This past week, Nation online readers did not miss the opportunity to give their views on the call for the distribution of condoms in schools.
Readers were following this story from the time regional educator Virginia Albert-Poyotte, co-ordinator of the Castries-based Education International, said it was a way to help curb the spread of HIV/AIDS. She made it clear, however, her organization was still promoting abstinence.
Barbados Union of Teachers president Karen Best and Barbados National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations head Rhonda Blackman also added their voices to the issue, stating they were totally against any move to place condoms in schools.
Online readers commented on the position expressed by both officials and shared some very strong views. Many said education officials needed to wake up and realize that many students were having sex, and that distributing condoms in schools might not be a bad initiative to help keep young people sexually safe.
Here are some of the comments shared:
Diana Cadogan wrote: “Parents’ heads are buried in the sand. Wake up, your kids are having unprotected sex. Making condoms available seems to make sense to me.”
Cecile Haynes: “Whether we like it or not, kids are having sex and they need to do so safely. Stating that “the school is a place to go to be educated, not to be provided with condoms” is disingenuous. What do you think teaching them about sex is all about? It’s education.
“Kids need to be aware of the choices available to them. I would rather have a protected child than one who is infected for life.”
Alan Yearwood: “With or without condoms they’re going to [have sex]. So for many obvious reasons it would be better if a condom was used. Drill all the responsibility you want into them, but allow them to be protected. Deprive them of this and you’re taking a chance with their lives.”
Rosanne Brathwaite: “So by not providing condoms, do they think the kids are just going to stop having sex? I am all for abstinence and sex education, but as my grandmother use to say, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.”
Joanne Forde: “Handing out condoms is in no way encouraging a sexually active lifestyle. It is giving these teenagers the necessary tools to be safe. They will be having sex, and truth is there is no way to avoid it.”
Margaret Ross: “You know, if condoms were distributed in schools, especially knowing that the young ones of today are having sex, this would help lessen the statistics of people with AIDS, STDs and unwanted pregnancies . . . .
“I say, give it to those who are sexually active. Kids aren’t going to tell us they are having sex. Better safe than sorry.”
Readers have also been responding to the various issues raised in Nation Talkback on the Nation’s Facebook page. Some issues have been contentious and our readers have been venting their views and I encourage you to continue to Talkback.