I believe that the Elmwood High School's newspaper should not be allowed to publish the article on teenage pregnancy. While the issue discussed in the article is a legitimate one, it is the frank discussion of students" sexual history and birth control that is inappropriate in a school-sponsored publication distributed to fourteen-year-old freshmen.
Without careful guidance, discussion of sexual activity and birth control with high school students may have the effect of encouraging them to have sex. Four out of one hundred students interviewed say that the content of the teen pregnancy article makes them uncomfortable. They fully support the decision to ban the article. The remaining ninety-six students indicated that they were comfortable with the content of the article. This illustrates the potential danger of the article. Fourteen-year-old freshmen do not yet have the ability to make independent judgments. They are easily swayed by the behaviors of the others around them. Discussion of sexual history and birth control of other students in a school newspaper gives them the impression that having sex is a social norm. Once they become "comfortable" with the idea of students having sex, they will be more inclined to do so themselves. Many concerned parents are afraid that discussion of sexual activity and birth control will encourage students to have sex. I believe that the article will have exactly that effect.
School-sponsored publication should not encourage students to have sex. Since the public schools are supported by taxpayers, many believe that the school should uphold the standard and the values of the taxpayers. Parents of Elmwood High School students are taxpayers. Therefore, our decision should reflect their standard and values, that is, not to encourage students to have sex. Our decision should not be held back by the fact that we do not know the views of the rest.