Why are you Skipping School?... It's Confidential.

There has been a recent proposal to allow students in the San Juan Unified School District to be excused from school without parental consent for "confidential medical services". This has caused much controversy and debate. It is a fight between the Pacific Justice Institute, a conservative nonprofit, and Planned Parenthood and National Center for Youth Law. They are fighting over the question of whether students in grades 7 to 12 can leave school for medical services such as abortions, getting birth control, treatment for sexual assault, and drug and mental health issues.

There are some people strongly against this idea. "'They are officially usurping parental authority. Children, who are teenagers, in most cases do not have the sufficient knowledge or wisdom to make decisions at times like these'' said Erline Applegate, a parent of a junior at El Camino High School. She makes a valid point, but so do her opponents. Rebecca Gudeman, senior attorney at the National Center for Youth Law says most children involve their parents in such issues, but "'It's the 25 percent we care about, in abusive households or in families that don't believe in mental health care'".

The current San Juan policy says : Students should not be absent from school without their parents/guardians' knowledge or consent except in cases of medical emergency.

The proposed policy says: Students in grades K-6 shall not be absent from school without their parents/guardians' knowledge or consent except in cases of medical emergency. Students in grades 7-12 shall not be absent from school without their parents/guardians' knowledge or consent except in cases of medical emergency or confidential medical appointment.

I don't think children in grades K-6 should be allowed to leave without parents consent except in a medical emergency. 4th grades should not and probably are not having abortions. These kids are too young to know if they can leave school or not. However, I do think this is a good law because there are a lot of families that would not accept their child or realize the importance of getting mental or drug abuse help. By passing this law, high schoolers could have a chance to make a medical decision they thought was best without their parents holding them back. But is it really confidential if you have to bring a note back to the school from the doctor? Or would they not have to? I think students should be allowed to leave school for medical emergencies and confidential appointments without the consent of their parents.