Middle School Birth Control

Should middle schoolers have access to birth control at school? The school board in Portland, Maine thinks so.

Recently the board approved the distribution of contraceptives to their middle school students.

Two thoughts come to mind:

1. Is there a concern over the number of 12 year olds who are sexually active? (Reactive)

2. Is the school board taking action that would minimize teen pregnancy? (Proactive)

The subtle difference between a reactive decision versus a proactive one should be noted here. A reactive decision in directly says, "There's a problem, and we are going to fix it." Leadership that takes this stance will always remain behind the 8 ball waiting for bad things to happen and hoping they never will. This approach is also referred to as, "Let's wait and see."

The proactive decision to implement a policy, standard or practice that will help minimize the possibility of future problems takes guts. Often proactive or visionary leaders must shake up the status quo in order for their initiatives to gain momentum. Conservative populations in particular love the status quo and take offense to most decisions that would result in change regardless of its potential for eliminating future problems.

The question of whether or not the school board's move was a proactive or reactive one is difficult to answer. As a parent you have the ability to make this choice and numerous others that will affect your adolescent's development. Have your made the decision to "wait and see", or are their choices you can make now that would affect your child's future?