"In the very simplest terms, the program is successful if we prevent even one student from contracting AIDS," the principal said. "It's as simple as that."
Can it Work Anywhere?
Sarasin was careful to point out that while the program has prospered in Cambridge, some cities might not be able to swallow such a radical change in their school systems.
He said that Cambridge fosters an atmosphere that promotes peaceful debates on issues. "I feel Cambridge handled the situation in the right manner through a lengthy dialogue that started with the students," the principal said.
Therefore, he argued, it is wrong to assume that other cities should automatically adopt a program similar to the one at Cambrdige Rindge and Latin.
"The school is not the sole unit responsible for prevention from AIDS," he said. "If a significant part of the population is afraid that condoms in the school give a message that it's OK to have sex, you must respect that opinion and go about the problem differently."
And while Chalfen said the program was appropriate for Cambridge, he too warned that "every community has its own character and must decide on this issue for itself."
But for AIDS education veteran Blout, the unequivocal need for universal condom distribution in public schools is crystal clear.
"Cities like Boston really need to get it together because our generation is going to get hit hard by AIDS," she said. "If these other school systems don't move faster on their own, may be it will require a student to get infected by AIDS and infect other students before the schools take action."
'Cities like Boston really need to get it together because our generation is going to get hit hard by AIDS' --Rindge and Latin senior Sarah Blout
The Teen Health Center
* 51 percent of Rindge and Latin students have had sex
* 57 percent of high school students nationwide have had sex
* 75 students get 300 condoms from the Health Center each month
* 35 percent of the Health Center's clients are under 16 and 32 percent are 17 and over
sources: the Teen Health Center and the U.S. Center for Disease Control