MrsSpringsteen
Blue Crack Addict
This is not another abortion debate thread. Please. Please. Just the question of the field trip.
Manchester Union Leader
Manchester NH
Students run into abortion protesters
By JOHN WHITSON
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
Friday, Jun. 8, 2007
MANCHESTER – Middle school students in a YMCA program were confronted by abortion protesters outside Planned Parenthood on Pennacook Street Wednesday as they visited social service agencies throughout the city.
Forty-one seventh- and eighth-graders involved in the STAY program, a collaboration between the Greater Manchester YMCA and the school district, went on the tour, said Joyce Palmer, the YMCA's community outreach director.
The Support, Tutoring, Adventure for Youth Program has for 20 years offered programs at the city's four middle schools to students believed to be at risk of dropping out and turning to substance abuse, violence and other at-risk behavior.
"The intent of the day was to provide information to kids who are getting ready for the summer and won't have the support of school or at home," said Palmer. "The intent was not to take kids to an abortion clinic. That word was never said."
Mayor Frank Guinta, chairman of the city school board, rejected any justification for including Planned Parenthood on a field trip for young teenagers.
"I'm extremely disappointed," said the mayor. "I don't think it's appropriate for that age group, nor do I think it's appropriate for that kind of information to be disseminated to kids in that age group by a school program."
Guinta said he didn't know anything about the visit in advance. "I would expect that these types of trips won't take place in the future.
After fielding some phone calls from concerned parents yesterday, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Frank Bass said the trip to Planned Parenthood would be the district's first and last.
"We've talked to the YMCA and told them that in the future we're not going to visit Planned Parenthood," he said.
Bass said STAY has been a "wonderful program" for city schools and that Wednesday's confrontation was "an unfortunate set of circumstances."
Anne Johnson, the Planned Parenthood educator who spoke to the children Wednesday, said abortion was never discussed. She said she spoke for about three minutes about "the array of services that we offer, 96 percent of which are prevention."
Johnson said she'd like her agency to be part of any future site visits by the STAY program.
"We're pretty proud to have been selected," said Johnson. "It's a shame that people took this as an opportunity to harass kids."
Planned Parenthood was on a long list of places the children visited, including the Boys and Girls Club, the YWCA, the Office of Youth Services and the city library.
"At each place, a staffer met with kids and shared a two- to three-minute version of what they do, and how kids could access services if they need them," said Palmer.
The tour took place during school hours as part of the STAY program's monthly "adventure/community education day."
In a letter to Superintendent of Schools Michael Ludwell yesterday, the president of New Hampshire Right to Life strongly protested the Pennacook Street stop.
"Planned Parenthood exploits teens by promoting promiscuity, leading to the need for STD testing, birth control and abortion," wrote Darlene Pawlik.
"Are you and the Manchester School District cooperating with the usurpation of parental rights by delivering Manchester's children into the hands of Planned Parenthood?" she wrote.
Palmer said the confrontation wasn't anticipated ahead of time. "We just never thought about protesters," said Palmer. "It's not part of our everyday reality.
But Johnson said she called the YMCA before the children arrived and told them a half dozen protesters were outside.
"They were pretty invasive," said Palmer. "There was lots of yelling. One woman actually drove her van right next to (students), stopped her van, jumped out and told the staff person, 'I must talk to you.' She did that three times, then followed them for half a block."
She said the protesters tried to force literature on the school children.
Palmer said the children did not respond. "The kids did a great job," she said. "It was very disconcerting for all the kids and the staff as well."
Dawn Michaud, principal of Parkside Middle School, called the confrontation "unfortunate." She was aware in advance of the Planned Parenthood visit, but said she viewed the day as more of a job fair than a social services tour.
"It was just to see what's out there and prepare them for their futures," said Michaud.
Manchester Union Leader
Manchester NH
Students run into abortion protesters
By JOHN WHITSON
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
Friday, Jun. 8, 2007
MANCHESTER – Middle school students in a YMCA program were confronted by abortion protesters outside Planned Parenthood on Pennacook Street Wednesday as they visited social service agencies throughout the city.
Forty-one seventh- and eighth-graders involved in the STAY program, a collaboration between the Greater Manchester YMCA and the school district, went on the tour, said Joyce Palmer, the YMCA's community outreach director.
The Support, Tutoring, Adventure for Youth Program has for 20 years offered programs at the city's four middle schools to students believed to be at risk of dropping out and turning to substance abuse, violence and other at-risk behavior.
"The intent of the day was to provide information to kids who are getting ready for the summer and won't have the support of school or at home," said Palmer. "The intent was not to take kids to an abortion clinic. That word was never said."
Mayor Frank Guinta, chairman of the city school board, rejected any justification for including Planned Parenthood on a field trip for young teenagers.
"I'm extremely disappointed," said the mayor. "I don't think it's appropriate for that age group, nor do I think it's appropriate for that kind of information to be disseminated to kids in that age group by a school program."
Guinta said he didn't know anything about the visit in advance. "I would expect that these types of trips won't take place in the future.
After fielding some phone calls from concerned parents yesterday, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Frank Bass said the trip to Planned Parenthood would be the district's first and last.
"We've talked to the YMCA and told them that in the future we're not going to visit Planned Parenthood," he said.
Bass said STAY has been a "wonderful program" for city schools and that Wednesday's confrontation was "an unfortunate set of circumstances."
Anne Johnson, the Planned Parenthood educator who spoke to the children Wednesday, said abortion was never discussed. She said she spoke for about three minutes about "the array of services that we offer, 96 percent of which are prevention."
Johnson said she'd like her agency to be part of any future site visits by the STAY program.
"We're pretty proud to have been selected," said Johnson. "It's a shame that people took this as an opportunity to harass kids."
Planned Parenthood was on a long list of places the children visited, including the Boys and Girls Club, the YWCA, the Office of Youth Services and the city library.
"At each place, a staffer met with kids and shared a two- to three-minute version of what they do, and how kids could access services if they need them," said Palmer.
The tour took place during school hours as part of the STAY program's monthly "adventure/community education day."
In a letter to Superintendent of Schools Michael Ludwell yesterday, the president of New Hampshire Right to Life strongly protested the Pennacook Street stop.
"Planned Parenthood exploits teens by promoting promiscuity, leading to the need for STD testing, birth control and abortion," wrote Darlene Pawlik.
"Are you and the Manchester School District cooperating with the usurpation of parental rights by delivering Manchester's children into the hands of Planned Parenthood?" she wrote.
Palmer said the confrontation wasn't anticipated ahead of time. "We just never thought about protesters," said Palmer. "It's not part of our everyday reality.
But Johnson said she called the YMCA before the children arrived and told them a half dozen protesters were outside.
"They were pretty invasive," said Palmer. "There was lots of yelling. One woman actually drove her van right next to (students), stopped her van, jumped out and told the staff person, 'I must talk to you.' She did that three times, then followed them for half a block."
She said the protesters tried to force literature on the school children.
Palmer said the children did not respond. "The kids did a great job," she said. "It was very disconcerting for all the kids and the staff as well."
Dawn Michaud, principal of Parkside Middle School, called the confrontation "unfortunate." She was aware in advance of the Planned Parenthood visit, but said she viewed the day as more of a job fair than a social services tour.
"It was just to see what's out there and prepare them for their futures," said Michaud.