This is the compromise proposal

When indiscriminate sex becomes an entitlement program and a children's-rights issue, it's not long at all before we start treating our children like animals, and parents start acting like pet owners -- only without the doting -- and health-care professionals become veterinarians for bipeds.

Then again, that would be an insult to the compassionate and professional veterinarians I have known.

Here's a story from the Portland (Maine) Press Herald about a school board member's proposal that is all the more ridiculous for being a compromise measure, as opposed to the undiluted evil of last week's original decision:

A Portland School Committee member wants to give parents the power to keep their children from participating in a controversial new plan to make prescription birth control available to students at King Middle School.

Benjamin Meiklejohn submitted a resolution Monday, to be considered by the committee on Nov. 7. The proposal would give parents the option to block access to prescription contraception if they enroll their children in the King Student Health Center.

Meiklejohn's proposal also would limit access to prescription contraception such as "the pill" and "the patch" to students who are at least 14 years old.

The committee's 7-2 vote last week would make King the first middle school in Maine to offer a full range of contraception in grades 6 to 8, when students are 11 to 15 years old, school officials said.

Meiklejohn said some committee members urged him to delay submitting his resolution, fearing it would fan the flames of a national media frenzy over the committee's decision. But Meiklejohn said it would be a mistake to put off action on an issue that has divided the community.

"We should bring some resolution to this issue as soon as possible," said Meiklejohn, who voted against providing prescription birth control at King.

Although students need written parental permission to be treated at King's health center, state law allows them to receive confidential care for reproductive health, mental health and substance abuse issues. So parents who allow their children to be treated there may never know whether their children receive the pill or the patch or any other reproductive health care.

King's health center, which is operated by the city's Public Health Division, has provided condoms as part of comprehensive reproductive health care since it opened in 2000.

John Coyne, School Committee chairman, said he supports the general ideas behind Meiklejohn's proposal, but he wants to make sure it wouldn't break state laws that ensure access to health care and privacy of minors. Coyne also voted against offering prescription contraception at King.

"I would never want to put out something for the board to vote on that is illegal," Coyne said. "If we can figure out the legal issues around this decision, maybe we can come up with something a little more palatable to me and others."

Committee members Rebecca Minnick and Susan Hopkins said they probably wouldn't vote to reduce the scope of reproductive health services provided at King. Other committee members couldn't be reached for comment Monday.

"If it saves one girl from getting pregnant too soon, it's worth it," Minnick said.

OR, AS DOSTOEVSKY once wrote:

Now assume there is no God or immortality of the soul. Now tell me, why should I live righteously and do good deeds if I am to die entirely on earth?. . . And if that is so, why shouldn't I (as long as I can rely on my cleverness and agility to avoid being caught by the law) cut another man's throat , rob, and steal.

Or, for that matter, give birth-control pills and patches to 11-year-old girls. After all, in Portland, they're already giving rubbers to 11-year-old boys.

It's been my experience that people generally act like animals only when those in power assume that they are, then treat them accordingly. And that includes the realm of lowered, or nonexistent, expectations.

Our dignity lies in He who created us. Otherwise, we're somewhat smarter than Fido, but about half as pleasant to be around.