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HIV Scare In St. Louis High School

By Robert Paul Reyes

When I was in high school I couldn't sleep until I found out how I did on my algebra test. Those were much simpler times, students in a high school in St. Louis are anxiously waiting for the results of an HIV test.

"Students at a suburban St. Louis high school headed to the gymnasium for HIV testing this week after an infected person told health officials as many as 50 teenagers might have been exposed to the virus that causes AIDS.- Associated Press / CHERYL WITTENAUER

School officials refuse to divulge how students may have been exposed to the HIV virus, but we know that this deadly virus is usually transmitted via sexual contact. It's imperative that parents and school districts teach our children about safe sex. It should be mandatory for every school to have condoms available, at no charge, for any student who requests one.

HIV is an incurable and debilitating disease, but it doesn't have to be an epidemic. Parents need to overcome their embarrassment and preach "safe sex" to their kids. Let them know that there is zero chance of getting AIDS if they don't have sex, but if they can't resist the temptation they must practice safe sex.

The school is doing the right thing by providing free HIV testing for their students, no child is being forced to take the test. The school will not be told if any of the students test positive, if a child tests positive only the Health Department and his family will know about it.

Parents, for heaven's sake don't wait until there's an HIV breakout in your child's school, teach him about safe sex now!

Robert Paul Reyes is a NewsBlaze writer on Politics, Pop Culture and Pointless Pontificating. Contact him by writing to NewsBlaze.