Maine School to Offer Contraceptives

Portland School Head Nurse Amanda Rowe speaks about a proposal that would allow students at King Middle School to obtain birth control prescriptions from the school's health center, during a School Committee meeting Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Joel Page) (Joel Page - AP)

"I think it makes people nervous to think middle school students are having sex. Frankly, it makes me nervous. But there's a small population out there that needs protection," he said.

Carol Schiller, the mother of a boy and girl who graduated from King, said she was "elated" at the committee's vote. She said critics shocked that 11-year-olds have sex should "get over it."

"It's much more important that we reach out to these kids and get them the tools they need to stay safe, stay in school and get an education," she said.

Michael Heath, executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, said he was concerned that young children would have access to any form of birth control, with adults playing a supportive role.

"It's at best troubling, at worst an outrage," he said.

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Associated Press Writer Jay Lindsay contributed to this report from Boston.

(This version CORRECTS that Portland's three middle schools reported seven pregnancies, not 17.)