Pens--paper--books--all things you expect to find in schools. Now you can add condoms to the list.
During the holiday break, the School District of Philadelphia will be busy installing free condom dispensers at 22 city high schools.
"In today's world, it's a fact that teenagers have sex. And you know. I don't like it" said Michelle DiSalvatore whose daughter goes to South Philadelphia High School, one of the schools offering free condoms.
"It's a good thing actually because they're doing it they're having sex to ignore it is stupid" said Dionne Graham, whose 17-year-old son attends Bok High School.
The city's health department is funding the pilot program in the schools with the highest known rates of sexually transmitted diseases. Twelve schools already offer condoms in health resource centers. But dispensers being installed just inside the nurses offices over the holiday break will make condoms more widely available.
Some parents, like the Lucero's of West Philadelphia, have different views.
"That's a good idea because kids are sexually active" mother Elizabeth Lucero said.
"I don't agree with it. It's kind of like promoting it, a way of advertising sex" added husband Marvin.
Condoms will be available to any student unless their parents sign a form to opt out of the program.
No doubt--a sign of the times.
"Not when I went to school. That was taboo. Nobody even talked about it too much. Times have changed." said DiSalvatore.
Below, we've added the list of the 22 schools that will get the condom dispensers.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 10:20 PM EDT2013-06-19 02:20:21 GMT
Doctor Michelle Liggio was a very popular Pensauken doctor. Tonight she's a murder victim. Police say her husband shot her inside her office before turning the gun on himself.
Doctor Michelle Liggio was a very popular Pensauken doctor. Tonight she's a murder victim. Police say her husband shot her inside her office before turning the gun on himself.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 10:14 PM EDT2013-06-20 02:14:32 GMT
At approximately 2:45pm Wednesday afternoon, a bank robbery occurred at the National Penn Bank on E. High Street in Pottstown, PA. Police have captured three of the fours suspects so far.
At approximately 2:45pm Wednesday afternoon, a bank robbery occurred at the National Penn Bank on E. High Street in Pottstown, PA. Police have captured three of the fours suspects so far.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 8:19 PM EDT2013-06-20 00:19:58 GMT
Breaking news in North Philadelphia on the 2300 block of North Tenth Street, where three people, including a pregnant woman, were shot. This happened just before four this afternoon.
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Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:11 PM EDT2013-06-19 22:11:57 GMT
If you hated going to traffic court in Philadelphia, you won't have to anymore! Today, Governor Tom Corbett signed a bill abolishing traffic court,effective immediately.
If you hated going to traffic court in Philadelphia, you won't have to anymore! Today, Governor Tom Corbett signed a bill abolishing traffic court,effective immediately.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 5:57 PM EDT2013-06-19 21:57:28 GMT
A main line mascot gets the boot. At issue: cultural sensitivity.It's an issue that's been playing out on athletic fields all over America: re-thinking team names and the mascots that go with them.
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Wednesday, June 19 2013 5:47 PM EDT2013-06-19 21:47:02 GMT
City administration officials came before a City Council committee with orders not to talk about the building collapse, but that didn't stop council members from raising questions.
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Wednesday, June 19 2013 5:06 PM EDT2013-06-19 21:06:59 GMT
Six of the people accused in one of the largest public corruption cases in our area's history plead guilty today in court. 18 people total are accused of bilking the Bensalem school district.
Six of the people accused in one of the largest public corruption cases in our area's history plead guilty today in court. 18 people total are accused of bilking the Bensalem school district.
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The city's health department is funding the pilot program in the schools with the highest known rates of sexually transmitted diseases.
