http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096 A little birdie told me something pretty interesting a couple of days ago.   A girl or boy, as young as 13 years old can go to her coach, teacher, counselor, or any school official and tell them that she is sexually active and needs help for a problem, but she doesn’t want her parents to know. The person she speaks with can then refer her to the nurse who then refers her to UTMB.   Once at UTMB, your child is able to get a battery of tests done, birth control, and a wealth of information about the “options” she can take for her “problems.”   Do you, as parents of students at VISD schools, know about this?   Your 13 year old daughter can go to her English teacher and tell her that she thinks she may be pregnant, have an STD, or just wants free birth control. Your daughter can then tell the teacher she doesn’t want her parents to know, and that teacher can’t tell anyone.   It has even been said that once referred to UTMB, young girls/boys are told they “should get a P. O. Box” to ensure any communication doesn’t fall into the hands of the parents.   SERIOUSLY?   I would like to know what you guys think of this. Do you have kids, relatives, friends that go to VISD? Did you know about this? Are you a student that has actually experienced this?   If you don’t want to comment publicly, please feel free to email me at toni_marek@yahoo.com   The aforementioned birdie told me that most parents have no clue this goes on, and it isn’t listed in the student’s handbook. I have nieces/nephews in VISD right now, and I can tell you one thing: Parents NEED to know what VISD and UTMB are doing. . A little birdie told me something pretty interesting a couple of days ago.   A girl or boy, as young as 13 years old can go to her coach, teacher, counselor, or any school official and tell them that she is sexually active and needs help for a problem, but she doesn’t want her parents to know. The person she speaks with can then refer her to the nurse who then refers her to UTMB.   Once at UTMB, your child is able to get a battery of tests done, birth control, and a wealth of information about the “options” she can take for her “problems.”   Do you, as parents of students at VISD schools, know about this?   Your 13 year old daughter can go to her English teacher and tell her that she thinks she may be pregnant, have an STD, or just wants free birth control. Your daughter can then tell the teacher she doesn’t want her parents to know, and that teacher can’t tell anyone.   It has even been said that once referred to UTMB, young girls/boys are told they “should get a P. O. Box” to ensure any communication doesn’t fall into the hands of the parents.   SERIOUSLY?   I would like to know what you guys think of this. Do you have kids, relatives, friends that go to VISD? Did you know about this? Are you a student that has actually experienced this?   If you don’t want to comment publicly, please feel free to email me at toni_marek@yahoo.com   The aforementioned birdie told me that most parents have no clue this goes on, and it isn’t listed in the student’s handbook. I have nieces/nephews in VISD right now, and I can tell you one thing: Parents NEED to know what VISD and UTMB are doing. . en-us How does  a 13 yo go about getting a PO box ? http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_44988 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_44988 How does  a 13 yo go about getting a PO box ?   But be sure they don't have an aspirin or vitamin on them or they could get a suspension. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_44994 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_44994   But be sure they don't have an aspirin or vitamin on them or they could get a suspension. Would you rather them not say anything at all and have something worse happen? At least they are going to an ADULT which should be the real issue here...whether it be a teacher, counselor, principal, or whatever....they are ADULTS. Some kids may not be comfortable telling their parents whats going on and prefer to go to someone else. That is not necessarily a bad thing. You should be glad they are seeking help instead of doing nothing. Some kids form close bonds with teachers and are able to tell them anything. I don't believe the PO Box thing. That is so off the wall. You're not even sure its true so it could all be hearsay and rumors. Instead of listening to "little birdies" maybe you should go straight to VISD before you post a blog that is all possibly hearsay? I'm not defending VISD because I think they are retarded but this whole blog is based on what someone told you. You should have contacted VISD to find out for sure before you went blogging down on VISD. It's the smart thing to do. Thats how rumors start. Instead of waiting for people to email you (where more rumors get spread) why don't you pick up the phone and contact VISD? 361-576-3131 That is the Admin office. Maybe they can lead you in the right direction. