The students and staff at King Middle School in Portland Maine got a big lesson this week in how MSM news is distorted and sensationalized. Even a few Kossacks, who usually have a healthy skepticism of the MSM, fell for this news as reported. Put 11-Year-Olds and Birth Control in the headline, and people look. The only problem is, this story does not involve 11 year olds--except as a hypothetical and remote red herring.
There were two great diaries as the story developed by Oscarsmom and Spud1, as well as a rather distressed one by me. While many, many folks were supportive, I was surprised by comments about 11 year olds having sex, permission slips being forged, and pills being handed out without counseling. What did this have to do with what was happening in the school?
It took me awhile to realize what was going on. Why were smart people raising what seemed to be irrelevant issues and blowing the story out of proportion? The story was not about 11 year olds or "handing out" the pill without counseling. Little did I know this was what was being said by the MSM (I don't watch TV), and not just Fox...
Here are the facts: Portland runs a Public Health Clinic in King Middle School because many students near the poverty level don't have access to a primary care doctor. Anyone can receive services at the clinic if their parents fill out a form that requires extensive information. The form is in that big packet of forms parents get at the beginning of the year, including forms asking about income and emergency contacts. It is not an easily forged permission slip.
Currently, teens in Portland can get confidential contraception without parents’ permission three ways; at Maine Medical Center, Planned Parenthood, or their primary care doctor. The King principal wanted to erase this inequity to allow teens who get their primary care at the Public Health Clinic to have access to the all the same services. The kids most at risk weren't making it to other clinics. The Public Health Dept asked the School Committee to allow the clinic to provide female contraception along with it's other services (condoms have been provided for several years).
Last year, five teens age 14 or 15 reported to the nurse they were sexually active. Where did the hysteria about giving birth control to 11 year olds come from? At the School Committee meeting, someone who spoke against the proposal said "this means kids a young as 11." The MSM ran with it. Fox News spent two days in front of the school trying to film kids through windows. When the older kids were interviewed later in the week by Bill Nemitz, they wondered why the cameras were focusing on the 11 year olds, and not them, who were the ones affected.
Teens who come to the nurse saying they are sexually active are counseled about about possible abuse, coercion,the risks of early sexual activity, and are encouraged to wait. She tries to get a parent or other adult relative involved. I guess the MSM forgot to tell you that. They are tested for pregnancy and STDs. She refers them to the nurse practioner or pediatrician who staffs the clinic for the actual services, and contiues to check in regularly. Hypothetically, I suppose a sexually active 11-year-old could come to her, but it hasn't happened yet--and if one did, knowing the nurse, she would handle that very differently.
I think the school was blindsided and had no idea how distorted the MSM was until a day or two in. By then it was so sensationalized, it was hard to correct misconceptions. I had no idea how this was being portrayed until I read comments in the diaries here and finally checked out news videos on line. Once the principal, Mike McCarthy, caught his breath, he wrote a letter to parents that explained it all. Perhaps the reaction could have been anticipated and better prepared for and certiantly not all parents agreed. However, the school and public health folks saw this as a health and fairness issue. Middle schools in Seattle and Baltimore have been doing this for years.
So the lesson I learned, is it that even when it doesn’t involve progressive politics, the MSM distorts. It behooves us all to be aware of what they are saying, and to try to get the facts. Thanks to all of you who were so supportive—the distortions and level of hostility directed towards our school was distressing. With time, reason, and facts, it becomes easier to put this in perspective, although I heard a talk show today taking about 11-year olds and sex again. It is not over, as some republicians are tying to recall some of the school board, but I suspect they won't be successful...