Middle School Students' Trip To Planned Parenthood Investigated
In Manchester, New Hampshire, a YMCA after-school program included a field trip to Planned Parenthood.
Of course, the anti-choice nutters are screaming, and there's an investigation by the city school board now. There's even talk of "discipline" for those responsible. Heaven forbid children should actually be exposed to **shock** OPTIONS that might permit them to stay in school. Next thing you know, those heathen schools will be indoctinating the kids with SCIENCE!!!1111!!1!
Sorry, but this really bugs me.
Anyways, you can read the full CNN story here . Here's an excerpt:
MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (AP) -- The city school board ordered an investigation into an after-school program run by the YMCA in which some middle school students were taken to visit a Planned Parenthood clinic.
New Hampshire Right to Life, an abortion opponent, is now asking for equal time with the seventh and eighth grade students, as well.
The visit was part of the YMCA's STAY program, for students considered at risk of dropping out of school, abusing drugs or getting into trouble with the law. The trip, a week ago, was part of a tour of several social service agencies in the city, to show the students where they could go for support and recreation during the summer.
The school board voted Tuesday to investigate how the decision to visit Planned Parenthood was made and determine whether anyone should be disciplined.
So now the anti-freedom folks want 'equal time'.
Funny, one of the anti-choicers said,
"Everybody knows Planned Parenthood performs abortions. There were protesters outside with signs saying 'Babies killed here.' There's no mistaking that (the students) have already been exposed to the issue."
Well, seems like you've had your say then, doesn't it? Hopefully, the kids were bright enough to figure out you're off your nut.
YMCA field trip
I think there's something symbolically interesting about the Young Men's Christian Association taking a field trip to Planned Parenthood. Good for them!
As for "equal time," I'm sure that the students got exposure to many interesting and complicated ideas: women's health care as a priority, the importance of reproductive freedom, strategies for conducting protests, the oversimplified framing of a complicated issue ... That's much more valuable educationally than just getting two views on a controversial question in a classroom.
...because public space really matters!
Elizabeth
field trip to planned parenthood
i'm sure we all agree that teen sex education and prevention of pregnancy is the place to start, something planned parenthood does very well. it's unfortunate that pro lifers see and exploit ONE aspect of their services as promoters/providers of abortion services. i still find it scary that some people particularly in the US feel it's okay NOT to educate teenagers about their bodies and sex. i am living in england now, and it's pretty dismal here as well. england has the highest teen pregnancy rate in europe, and fueling it is lack of education and state benefits for the moms. i've been told that a 16 year old girl here can get her own apt if she gets pregnant, an incentive if you want to move out of house. the dutch are held up as the gold standard as far as teen sex education, i recently watched a documentary where they sent 6 british 16 year olds to the netherlands to see how they approach the subject. very interesting and refreshing. i don't see that kind of honest open approach taking america by storm but that's why we're all here, isn't it???
http://www.unesco.org/courier/2000_07/uk/apprend2.htm
as a mom to 3 young people aged 16-26, i have a big interest in this subject...i hope that won't conflict with my future posts on the BDSM threads!!
Parents of teens
...because public space really matters!
Elizabeth
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