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A controversial policy that allows Provincetown school health officials to distribute condoms without age restrictions or parental approval will stay on the books, the Provincetown School Committee decided on July 12.Committee members did revise the policy to require that students requesting condoms receive counseling, rather than the previous wording stating that counseling will be provided. To address concerns about the lack of an age limit, the policy says school health officials will provide an "age-appropriate" response to a request for a condom as directed by "specific circumstances."
The revised policy still protects the original intent of providing a "safe haven" to students who may not feel they can approach adults for condoms or sensitive sexual information, committee member Lory Stewart said.
"This is one of those sensitive issues that is not parent-based," committee Chair Peter Grosso said.
Committee members in June unanimously endorsed the policy, and the announcement that it would go into effect with the fall semester attracted national attention. Among those weighing in was Gov. Deval Patrick, who called Superintendent Beth Singer with a request that Provincetown schools reconsider the policy.
While the Provincetown school system serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade, the policy targets older, sexually active students. In response to queries, school officials said they assumed younger children would be unfamiliar with sex and would not be asking school health officials for condoms.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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