Dear Editor:

I was deeply disturbed over the
recent report that school trustees
in both North and West Van-
couver are discussing the installa-
tion of condom machines in
public schools.

I was even more disturbed to
read that the medical health of-
ficer recommended such a move.

Here, in part, is a letter I
recently received from a medical
doctor concerning condom use by

MAILBOX
Condom-nation over schoo! debate

teenagers:

“When a teenager reveals that
they WILL be sexually active
despite my recommendations, !
feel obliged as a doctor to provide
them with all the necessary
methods of birth control and ad-
vice regarding disease prevention.
It is still reinforced repeatedly that
they are taking a chance physi-
cally, emotionally, and spiritually
when they engage in intercourse
outside of marriage.

“It is ridiculous to think of
condoms being a method of ‘safe
sex.’ I remember a tragic incident
where two teenagers riding motor-
cycles playing ‘chicken’ were
brought into the hospital. They
were both wearing helmets and
they were both quite dead. Did
the helmets make the game of
chicken ‘safe’?""

Studies have proven that the
absence of ‘“thow to’’ sex educa-
tion or the teaching of abstinence,

Condoms aren’t fail-proof

Dear Editor:

Recent issues of the North
Shore News have carried an article
and editorial promoting the in-
stallation of condom machines in
schools on the North Shore.

Janie Robinson is quoted as
saying ‘‘Condoms have been
proven effective in preventing in-
dividuals from sexually trans-
mitted diseases including
AIDS.** Contrast that statement
with the one from the U.S.
Department of Health and Human
Services, which states, ‘‘There are

no clinical data supporting the
value of condoms”’ in preventing
AIDS or even VD.

The Vancouver Sun has
published several articles on the
high failure rate of condoms
tested in Canada. The fact is, that
the pores of the latex can be
measured and these are larger
than the diameters of viruses,
which are so small they can pass
through fine porcelain. To place
our hope for protecting our
children in a porous latex sheath
which is prone to tearing and
slipping off makes no sense what-

Morals not condoms

Dear Editor:

In response to your front page
article “Call for condoms,’’ it
would seem that we should be
teaching our ct:ildren mora!
standards rather than supplying
ready access to condoms and say-
ing its OK to be sexually active
while you are still a child, but
please be ‘‘safe.’’

I think it is a cop-out, both on

DRAPERIES

the part of the schools as well as
the parents, to take the attitude
that a condom machine will solve
the problem.

It is time we took some respon-
sibility and started to teach some
morals to our children. Nowhere
in the article does it even mention
this.

Pamela J. Storer
West Vancouver

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soever.

To those who maintain § that
provision of condom machines in
school washrooms will not pro-
mote promiscuity {| would point
out that the same thing was said
of the valueless sex education and
promotion of contraception in
schools.

There is ample evidence to
prove that these have led to in-
creased promiscuity with the
resultant epidemics of sexually
transmitted diseases and teenage
pregnancies.

The only way we are going to
combat these diseases is by
teaching teenagers why and how
to say ‘no’ to. pre-marital sex.

Let us have more confidence in
our teens to exercise self-control
and not assume, as Mrs. Robinson
apparently has, that they are
bound to lead immoral lifestyles.
J3.M. White
West Vancouver

both reduce the incidence of un-
wanted pregnancies and venereal
disease.

! think we discredit our
teenagers by our lack of con-
fidence in their ability to make
wise decisions.

I believe we will see the day
when young adults in their 20s
and 30s with incurable venereal
disease or the inability to conceive
due to abortions, or disease, will
rise up, perhaps in class action,
accusing those responsible for
providing an inducement during
their formative years, which, in
turn, led to their physical defi-
ciency.

Geoffrey Stilt
President
Focus on the Family

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West Vancouver « obson Street « Kitsilano
Kerrisdale * North Vancouver « White Rock

Wednesday, January 16, 1991 — North Shore News - 7

p- Music Concerts

On Jan. 20, Capilano College
Community Music School
presents “A Feline Fantasy”,
a light-hearted musical
benefit bsed on a “‘cats”
theme. St. Andrew's United
Church, 1044 St. George's
Avenue, at 2 p.m. Tickets at
the door. Call 984-4902.

The Bachelor of Music
Transfer Program’s Winter
1991 Noon Hour Concert
Series starts Tuesday, Jan. 22,
with lyric soprano Marlene
Sedlmair and pianist Kenneth
Johnson. H Building, room
113 at 1 p.m. FREE. Call
984-4951.

Bee Road Scholarship

The Labatt's Road
Scholarship Program,
originally scheduled for Jan.
10, 12 and 13, was postponed
due to inclemen: weather.
Re-scheduled for Jan. 31, Feb.
2 and 3, the program wilt
give Cap students the
opportunity to master
advanced driving skills with
Canada's top racing drivers.
The program includes a
seminar and hands-on
emergency driving training.
Call che Student Society at
984-4969
> Your Support Makes a
Ditference
Comprised of dedicated
volunteers, the Capilano
College Foundation is
committed to helping
students build for future
success. The Foundation
proudly recognizes the
valuable contributions of the
many people who make a
difference.

Ninna Sherwood
Designer/Manufacturer
EliMar Creations

Ninna joined the Capilano
College Foundation Board in
February, 1987, and is
currently President of che
Foundation's Board of
Directors. She has worked as
an active volunteer with
several community
organizations, including
advisory boards at both
Capilano College and
Vancouver Community
College. Ninna has also been
involved in fund raising with
The Salvation Army, as well
as cancer and mental health
organizations.

For more information about
the Foundation, please call
Randi Duke, Director of
Resource Development, at
984-4983.

CAPILANO
COLLEGE

2055 Purcell Way
North Vancouver
British Columbia

s