The sad truth about Plan B in public schools is that it really needs to be there. The reality of the situation, as one of our callers said tonight, is that the unwanted pregnancy of a 14-year-old girl probably comes with much more adverse effects than "the morning after pill."

On his radio show this morning, Mayor Bloomberg defended the Department of Education's plan to expand a program to make Plan B available to students at 13 schools. Plan B, which is also known as the "morning after pill," will be given to students who've had unprotected sex in hopes of reducing the chances of getting pregnant.

Mayor Bloomberg said today the program doesn't force any student to take it, but government has "an obligation to tell you what science says is good and bad for you." Bloomberg said young, unwed mothers face "dismal" prospects, and this program can help prevent "kids from having babies." The Department of Health says it is committed to trying new approaches, given that "In New York City over 7,000 young women become pregnant by age 17 -- 90% of which are unplanned."

Parents at all 13 schools were notified when the program started, and can choose to opt their children out. Critics say distributing Plan B without a prescription only encourages kids to have sex at a young age. What do you say?

Do you welcome the distribution of Plan B to students? Should the program be expanded to include all public schools? If you oppose this idea, how would you prevent unplanned pregnancies in young adults?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

I think it is an excellent Idea to have Plan B. Kids will have sex whether their parents know about it or not. If this is a way to prevent an unwanted pregnancy and avoid family hassles for a young girl, they I say it is definitely a big plus. Parents who object generally have no idea what their children are doing. Having worked with pregnant teens, I saw that many of them came from Catholic schools where their parents were unaware their kids were having sex.

Sara, Brooklyn Heights

This is a good idea, but parents should be the deciders or at least consulted. Also, since when did the City become a doctor and a pharmacy?
Shouldn't the kids be examined by a doctor before being given medicine?

Joe
Port Richmond

Does he give these pills along with this Plan A or Plan B to his daughters.
I'm sorry I think this is more than overstepping his bounds. This is none of his damn business just like everything else.

This is up to the parents or guardians. It's their problem to take care
of and not this busy body mayors.

Now I could be wrong but isn't he the mayor that opened up special schools set up for the un-wed mothers along with a day care center and they are permitted to bond with the babies at anytime they wish to during a school session.

What about the health hazards that no one even speaks about but they see fit to ask us to donate for the different organizations and or charities.

Are we to fund this project with our tax dollars also.

What if someone cannot take this medication? Is this just handed out because it's accepted by their parents or guardian or do they go through a physical exam in order to find out if they are fit to take the morning after pill.

I do know that everyone that was interviewed by the media after another one of this mayor's polls was taken. It was about the HIV positive results. The results of the poll were frightening about how high the count was of the amount of HIV positive people of all ages having it. [THIS WAS ONLY FOR THE BRONX] [THEY HAVE THE HIGHEST CASES OF HIV IN THIS BORO] The answers were a surprising one and that being they said we still have unprotected sex because we have the HIV pill and so it goes.

Again we have a problem by spending good money after bad.

MR. MAYOR YOU ARE A LOSER BIG TIME AND WE ARE GETTING SICK AND TIRED OF YOUR RIDICULOUS ANTICS=AS I KEEP SAYING YOU HAVE NO LEGACY JUST LEAVE AT ANYTIME WE WON'T EVEN MISS YOU AT ALL.

PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

maxxiee
mp

Mayor Bloomberg and the DOE can step back and let us parent. We do not need government interference in every part of our lives. We, as parents, can speak with our children and advise them about sexual activity and choices about their body.

As the "Education Mayor" why doesn't he concentrate on education and leave parents to raise their children? It's our right and responsibility as parents of minors to oversee their health, safety and well being.

Your education system is in shambles, we don't need you, or the DOE, getting involved in matters that are not yours to handle. If you want to address Teen Pregnancy, which is a serious issue, there are many other ways to address it BEFORE it happens. That's the real solution.

Laura

This is totally outrageous. Bloomberg and his social engineering is getting very, very dangerous. This man needs to be stopped before he does irreparable harm to young girls. I think he is a monster.

Frances
East Village

Plan B combined with sex ed. disease prevention and parental participation is a better option than unwed teen parents.

Jimmy from the Bronx

Hi I am a 17 year old teenage girl and I have some things to say about mayor bloomberg's plan B.