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45000 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45000 Would you rather them not say anything at all and have something worse happen? At least they are going to an ADULT which should be the real issue here...whether it be a teacher, counselor, principal, or whatever....they are ADULTS. Some kids may not be comfortable telling their parents whats going on and prefer to go to someone else. That is not necessarily a bad thing. You should be glad they are seeking help instead of doing nothing. Some kids form close bonds with teachers and are able to tell them anything. I don't believe the PO Box thing. That is so off the wall. You're not even sure its true so it could all be hearsay and rumors. Instead of listening to "little birdies" maybe you should go straight to VISD before you post a blog that is all possibly hearsay? I'm not defending VISD because I think they are retarded but this whole blog is based on what someone told you. You should have contacted VISD to find out for sure before you went blogging down on VISD. It's the smart thing to do. Thats how rumors start. Instead of waiting for people to email you (where more rumors get spread) why don't you pick up the phone and contact VISD? 361-576-3131 That is the Admin office. Maybe they can lead you in the right direction. So...have you called VISD yet?  We are all anxious to hear what their stand is on this. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45012 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45012 So...have you called VISD yet?  We are all anxious to hear what their stand is on this. First - I did not get to call VISD today. I will do it tomorrow.   Second - I should have chosen better words than a "little birdie." I used that so as I could keep my source confidential. I will assure you that the things I have written are facts and have happened (even the PO Box thing).   That being said: I want to add that my goal here is to see how many parents know that this goes on.   Did you know that UTMB will also give your 12-13 year old daughter the “morning after pill.” These are CHILDREN.   I can understand that some kids need a place to go because their parents don’t care or aren’t there, but there are a lot more kids with parents who do care and don’t know this kind of program is out there.   I 100% agree – it is the parent’s responsibility to keep lines of communication open with their kids about these things. My problem comes with the fact that some girls are getting free birth control (that is being paid for by the taxpayers). When they are just given condoms, the pill, and the “morning after” pill so flippantly, it really makes a person question what is really going on?   I don’t care what profession I was in – if a young girl came to me and told me she was sexually active, she may be pregnant, and she thinks that she has an STD, I most definitely WOULD NOT give her free birth control and send her on her way to just keep having sex with a piece of latex and some medicine as her only defense.   I see that some of you think this is needed because the kids need a place to go if they are scared and someone to trust. How are they being helped when they are handed free birth control and addresses to the nearest abortion clinics?   Why isn’t there a pause somewhere in there for the KIDS? Why aren’t they sent to someone who can tell them the dangers of having sex at such an emotionally immature age, instead of being handed a pill and sent out into the world to have more sex. Condoms and pills do not protect you 100% from AIDS, and birth control pills have some pretty serious side effects.   The people “helping” these kids aren’t informing the kids of this.   Are we going to wait until the next article in the paper is, “Teen Girl Given Free Birth Control At School Dies From Blood Clots?” I would bet the parents will cause a stir THEN about the “help” their children are getting.   Again – I think there should be something in the handbook about this type of program and a note/letter/information sent to the parents with the first report card, or something of the like. The parents have a right to know what steps are taken when their kids confide in adults at their school.   If my child was too scared to talk to me for some reason, I would hope that when they did talk to someone, they were talked to about what they were doing, and not just given some pills and pamphlets. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45087 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45087 First - I did not get to call VISD today. I will do it tomorrow.   Second - I should have chosen better words than a "little birdie." I used that so as I could keep my source confidential. I will assure you that the things I have written are facts and have happened (even the PO Box thing).   That being said: I want to add that my goal here is to see how many parents know that this goes on.   Did you know that UTMB will also give your 12-13 year old daughter the “morning after pill.” These are CHILDREN.   I can understand that some kids need a place to go because their parents don’t care or aren’t there, but there are a lot more kids with parents who do care and don’t know this kind of program is out there.   I 100% agree – it is the parent’s responsibility to keep lines of communication open with their kids about these things. My problem comes with the fact that some girls are getting free birth control (that is being paid for by the taxpayers). When they are just given condoms, the pill, and the “morning after” pill so flippantly, it really makes a person question what is really going on?   