October 30, 2007

Maine Middle School Contraceptions

Vic opened this edition of Crosstalk with three interesting news items:

According to a Zogby poll, 52 percent of Americans said they support a U.S. military strike against Iran.

The second news item noted that former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has moved into 3rd place among Republican candidates according to a recent poll.

The final item dealt with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and their upcoming vote this Wednesday on the Law of the Sea Treaty.

Vic also described the availability of an exciting product known as a web radio. This radio operates from a dial-up or high speed internet connection. It allows listeners to hear VCY America programming 24 hours a day, 7 days a week anywhere in the world, without the need for a computer.

Michael Chapman, the Managing Editor of the Cybercast News Service (CNS), then joined Vic with news on the education front from Portland, Maine.

Michael appeared on Crosstalk to discuss the October 17 Portland Maine School Committee vote that allows the distribution of birth control pills and patches to students in grades 6-8 at King Middle School.

Two problems exist with this ruling. First of all, according to Michael, students don't have to tell their parents if they are on birth control. Secondly, under Maine law, anyone engaging in sexual intercourse with someone under the age of 14 is considered as having committed a crime.

So why would school officials be distributing birth control to middle school girls in the 11-14 age range? Complicating matters is the fact that the nurse responsible for this program in the Portland Public Schools, Amanda Rowe, is married to Maine's Attorney General, Steven Rowe, who is responsible for investigating potential sexual assault cases.

More Information

Capitol Switchboard numbers to leave comments for your U.S. Senator regarding the Law of the Sea Treaty.
202-224-3121
202-225-3121

For more information on the VCY America web radio:
800-729-9829

http://www.cnsnews.com