Central Senior High School in Saint Paul has had a sexual reproductive clinic, Health Start, since 1976, said Tonja Schuster, a medical assistant at the clinic. Last year, out of a student body of 2,100 teens, about 1,000 of them visited the clinic, she said. Students at Central share their thoughts on how the clinic at their school affects the student body and the controversy in general about housing clinics in public schools.
“Our society, period, promotes sex, so having a clinic in school is promoting safe sex.” — Herman Walker, 17
“Some things we can’t tell our parents. They’re personal. You know there’s someone in school you can rely on.” – Duvoe Moua, 15
“You don’t have to be any age to buy condoms. The clinic does make it easier to get condoms. Kids are more likely to (have sex) because they get free condoms.” – Brady Whalen, 17
“They keep everything confidential. For teens having sex and whose parents don’t know and they are too … scared to go to their parents and ask to go to the regular doctor, they can come here.” – Charnelle McKee, 17
“The clinic is not telling us to have sex. It’s telling is if you are use a condom and go get tested.” – Amy Scott, 16
“I lived in Woodbury. I went to parties. They are doing the same things we are here. The parents and school board, in the suburbs, are afraid to admit their kids are having sex, but we’re all equal, we’re all putting our pants on the same way. – Austin Patty, 16
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