I don’t care what profession I was in – if a young girl came to me and told me she was sexually active, she may be pregnant, and she thinks that she has an STD, I most definitely WOULD NOT give her free birth control and send her on her way to just keep having sex with a piece of latex and some medicine as her only defense.   I see that some of you think this is needed because the kids need a place to go if they are scared and someone to trust. How are they being helped when they are handed free birth control and addresses to the nearest abortion clinics?   Why isn’t there a pause somewhere in there for the KIDS? Why aren’t they sent to someone who can tell them the dangers of having sex at such an emotionally immature age, instead of being handed a pill and sent out into the world to have more sex. Condoms and pills do not protect you 100% from AIDS, and birth control pills have some pretty serious side effects.   The people “helping” these kids aren’t informing the kids of this.   Are we going to wait until the next article in the paper is, “Teen Girl Given Free Birth Control At School Dies From Blood Clots?” I would bet the parents will cause a stir THEN about the “help” their children are getting.   Again – I think there should be something in the handbook about this type of program and a note/letter/information sent to the parents with the first report card, or something of the like. The parents have a right to know what steps are taken when their kids confide in adults at their school.   If my child was too scared to talk to me for some reason, I would hope that when they did talk to someone, they were talked to about what they were doing, and not just given some pills and pamphlets. Just because you call and ask doesn't mean you get accurate information.  Several other parents and I (who taught our children at home) were told for years that in order for our high schoolers to attend MHS that they would have to pass CBE tests for every subject they completed back to 8th grade with a 90% or above to get credit.  A 90% or above to pass!  This was WRONG information but it was given out for years.  So, it doesn't matter if you call and ask - the information they give is NOT always correct.  (I guess I'm glad I was discouraged by the school from putting my child in public school.) http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45101 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45101 Just because you call and ask doesn't mean you get accurate information.  Several other parents and I (who taught our children at home) were told for years that in order for our high schoolers to attend MHS that they would have to pass CBE tests for every subject they completed back to 8th grade with a 90% or above to get credit.  A 90% or above to pass!  This was WRONG information but it was given out for years.  So, it doesn't matter if you call and ask - the information they give is NOT always correct.  (I guess I'm glad I was discouraged by the school from putting my child in public school.) This is just insane! Seriously....a child is a child is a child...how does anyone have the right to give our kids 1. physical exams without parental permission, 2. STD or Birth Control medication, 3. How is it good advice to any child to advise them to keep important info from their parent? Public schools just continue to overstep their boundaries. Are the school and UTMB going to take 100% responsibility for ANY and ALL problems that could occur after giving a child treatment? Could you just imagine any type of medical problems could actually be caused. God forbid that they would actually promote abortion. Not even to mention what sort of religious beliefs they may be stomping all over. If this is a fact..VISD and UTMB are opening themselves up for a major lawsuit! I just don't see how they have the right to do this. We, as parents are responsible for our children until they are 18 years of age...not the school and UTMB! They DO NOT know a child's medical history and could do real damage to a child. Maybe the school should worry more about educating our children then just handing out medication and birth control. Medical treatment of a child is the parents responsibility. At this point I am so fed up with VISD and public school all together it's not even funny. Education is more important and more productive then just handing out condoms, birth control pills and the morning after pills. Just solving a problem for a child is just teaching them they can always take the easy way out and there is no need to be responsible for their own actions. Teach children to respect themselves,  the consequences of their actions and that they can always come to their parent for any problems; not just fix a problem after it has already happened! The only way I could think that the school could get away with this half way legally is the emergency medical treatment form/release (the one that says that they can seek emergency medical treatment for your child while they are at school.) I can tell you that if that is the fact they won't get another one signed by