I am absolutely appalled to hear that the Portland School Committee approved the handing out of birth control pills to children at the King Middle School. I emphasize “children.”

What were they thinking?

They are just saying yes, go ahead and have sex. No big deal.

These children, at the tender age of 11-15, do not realize the repercussions of having sex. Do committee members think the girls will remember to take their pill each and every day? Most children that age do well to remember to do their homework.

As far as I can see, nothing good is going to come of the school committee action. When a young girl slips up and forgets to take her pill and winds up pregnant, that might save her back a bit, because instead of carrying a heavy bookbag, she could just put her books in the carriage with the baby.

I am not trying to be smug, but people need to think about it. Children that age are not not mature enough to be making decisions about sex.

I also believe that some young girls could think of having sex with older boys. That would open the door to pedophiles. And there are many sexually transmitted diseases out there.

If I still had children of school age and their school approved such a foolish policy, I would take them out of that school and homeschool them.

Parents should be more involved in their children’s lives.

Stanley Smith, Paris