Students, staff advocate for condoms on campus

Despite a lack of access to condoms within the high school, students and staff say they support the idea of a condom availability program to promote safe sex.
According to Principal Diana Bonneville, no one has recently pushed for such a program. “If the district’s Health and Wellness Committee had data to support an initiative, logical reasoning and rationale, and proposed a policy, the school committee would consider it.”
Sexual education at the high school has come to include topics ranging from a review of the basics of human anatomy to an emphasis that contraception helps to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and infections.
When it comes to obtaining protection, students are pointed towards clinics and other reliable facilities where they can get what they need free of charge.
Physical education teacher Shane Harrington said, “If the funding was available, I think it would be a good idea to have condoms available to students.” Librarian Becky Mazur also said “having free condoms available means that even kids who can’t afford them have access to the same important health and safety measures as kids who can afford them.”
However, the question of whether or not to make condoms available in schools has sparked debate. Some believe that having this form of protection available encourages sexual activity. Physical education teacher Tania Chrzanowski said, “I think parents worry that if condoms are easily available they will be more sexually involved.”
Some surrounding schools have expanded their wellness services to include condom availability. These include the Amherst, Springfield, and Holyoke school districts. Robbin Surprenant, nurse leader of Amherst Regional High School, advocates for condom availability programs in schools. “I support having condoms available at school and I believe we have a responsibility to educate student in all aspects of their health.”
Students here at the high school as well said that allowing condoms to be placed in the nurse’s office could be a positive change. Senior Merry Kocot said, “having condoms in a designated area would be good. Maybe teen pregnancies would decrease if the protection was free.” Junior Kyle Condito also said [he] believes it would be a good idea to have them here at the high school.
Despite differing opinions, many agree that the student’s safety and education is a priority. Mazur said, “Anything to keep the kids safe is a good thing.” Chrzanowski also said, “ I think the most important thing is for students to be really educated on the topic. The lack of knowledge of STIs and STDs is what scares me!”

Brault may be reached at [email protected]