me! http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45147 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45147 This is just insane! Seriously....a child is a child is a child...how does anyone have the right to give our kids 1. physical exams without parental permission, 2. STD or Birth Control medication, 3. How is it good advice to any child to advise them to keep important info from their parent? Public schools just continue to overstep their boundaries. Are the school and UTMB going to take 100% responsibility for ANY and ALL problems that could occur after giving a child treatment? Could you just imagine any type of medical problems could actually be caused. God forbid that they would actually promote abortion. Not even to mention what sort of religious beliefs they may be stomping all over. If this is a fact..VISD and UTMB are opening themselves up for a major lawsuit! I just don't see how they have the right to do this. We, as parents are responsible for our children until they are 18 years of age...not the school and UTMB! They DO NOT know a child's medical history and could do real damage to a child. Maybe the school should worry more about educating our children then just handing out medication and birth control. Medical treatment of a child is the parents responsibility. At this point I am so fed up with VISD and public school all together it's not even funny. Education is more important and more productive then just handing out condoms, birth control pills and the morning after pills. Just solving a problem for a child is just teaching them they can always take the easy way out and there is no need to be responsible for their own actions. Teach children to respect themselves,  the consequences of their actions and that they can always come to their parent for any problems; not just fix a problem after it has already happened! The only way I could think that the school could get away with this half way legally is the emergency medical treatment form/release (the one that says that they can seek emergency medical treatment for your child while they are at school.) I can tell you that if that is the fact they won't get another one signed by me! Here is a comment I put on the Victoria Advocate online about certain views. Some people are taking the stance that the teens/kids are going to have sex anyway, so why not give them information, etc. Here is my response: I understand the views of the people that say the kids need someone to go to. Some of you also say that they are "going to do it anyway, why not at least give them some protection?" Well, how about handing them a beer at school and as protection giving them a Tylenol for the headache and a safe ride home. They are going to drink anyway, why not give them someone to go to when they are "scared" of their parents grounding them. How about when a teen is scared that her parents might ground or yell at her for shooting up heroine? We don't want them to be scared, so since they are going to do it anyway, let's give them a clean needle and $20. This is the same mentality some of you have. You wouldn't want an adult or school official to hide your child's drug and alcohol activity, so why would you be ok with them hiding their sexual activity? You can bet that if a child went and told their teacher that they were binge drinking and doing cocaine, but were scared of getting in trouble with their parents, VISD wouldn't give these kids more drugs and alcohol in private. By allowing and providing YOUR CHILDREN with a safe haven to get free "protection" to have unbridled amounts of sex without the parent's knowledge is no different. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45199 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45199 Here is a comment I put on the Victoria Advocate online about certain views. Some people are taking the stance that the teens/kids are going to have sex anyway, so why not give them information, etc. Here is my response: I understand the views of the people that say the kids need someone to go to. Some of you also say that they are "going to do it anyway, why not at least give them some protection?" Well, how about handing them a beer at school and as protection giving them a Tylenol for the headache and a safe ride home. They are going to drink anyway, why not give them someone to go to when they are "scared" of their parents grounding them. How about when a teen is scared that her parents might ground or yell at her for shooting up heroine? We don't want them to be scared, so since they are going to do it anyway, let's give them a clean needle and $20. This is the same mentality some of you have. You wouldn't want an adult or school official to hide your child's drug and alcohol activity, so why would you be ok with them hiding their sexual activity? You can bet that if a child went and told their teacher that they were binge drinking and doing cocaine, but were scared of getting in trouble with their parents, VISD wouldn't give these kids more drugs and alcohol in private. By allowing and providing YOUR CHILDREN with a safe haven to get free "protection" to have unbridled amounts of sex without the parent's knowledge is no different.   So.........when will this rumor be quashed or legitamized?  