I don't understand why parents are making such a big deal about this , I would like to think that at 17 girls have the right to know if they want to have sex or not and if they are protected or not. If the girl gets pregnant its her problem no parent tells their child to not use protection or even have sex? So why now parents wants to say if their children can drink a pill or not?

I refuse to believe that because parents want this to leave it will.

Just think of all the girls that would be young mothers now if it weren't for plan b? Think about those girls that don't have money to go to doctors and have 9 months with a child inside them if they can't even feed themselves? Plan b is very helpful , I'm not saying yeah go have sex and don't use protection at 17 girls should be worried about school , but things happen you know and plan b is a way out of a wrong future, at least it isn't an ABORATION.

friasyesica

This is in my opinion is not the solution for unplanned teen pregnancy. This only encourages unprotected sex in teens by providing an easy fix. Unprotected sex is already a problem with teens. Why make it worse? There seems to be no concern for std's. That's a really Big problem. Sex education and perhaps passing out condoms would be a better idea.

Jean from bay ridge

I believe this is very important. There are health centers that teens go out of their way to go to and find this pill. If they do not have a health center near by, they end up becoming pregnant. If the pill is available at school then teens can prevent pregnancy easier and faster.

Elasia
Sunnyside, Staten Island

There is no defense for giving Plan B to students. They need to suspend Plan B until EVERY parent has had a CHoice and an aCtive voice to Challenge this. It is time for Plan C.

Dr. Nanci

All parents against this are those parents that don't talk to their children about sex. Parents tend to for get that they were once teenagers and that we all rushed into sex, it's nature. all parents that are against this are the type that only tell their children not to have sex and don't explain why. It's not the responsibility for schools to teach our children about sex. I'm in for plan b in schools what ever helps preventing teenagers from becoming early parents and keep them focused on school cause its for all our futures kids in school now will be taking care of us in the future... When you're daughters come home pregnant don't ask what happen to plan B ignorant idiots

Ricky
Brooklyn

This is a bold move on Mayor Bloomberg's part. I agree that there are too many unwanted/unplanned pregnancies in young girls. However, I do understand the concerns of the parents. This is a medication and as such allergic reactions that each individual might experience are not known . . . every drug has side effects. Mayor Bloomberg could also be opening up the door for litigation against the Department of Education if any of these girls experience serious side effects that require hospitalization or other health problems.

I am wondering where is Cardinal Dolan in all of this? I am shocked that he is not outraged at this or that there are no pro-life fanatics protesting this.

Lisa
Upper East Side

Yes teens should have access to Plan B and other forms of contraception in schools. It can be hard for a teen to get access to emergency contraception. As long as they are educated about sex and the different forms of contraception that are available to them. They will be more likely to protect themselves. I’m a teen and I’ve worked as a sexual health peer educator around the city and I know that this program can be a life saver for many adolescents.

Paige, East Harlem

Young women will experience adverse affects from taking hormonal contraception without doctor supervision. As a woman who has taken many kinds of these medications, I'm still shocked the FDA allows Plan B to be sold without a prescription to any woman, regardless of age.

Alexia
Jackson Heights

As a HS teacher who hands condoms out to his students I have to say no this is not a good idea, these kids can go to free clinics to get any extra help they need to get. When I hand out the condoms I automatically give them a pamphlet to go with it that lists all clinics near them. This does nothing to protect against about STIs.

Dan

Bloomberg is 100% correct.Schools distribute condoms for male students, female students deserve options as well.

I 100%%% percent agree with Mike from Staten Island!!!

This is really a parental responsibility.

So many parents today are lacking basic parenting skills -- this reality in and of itself is the greatest argument in favor of permitting Plan B in the schools.

Ali
Jackson Heights

We have ask - How is it we take sugar soda out of schools and put loosely regulated prescription drugs in? It leaves the most vulnerable teens without parental involvement at risk.

Dierdre

The best way to prevent unwanted teen pregnancies is to invest in education, afterschool programs for the youth, and encourage more parental supervision.

Shereen, Astoria NY.

This is a bad idea. We should be teaching our children about abstinence. This will increase promiscuity and unprotected sex. Also this pill is not a contraceptive it is an abortifacient. Many religions preach against abortion. The parents and teens who are against abortion are now being forced to have one. Mayor Bloomberg is overstepping his bounds and needs to step back and not do this. We as parents should be educating our children about sex.

Craig
Ridgewood, NY