(Crossposted at Amplify )
Possession of marijuana. That's a pretty plausible reason to get apprehended for, eh? Now...what about "possession of contraception"? Yeah....arrest me for having condoms.
Last friday, about 12 people got arrested for having weed in their lockers. Now, my first reaction to hearing this was "ahahhahahaha ROFL lol LMAO." While that may have not been the most mature reaction, it came naturally. The school administration then felt it would make perfect sense to raid everyone's locker, to ensure there are no illegal substances/weapons in there. I have many many condoms in my locker because a lot of my friends are sexually active. I'm the "go-to" person when people want condoms. I don't feel offended by this at all. I simply open my locker, give them the condoms, wish them luck, and walk away.
My little independent not-for-profit business was shut down last Friday when the school officials found nearly 50 condoms in my locker. Now, I get why that would look weird. But isn't it smart? I mean, for all they know, I could be having sex day and night. Why wouldn't I keep condoms? Doesn't that make sense?
But no. They pulled me out of class. When 12 students get pulled out of class for possession of marijuana, everyone immediately suspects that anyone else who gets pulled out of class is also getting in trouble for having weed. Do I smoke weed? No. Does my school think I'm a pothead now? Yes. Do I care? Nope.
Anyway, after a half hour of yelling at me for my irresponsibility, they said "We will not be contacting your parents but we will demand you come after school for a two hour detention."
Wait...does that mean....you won't tell my parent's that I'm encouraging people (who are already sexually active) to practice SAFE sex? Geez louise, Mr Principal! Thanks a lot :)
They can kiss my butt. Anyway, I still have those condoms. And I'm still passing them out. Do I care? Nope. I gotta do what I gotta do, right?
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Are you going to go to the detention?
I assume you're in high school?
If you think your parents would approve of your actions you should probably tell them that you got in trouble. Some parents would stick up for you in this situation.
Agreed!!
Holy crap. So, you're irresponsible for having condoms...which help prevent STIs and pregnancy. Yes, I can see where it would be way more responsible to just let your sexually active friends get herpes or get pregnant. Or maybe you should just lecture them disapprovingly about what horrible little sluts they are.
Could you write an editorial in your school paper, or organize a group on campus aimed at providing information about and access to condoms and other forms of birth control? Sounds like the students at your school could benefit from hearing from someone like you.
Does your school's handbook/policy actually forbid possession of condoms on school property? I would assume that they'd be required to have a basis for the detention.
This is what I would like to know! Unlike weed, condoms aren't illegal, and you don't have to be any specific age to buy them. It seems like they're just trying to punish the OP because they disapprove on a moral basis - you know, condoms = SEX!!! - which...isn't their place. If a girl had her birth control pack in her locker, would she get in trouble for that?
The sad thing is, she probably would because it's "drugs!" At my high school, you weren't allowed to have any kind of medicine on you, legal or illegal. (Of course, people routinely flouted that rule, including me.) If you even needed so much as an aspirin you had to go to the nurse and sign a little chart with the reason you needed it. If you had Tylenol or antibiotics, they wanted you bring your own "supply" with a doctor's note and take it in the nurse's presence.
Yeah, didn't you read about that high school girl who was strip searched because she was suspected of having ibruprofen?
Wow. Wonderful you're doing this (passing out condoms). Too bad there's not more high-school (I'm guessing your age) students doing this. If there were more people who had the maturity you do the number of STDs would be much lower.
Good for you for doing this and continuing to do this, even though you got in trouble. You clearly are showing more maturity than the school administrators have.
If your parents would support you on this, I'd tell them. Then they could complain and possibly get you out of detention.
Keep up the good work and walk into detention with your head high :) (but not in the same way as the kids who got busted for pot, hehe I made a bad pun)
*cheers! applause! high fives!*
If you go to the detention, you could bring some a book on healthy sexuality to visibly read. ;)
And to the administration of your high school:
*boos! thumbs down! finger wags!*
I second the book idea, although I'd fight the detention if I were you. I just can't imagine that your school specifically has a policy against carrying condoms. Also, does your high school health center have them? (I know mine did-- the wrestling team was known to line up for a supply every Friday afternoon.) If so, that certainly changes things!
Great job! Once you're in collage, they have students assigned to hand out condoms and talk about safe sex. This is actually an esteemed position that is highly sought after. Slighly ironic that you're in trouble for this. You would be a shoe in!!
Wow, I really admire you. I only wish there were more high school students out there like you. I agree that you should find out if your school has a policy that actually forbids a student to have condoms on campus - and fight the detention! Don't let them shove their moral agenda down your throat - keep doing what you do!
What the administration did was total bullshit.
I hope you fight back.
I wish there had been cool people like you when I was in high school! You shouldn't go to the detention. You might be able to make a complaint to the school district instead of just the high school. Sometimes all it takes is one person willing to challenge crap like that to make a change. At least the administration would realize that some students are individual thinkers that aren't afraid to fight back!
"Irresponsibility?" WTF. Good for you for keeping condemns. If it were me I would be like: "give my parents a call, they wouldn't give a flying fuck!"
you are so awesome for helping everybody out like that, is your school a catholic one?
I used to sort of do the same thing at my highschool [it was catholic and they absolutely did their best to hide contraception from everyone and nobody knew where to go to get condoms so i would buy these huge boxes of lifestyles and just keep a box in my locker for anyone who planned to get jiggy in or outside of school hours haha]
it is so ridiculous that they yelled at you but they didn't congratulate you for being RESPONSIBLE [i don't know where the irresponsibility lies in trying to help people not come into contact with AIDS or other life ruining diseases!]
seriously though, don't even go to the detention!!!! its not like they can 'make' you go anyway
OH wow! Your story is so awesome! I think you are very responsible! You are an underground safe sex activist, go you! I can't believe they are giving you detention for that, that's such bullshit. You should totally fight that. Maybe you could get some support from teachers in your school and maybe your parents? I believe schools should have huge boxes of condoms where the students can take as they please, so they don't get pregnant or get infected with STDs and such. You are doing just that, and you rock. Well good luck with everything, I hope your school administration opens their eyes to see how much your service is necessary and maybe consider doing what you do.