Thus far there is nothing saying it is true. Watch out for "birdies"--cause sometimes they have big mouths and are full of *%$#. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45274 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45274   So.........when will this rumor be quashed or legitamized?  Thus far there is nothing saying it is true. Watch out for "birdies"--cause sometimes they have big mouths and are full of *%$#. I wrote an explaination in my comment below, ragman... but I guess it got buried. Anyway - my choice of words was a poor choice. This isn't a rumor, the birdie is real, and so is what is going on. I am attempting to contact VISD. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45283 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45283 I wrote an explaination in my comment below, ragman... but I guess it got buried. Anyway - my choice of words was a poor choice. This isn't a rumor, the birdie is real, and so is what is going on. I am attempting to contact VISD. Toni Anne, This type of thing going on all over the USA, and for MHS to be a 5-A high school and not have a Planned Parenthood-type organization handing out pills/condoms would be surprising to me.  I do a bit of reading on pro-life issues, and because some kids are sexually active and have little or no guidance at home, then some bureaucrat thought that ALL kids would benefit from secretly having abortion pills/condoms, whatever, slipped to the kids behind the parent's back. This reminds me of a lawsuit going on right now against Planned Parenthood, where a MAN was taking a 14-yr. old for an abortion, posing as her father. Because PP did not check out the case, the parents are suing PP, as the MAN also got her pregnant AGAIN later and brought her to take care of the "problem," but this time, somehow her parents found out. So much for "privacy" and protecting a kid's sexual rights. What about the statutory rape going on in some cases? Schools are being complicit in covering this up.  What's NOT amazing is that parents are unaware about this. Whose kids are they?  Don't don't belong to the government, and they don't belong to the school system. I think the other poster was correct when she said that the schools system is setting themselves up for a HUGE lawsuit. Thanks for posting this, and please DON"T be intimidated by those who spout moral relativism. (You don't seem like you have any problems! :-}) You keep on going girl! http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45284 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45284 Toni Anne, This type of thing going on all over the USA, and for MHS to be a 5-A high school and not have a Planned Parenthood-type organization handing out pills/condoms would be surprising to me.  I do a bit of reading on pro-life issues, and because some kids are sexually active and have little or no guidance at home, then some bureaucrat thought that ALL kids would benefit from secretly having abortion pills/condoms, whatever, slipped to the kids behind the parent's back. This reminds me of a lawsuit going on right now against Planned Parenthood, where a MAN was taking a 14-yr. old for an abortion, posing as her father. Because PP did not check out the case, the parents are suing PP, as the MAN also got her pregnant AGAIN later and brought her to take care of the "problem," but this time, somehow her parents found out. So much for "privacy" and protecting a kid's sexual rights. What about the statutory rape going on in some cases? Schools are being complicit in covering this up.  What's NOT amazing is that parents are unaware about this. Whose kids are they?  Don't don't belong to the government, and they don't belong to the school system. I think the other poster was correct when she said that the schools system is setting themselves up for a HUGE lawsuit. Thanks for posting this, and please DON"T be intimidated by those who spout moral relativism. (You don't seem like you have any problems! :-}) You keep on going girl! Here is what I said on the other post:  I would be furious if I found out that another adult had enabled my child's sexual activity by giving him condoms or giving her a pill. Of course teens don't want their parents to know when they are planning or engaging in activities that will lead to pregnancy or diseases. Parents can take away the keys, cell phone, television, computer, and other privileges that might discourage, make it hard to engage, and may even limit those WRONG activities! If the parents don't know all the facts how can they effectively parent? http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45319 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7096/#c_45319 Here is what I said on the other post:  I would be furious if I found out that another adult had enabled my child's sexual activity by giving him condoms or giving her a pill. Of course teens don't want their parents to know when they are planning or engaging in activities that will lead to pregnancy or diseases. Parents can take away the keys, cell phone, television, computer, and other privileges that might discourage, make it hard to engage, and may even limit those WRONG activities! If the parents don't know all the facts how can they effectively parent?