Should a Charter School Be Able to Require Students to Take a Pregnancy Test?

Better than I could come up with.

So all women who have sex are no longer entitled to privacy? That's odd. I wonder how your mother, who was once pregnant with you, feels about that.

Well, my mom waited until she got out of school. Besides, the first line of my post was a joke. Most people would have figured that out when the second one started with "Seriously though." Maybe that is the problem. Perhaps those that did not see my post the way it was intended should have been going to school instead of playing nooky hooky.

Touche on the "seriously though" part.
Maybe we're playing hooky because we're all pregnant.

Charter schools are publicly funded, so no. If it were a private school, yes, but only if students knew that possibility would exist before they enrolled.

Absolutely not.

Why is that even being brought up? Why should it matter if a girl is or not? It really isn't the schools business. If my school were to ask me to take a pregnancy test I would be really insulted & I would refuse.

They are a publicly funded school, if public schools can't do it, then charter schools shouldn't be able to either. Now, if they were a fully private school, with private funding, and an exclusive waiting list, that might be something different, but they're not.

They can supply them, but in no way should they enforce them, especially not in a "stop and frisk" manner.

What's going to happen to the boys that knocked up these girls, is what I want to know. It takes two to make a baby. These girls aren't carrying the next Jesus.

don't know how this could be enforced.

I don't understand this obsession everyone has with invading women's bodies. I would like to read the full article, but from the question itself it seems degrading to women. Anyway, if a girl is pregnant, that's hardly the school's business - private or public.

The choice to send a kid to a charter school is always voluntary. They don't HAVE to go there. That's a key point in terms of what the charter school can and cannot do.

So now the question is whether any organization with voluntary membership can not only require medical screening but also specific medical conditions as a requirement for membership and/or participation. I think the answer is an obvious yes. Otherwise, I could go participate in the special Olympics and nobody could say a thing about it. All sorts of discrimination are perfectly legal when you are dealing with a voluntary choice of association.

Here's the problem - IF the charter school takes public money - and I don't know if this one does or does not - in that case, I believe the government can require (and usually does) require that they embrace non-discriminatory practices across the board. In this situation, I think the charter school would face a choice... they can either keep and keep taking public money, and stop discriminating. OR they can return the money (and pay fines?) and discriminate all they want.

Chances are, if they ever took money that's their business model and they NEED the money and so they'll stop discriminating. So anyway. That's how I think things work, and I think that's how things should work.

All charter schools take public money. That's the definition of charter schools. This would not even be a question if it were a private school as they can do what they want and whatever the parents paying tuition will allow.

Yes and no. For example, I recall a local charter school that did not take public money. The notion that there was some sort of "public" contribution was not in the form of money, but in access to services such as using the existing bus routes... perhaps sports facilities? It was something other than money. I agree it's a red herring, though... I don't know if it matters.

Keep in mind that the full description of a charter includes the concept that they "are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter."

So again - it really comes down to the terms of the charter. If they are taking money, I believe the Government *can* insist on non-discriminatory practices. However, some charter schools are permitted discriminatory practices, such as in cases where disabilities, cultural participation, or other religious values are the basis for the charter.

Bottom line from my prior post - I don't know what the terms of the charter are in this case. If you do - please post! The way the school seems to be backing down, it would seem they've overstepped their terms. Otherwise... time will tell.

It would kinda be a good idea, but why I said no is that it would fail miserably, the girls would fake their non-pregnancies all the time, and the school wouldn't know until a baby bump starts to peek out, unless the person waiting for the results is allowed to be in the same room with the student, and I know teen girls like a lot of privacy, I say when the bumb starts to show, it's time to go.

That would be like an airport requiring pilots to take a virility test. Useless!

Airline*

The FAA says that pilots shouldn't fly shortly after taking Viagra because it shifts their vision bluish & white runway lights could be confused with blue taxiway lights. Heard this from a Cessna pilot.

Maybe gelding might make the Skies a little safer?

are they allowed to throw them down a well if the test shows they are no longer virgins? or is that just their campus in iran?

That's apalling what is the world coming to

Charter school or not, they have no right to demand that from students.

It's a learning institution, not a medical facility

Does this school require its male students to prove that they dont have children and practice safe sex? it takes 2 to make a baby and while its none of the schools business they should become equal opportunity offenders

Or maybe the school would fit the boys with chastity belts?

Or have them mastubate every day so they're less inclined,
but with some adolescents this might be needed before every class.

lol

it's none of the schools business unless it starts to affect the students grades/work or whatever

violation of privacy.

Completely pointless.

They should be watching the "points' more than the 'recesses'.

Take two to make a FETAL mistake.

It's insulting to girls and it's none of the school's business

Have we not become Socialist enough? What will they want to do next Sterilize? It happened before.

sounds stupid .

And charge money to keep out the riff raff

Okay now, I have to disagree with you on this one. Since charter schools are public schools that run under a charter, they have no right to do so. Besides, requiring pregnancy testing in particular smacks of Big Brother, I know you are against that! And what exactly would the schools do with that information anyway? It's sort of a moot point since many school districts now offer public, online home school and that is where the girl would go anyway on the taxpayer's dime. Unfortunately, that's the reality. It's sad that so many kids these days are not being raised right that someone feels the need to suggest this.

gee...a modicum of humor and you jump out of yer wig

it is a online school its like a public school where everyone will see. they are still getting an education trying to get their life together and its not like they dropped out. they are trying

The only people who need to know if the girl is pregnant is her, her family, and her doctor(s). That's it.

Just kick the lil whore out whennshe starts to show