Statistical data shows that teen pregnancy rates have dropped a great deal throughout the past two decades. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services explains that this decline can be attributed to increased contraceptive use as well as a growing number of teens waiting to become sexually active. However, despite its declining frequency, teenage pregnancy is still very common. This raises the question of whether or not high schools are doing enough to provide teenagers with adequate knowledge of sex and contraception.

The fact of the matter is that teenagers are going to have sex if they wish to do so, regardless of whether or not they have been properly educated on the subject. What should be addressed is whether or not high schools should be supplying their students with contraception.

Most teenagers are aware that having sex can result in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy. Although most teenagers are aware of the consequences of having unprotected sex, some will choose to proceed without protection anyway. In many cases, the decision to have sex without protection is due to carelessness. However, there are instances in which teenagers want to use protection but are unable to get it. Teenagers generally do not want to talk to their parents about their sex lives and in most cases will not consider asking them for help in obtaining contraceptives. Another reason teens have trouble obtaining contraception is that they are too afraid to purchase it in public. As Kristen Sauerwein writes for the Los Angeles Times, “embarrassment, nervousness and fear deter an estimated one out of four sexually active teens from using an effective birth control method.”

Taking both of these setbacks into consideration, it seems that the only other logical place for teens to obtain contraception would be through their high school. However, there are plenty of schools that are against the idea of providing condoms and birth control out of fear that it will promote sexual activity.

There are parents and school administrators at every high school that would rather teenagers remain abstinent than partake in sexual intercourse. However, a study conducted by the University of Georgia found that public schools that choose to promote abstinence-only sex education are actually succeeding in doing just the opposite, leading to much higher teen pregnancy rates in those areas. Just as children of overprotective parents tend to rebel and act out as they grow older, teenagers who are repeatedly told to abstain from sexual intercourse are more likely to partake in it. Parents and schools who have chosen to preach abstinence to teenagers have not properly educated them on the various forms of contraception. This is one reason why those teenagers either do not know how to use protection or are unsure of where they can obtain it once they decide they want to have sex.

High schools should provide contraception to their students because doing so will give teenagers the option to have sex – something they will do anyway – while being able to protect themselves. They will not have to worry about having enough money to purchase the protection, nor will they have to worry about being seen out in public or have to discuss their decision with their parents if they feel uncomfortable. School-provided protection could also help parents by reassuring them that their children will always have access to protection and that the risk of their child becoming pregnant or contracting an STI has been greatly reduced. If high schools started to provide students with contraception, the number of teen pregnancies would be greatly reduced and students would feel better about their decision to have sex.

Alyssa DiSabito is a Collegian columnist and can be reached at [email protected].