for distributing and encouraging the use of condoms among teens who are sexually active. Data collected in 1991 and 1993 suggests that the presence of the condom availability plan did not increase the rates of sexual activity among students, although it may have contributed to safer sex. Schools without the program had a two-percent increase of students who had sex in the previous four weeks. Schools with the condom availability plan had a three- percent drop of students who have had sex in the previous four weeks. This is believed to be a result of the information provided by the school about sex and harmful effects it can have on a teen and their future. In the schools with HRC's, 34.8 percent of the students had used the HRC, only 22.7 percent of the students received condoms. A total of 35 percent of all students who visited the HRC used it only to gain information.The condom availability program requires "passive parental consent" (Frank F. Furstenberg, Jr., Lynne Maziarz Geitz, Julien O. Teitler and Christopher C. Weiss, page 124). Parents have the right of withholding their child from acquiring a condom through the center by signing and returning a letter sent by the school administration. Parental consent is not needed for a student to obtain health referrals or counseling through the center. Most parents don't know what is being taught in their child's Sex Ed class. Parents generally do not talk with their children about sex. If more parents talked with their children, programs such as these would not be needed. Parents claim that the program imposes upon parental rights, and the freedom of religion. Most likely, parental consent will continue be a tough issue that school officials will need to address.In 1991 the Board of Education for Philadelphia adopted Policy 123. Policy 123 was created to expand access to condoms and to establish a phase-in condom availability program in schools with classes in grades 9-12. ...
