Although now I'm entertained by the mental image of a teacher trying to confiscate my Midol.

As long as your Midol was in your bag and you didn't, e.g., pop it into your mouth while looking straight in a teacher's eyes and saying "I dare you to punish me," you'd probably be fine.

I think it's meant to deter both dealing and possible lawsuits if a kid had an allergic reaction or the like. Stupid rule, but most zero-tolerance stuff is.

In this case, it's statutory rape and covered under those laws.

But would Planned Parenthood (or whoever) report that to the authorities?

If they knew about, they are legally obligated to report the abuse.

Oh yeah, healthcare providers are mandatory reporters of abuse of all kinds.

Seems to me that if we need to write a law, rather than just let people use their own best judgment, then writing a law that says "tell the parents" protects a lot fewer people than writing a law that says "don't tell the parents."

Where is the proof of that, though? There are safeguards for children in abusive situations. To the extent that those aren't working, our energy should be focused on fixing those problems, rather than on helping children circumvent the involvement of good parents. Also, if a kid is going to be abused because she is pregnant, 99.9% of the time, isn't she already in an abusive situation?

Parental disappointment, new limits, and even parental anger (appropriately expressed) do not equal abuse.

Where children need to inform a parent, isn't there typically an escape clause can go to a judge to circumvent the parental notification in extreme situations? How can we even count to know how many girls ultimately suffered more (although granted, perhaps in less acute ways), because their parents didn't know this enormous thing that happened in their life?

Pardon my ignorance, but does parental notification also mean parental consent?

Per Planned Parenthood, [link] it's a mix. Some states have no laws on this. Some require consent of both parents. Some require consent of one. Some require no consent, but do requiring informing one or both parents. I don't think PP breaks that down, but there are differing requirements from state to state. Some of the states allow a grandparent, aunt, uncle, step-parent, or mental health practitioner, as an alternative to a parent.

I am not agitating for consent, just notification, by the by.

Also, if a kid is going to be abused because she is pregnant, 99.9% of the time, isn't she already in an abusive situation?

I don't think you want to commit to this argument.

healthcare providers are mandatory reporters of abuse of all kinds

Interesting. I think I'd heard a radio story about this research (very biased pro-life site on the other side of the link), and misremembered it. Is there a more spin-free site that discusses the findings?

Edit: This is a pro-choice response, and here's Salon's take.

Just becuase people are mandatory reporters doesn't necessarily mean they do it. And statutory rape by itself is the kind of law I can readily believe people would protest.

As long as your Midol was in your bag and you didn't, e.g., pop it into your mouth while looking straight in a teacher's eyes and saying "I dare you to punish me," you'd probably be fine.

Er. Since I'm not in high school or a minor anymore, I was mostly playing on the Hormonal Rage factor, which just may be funny to me because mentally I am often twelve.

Does a minor need parental consent to receive a prescription for birth control pills?

Does one need to show ID to buy condoms in any of the states?

I was mostly playing on the Hormonal Rage factor, which just may be funny to me because mentally I am often twelve.

No, I got that. Sorry if I seemed overly earnest.