165 pregnancies reported at the school from 1988-92.

"Kids don't have the life experience or the reasoning capacity to make those judgements," said Esther Splaine, a parent of a junior who became a father at Rindge and Latin.

Those who oppose the plan also say the availability of birth control pills may lead to decreased condom use and to increased transmission of AIDS and other sexual diseases.

"Condoms were billed as a way to stop AIDS," said City Councillor William H. Walsh. "Now, we hear most boys don't want to wear condoms so we'll switch to the pill. How are we going to prevent disease?"

But Ackerman denied a link between more availability of contraceptives and a decrease in condom use. She added that since the clinic is located right on campus, doctors will be able to check on their patients and help guide their behavior.

"The counseling you'd get here is much better than in a regular hospital because you build a relationship with the doctors," senior Emile Bard agreed.

But critics insisted that increased availability of birth control only encourages students further to engage in sex.

"People should not be having sex," freshman Lissetth Dongo said. "It's just plain wrong."

The best way to address the problem is "from education--like with our anti-smoking campaign," Walsh said. "We should not try to stop it by encouraging it."

Education and Prevention

Supporters of the proposal agreed that education should be the first line towards prevention. But they said that back-up plans should be provided for students who will not abstain.

"We need education, then counseling and then birth control," Bard said. "In an ideal world, abstinence would be great. But those who don't [abstain]...should be rewarded for being responsible enough to seek birth control."

English teacher Joann Walther noted that conditions in inner-city neighborhoods are important issues to consider.

"Society has changed, and the worst crime would be to prevent kids who want birth control from having it," Walther said. "Then, when they end up pregnant, we are the ones who deserve the blame."

And Ackerman said schools have a responsibility to help protect those children who lack that guidance.

"Students who have a supportive home are blessed, but in our society many do not. They depend on us," she said.

Morality

The debate about contraception availability at Rindge and Latin seems to have boiled down to an issue of morality.

Regardless of societal ills, schools should serve as guardians of morality and should not compromise their standards, many argue.

"We can't just throw up our hands and quit," said reading teacher William Reagan. "We are looking merely at possible good that may come. But the ends do not always justify the means."

But Walther dismissed the link between birth control availability and the poor home life suffered by many inner-city youth