John D. Hartigan

About the author: John D. Hartigan is a corporate lawyer who has done volunteer legal work in the fields of public health and public education.

Studies have shown that school-based condom distribution programs have failed to achieve their goals of protecting youth from HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases and preventing teen pregnancies. Young people lack the necessary discipline to use condoms carefully and correctly. In addition, supplying teenagers with condoms encourages greater sexual activity. Educators must find another approach to protect America's young people from sexually transmitted diseases.

The theory generally advanced to justify distributing condoms to teenagers is that this will protect them against pregnancy and HIV infection if they choose to be sexually active. However, study after study shows that this policy just...