A School in Delhi in Louisiana state of United States (not India) has come under fire for its policy that require a student to have a test if they suspect she could be pregnant.
According to Delhi Charter School policy, students “suspected” of being pregnant are required to take a pregnancy test. If the test proves positive, or if a student declines to take the test, she’ll no longer be permitted to take classes on campus and must either transfer to another school or begin a home school program. From the student handbook:
If the test comes back positive, the policy states: ‘The student will not be permitted to attend classes on the campus of Delhi Charter School. ‘She will be required to pursue a course of home study. Delhi Charter School has established an environment whereby the conduct of its students must be in keeping with the school’s goals and objectives relative to character development.’
If an administrator or teacher suspects a student is pregnant, a parent conference will be held. The school reserves the right to require any female student to take a pregnancy test to confirm whether or not the suspected student is in fact pregnant. The school further reserves the right to refer the suspected student to a physician of its choice. If the test indicates that the student is pregnant, the student will not be permitted to attend classes on the campus of Delhi Charter School.
If a student is determined to be pregnant and wishes to continue to attend Delhi Charter School, the student will be required to pursue a course of home study that will be provided by the school… Any student who is suspected of being pregnant and who refuses to submit to a pregnancy test shall be treated as a pregnant student and will be offered home study opportunities. If home study opportunities are not acceptable, the student will be counseled to seek other educational opportunities.
The school also notes in its handbook that it reserves the right to send girls suspected of being pregnant to a physician of the school’s choice. Various other policies in the 216-page manual permit “reasonable corporal punishment of unruly students,” defined as “paddling of the student’s buttocks,” and prohibition of public displays of affection because they “show disdain for good taste.” According to the handbook, PDA include, but are not limited to “holding hands on school premises, hugging, kissing, leaning against each other and sitting in each others’ laps.”
The American Civil Liberties Union has blasted the 600-student school, with executive director Marjorie Esman saying: ‘The pregnancy policy violates the rights of every girl at Delhi Charter School.
‘Every girl is at risk of being subject to intrusive medical testing, and possibly forced out of school, for reasons that have nothing to do with her education.