abstenence is the obvious solution

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Parents and Albuquerque Public Schools leaders met Monday night to discuss whether students should be able to get contraceptives like condoms in schools.

Some parents said contraceptives should be nowhere near the classrooms because they promote sex, while other said condoms play a vital role in sex education.

APS parent Marcie May said she doesn't want condoms near the classrooms at her children's schools, especially when kids can get contraceptives without parents knowing.

"These kids are given a false sense of security," May said. "They want to remove the parent, and have the school be their guardian. The school is not their guardian."

APS parent In Zlotkin said it's more about educating teens on safe sex.

"If we can't stop the kid from having sex, at least we can provide them with the tools to protect themselves," Zlotkin said.

APS leaders said state law prevents them from stopping campus health clinics from giving out contraceptives. They said they legally cannot interfere with the doctor/patient relationship.

Some parents argue that teens don't know their medical history well enough to get contraceptives.

"Medicines for children are the responsibility of the parents, not the school, not the state, not the city," Mark Champlin said.

Some parents are pushing for a change to state law that would prevent schools from distributing condoms at school-based health clinics.

The School Health Advisory Council for APS will have a public meeting where parents, students and the rest of the school community can voice their concerns on the issue this Wednesday. The meeting will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Rio Grande Conference Room at APS City Center.