Provincetown Policy Outlines Condoms For Schoolchildren

Children as young as five will be able to obtain free condoms at school under a new policy implemented by the Provincetown School Committee.

The school committee put no age requirements on the new policy to provide condoms to any student who requests them, said Superintendent Beth Singer. She said providing condoms to students will facilitate communication about sexual activity between students and adults.

"The advantage is that they get to have a conversation and they get information, which you don't get over the counter of the cashier," Singer said.

Under the guidelines of the new policy, any student requesting condoms will be told the school system recommends abstinence.  The policy, however, prohibits parental notification.

"We certainly wouldn't be advertising it to young children," Singer said.  "It will be in the student handbooks and there are designated professionals in the building who will be identified as the people to go to."