Philly Gives Condoms to 11-Year-Olds

[The Northerner]

Children as young as 11 years old are encouraged to get free condoms sent to them, compliments of the Philadelphia Public Health Department.

Daily News columnist Ronnie Polaneczky was first alerted to the city’s youth-oriented condom campaign by a horrified mother, and upon perusal of the health department’s website takecontrolphilly.org, Polaneczky herself was a bit depressed by what she found.

“If you live in Philadelphia and you are between the ages of 11 and 19, all you have to do is fill out the form below and we'll put together a package for you,” the site states.

The site includes graphic cartoon penis animation, which demonstrates the proper way to put on a condom, simulates what happens while the condom is worn, and then shows how to properly remove a used condom.

Read more: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/119769714.html

[Brickbat]

1. I'm guessing the health department learned of a need for this.

In which case, people should be looking at why 11-year-olds need condoms.

[RKP5637]

2. It's a far different world than when I was a kid, far different. Part of me says this

is good, and part of me says WTF. As usual, all gray areas.

[Brickbat]

7. My mother told me that when she was a sixth-grade teacher in the late 1960s, she knew some of the

girls she taught were sexually active.

[RKP5637]

11. I'm not too surprised, some kids just get into it sooner for a bunch of reasons. IMO

it's way too early. It's going to happen with some, but somehow the program needs to be administered so it's not advertised as the thing to do. IMO that's a tricky balancing act, let it be known condoms are available, but not make it vogue. With all of the STD's today, the kids need help.

[csziggy]

9. When I ws in fifth grade in 1963 a classmate got pregnant

She was eleven years old. So I don't see that things have changed much since I was a kid.

Even in the "good old times" protection was needed.

[seabeyond]

3. i agree with the two posters above. if there is need for condom at 11, yea they get them

but huge ass.... so sad

[William769]

4. I say condoms for everyone!

Better safe than sorry.

[demosincebirth]

5. If an 11 year old became a father, would he be forced to pay child support?

[bullwinkle428]

8. He would be in Maine, where they're trying to eliminate the

child labor laws!

[Iris]

6. and?

will people ever fucking get real?

[Hippo_Tron]

10. I highly doubt this means that they are expecting many 11 year olds to be having sex

What it means is that they're trying to instill from them at a young age that condoms are easily available and should be used if you are going to have sex. That way when they are 14, 15, 16, or whatever they will be more likely to use condoms.

Even if you teach comprehensive sex ed, it's not easy to get teenagers to actually use condoms. Oftentimes sex isn't planned and a teenager who has never had sex is going to be less likely to be carrying around condoms just in case it does happen then somebody who has some experience and knows firsthand that unplanned sex can happen.

[Rage for Order]

12. When I was in 6th grade I don't think any of the girls had even hit puberty yet

None of their breasts had developed yet, and boys and girls played separately for the most part. The ever-younger onset of puberty should receive more attention than it does, imo.

[darkstar3]

13. Fifth grade was the standard year for showing "the puberty video" back when I was in school.

It included basic health information regarding sex and condoms, and the school nurse told us that we should ALWAYS come to her with questions, and she would keep them anonymous. This really doesn't shock me, in fact I think it's probably a good thing.

[Control-Z]

14. Nothing wrong with

educating and providing safety measures to all ages.

I took a quick look at the site, and granted, I didn't read every page, but it doesn't look like it is offering "ideas" to the young and innocent, rather assistance to those already in need of condom use.

If I had a sexually active 11 yo, I would rather he/she had access to condoms than risk getting pregnant or contracting an std. Yes, 11 is too young. But if they are ordering condoms from this site it is probably a little late for that sentiment.

[cynatnite]

15. I have no problem with this...

Kids already know enough about sex at that age. Nothing wrong with making sure they are safe as well.

[lpbk2713]

16. Do they make a junior size?

Maybe with pics of Sponge Bob on the wrapper? :shrug: