“People want to claim it’s a sexist issue; I don’t think that that’s necessarily true.”

When discussing if Roe v. Wade was a sexist issue, this was the response given by Max Pacheco, 11. The controversial topic created a large debate between students.

The discussion of Roe v. Wade began in the summer of 2022. When each state was given the right to vote, many expressed their opinions by voicing them, putting bumper stickers on their cars, or placing signs in their yards.

Students began to get their opinions out as well in hopes to influence the Kansas vote.

“I was a bit disappointed [with Kansas’ decision on the vote],” Pacheco said. “I was a little sad to be honest, but I can’t say I wasn’t surprised because Johnson County is a very liberal county.”

When people heard the debates, many picked a side. Even after the vote was made, many still remained strong with their side.

“I do not believe that it is a Constitutional right; I actually believe it actively goes against the Constitution,” Peyton Sherron, 12, said. “We have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness which I believe applies to the unborn as well. Even if you argue that they are not yet living, you’re taking away their right and their chance to live their life.”

A large portion of the argument was whether to use the term “fetus” or “child.” In some cases, it could be traced back to religion. In other cases, science.

“I believe that at conception the baby’s life is at value because once the baby is conceived, it has its own chromosomes, it has its own DNA, it’s no longer a part of the mother’s body,” Sherron said. “It’s in the mother’s body, but it’s its own being so it’s not her body, her choice; she is just nurturing it.”

Some people consider it a radical measure.

“I think people try to justify the killing of a child by saying it’s not a child yet, when in a lot of circumstances abortions do take place pretty early on, and I do know that,” Pacheco said. “But regardless, I believe that life begins at conception, and I think that that’s still a baby. It is still a child that you’re killing.”

In the case of an abortion, both sides are able to agree on the fact that there should be limitations in place.

“I think it’s a good thing that a lot of states that want to ban abortion can be allowed to now, not necessarily as a whole, but with heartbeat bills like Texas did a couple months back, or places like Alabama and Mississippi who just had instant bans,” Pacheco said.

Both sides also see clear problems that could be the cause for why someone needed an abortion and reasons they shouldn’t get one, they just didn’t agree on whether they should get it or not.

“Even in the instances of rape and incest, I don’t believe abortion should be allowed,” Pacheco said. “I don’t believe that the sinful nature of the father should result in the death of a child.”

In some cases, the argument to not have an abortion was that the child could be placed into foster care or similar systems. This brings that system into the argument.

“Adoption agencies and foster care at least give the baby a chance. I know there’s a lot of problems with that system, so I think we need to reevaluate the way we have set up our society and reevaluate the foster care systems and adoption agencies, so that killing the babies is not the only option,” Sherron said. “There is more to do than resorting to killing the babies.”

This introduces the concept of whether people truly back up their side by helping the organizations they claim are helping their cause.

“I think there are a lot more resources available to people, especially mothers or single parents, who may feel like they don’t have an option when they absolutely do,” Pacheco said. “I do donate to their organizations. I quite literally put my money where my mouth is.”

Something taken into serious consideration was if the life of the mother was at stake due to the pregnancy.

“Personally, I do not believe abortion should be an option unless the mother is at a serious risk if she continues with the pregnancy because typically when the mother continues with the pregnancy and she’s at risk, the baby is also at risk, so you’re risking two lives opposed to just the baby,” Sherron said.

Additionally, Sherron bridges from the physical side to the mental side of health.

“A lot of people talk about rape and incest, which is an absolutely terrible thing, but I couldn’t tell somebody who was conceived from rape or incest that their life was less valuable based on how they were conceived,” Sherron said. “They had no control over that.”

Oftentimes, within this debate, people discuss whether or not the father should have a say in the mother’s decision to possibly terminate the pregnancy.

“Takes two to tango, and I understand that obviously the mother has the pain of going through pregnancy and having that child, but again I don’t think that should completely diminish the guy’s right to say what happens to the baby,” Pacheco said.

This discussion also traces back to school. Some believe it is their responsibility, or at the very least in the curriculum, to teach about sex education, contraceptives, and consent.

“I’m trying to think of the last time I had sex ed here in school, freshman year I think it was,” Pacheco said. “I think I literally left the room at one point because the images were so disgusting; I literally was about to throw up.”

However, some, like Sherron, believe that responsibility should fall to the guardians and religion, too.

“Something that the Bible does teach is waiting until marriage. The way the Bible teaches it is set up to be you wait until you’re ready for the possibility to have a baby,” Sherron said. “I would say most people know that if they’re going to do that they realize, it’s just kind of really a choice I feel like.”

Some believe there is a lack of teaching consent which is linked into the debate as well.

“[Schools] don’t push it enough, consent, but obviously they should be pushing it, and I think that they did a good job with me,” Pacheco said. “I’m obviously not going to force myself upon anybody, but I don’t know if [the school is] doing a good job or failing.”

With everything to consider about the court case, it leaves everyone with their own final opinion.

“It’s not necessarily how the baby was conceived; it’s that it was conceived,” Sherron said. “It doesn’t change my point that it is killing a baby.”

“I think if men carried children, you could buy an abortion at Walmart.”

When discussing if Roe v. Wade was a sexist issue, this was the response given by Chloe Maisch, 12. The controversial topic created a debate between students.

The discussion of Roe v. Wade began in the summer of 2022. When each state was given the right to vote, many expressed their opinions by voicing them, putting bumper stickers on their cars, or placing signs in their yards. 

Students began to get their opinions out as well with hopes to influence the Kansas vote.

“I feel like a lot of people thought, especially with the Aug. 2 vote, that it was going to be overturned, but I wasn’t shocked by the results of it,” Trevor Cecini, 12, said. “I feel like abortion is not really an issue that people like, but it is one that they think is necessary. I think it kind of comes to show how much people understand its importance.”

When people heard the debates, many picked a side. Even after the vote was made, many still remained strong with their side.

“I consider myself pro-choice simply because I do believe that it’s not my body, it’s not my choice,” Cecini said. “At the end of the day, it’s not my right to tell a woman what they can and cannot do with their own body and I stand by that.”

A large portion of the argument was whether to use the term “fetus” or “child.” In some cases, it could be traced back to religion. In other cases, science.

“The fetus cannot survive outside of the mother, so if it were to be taken out, it would just die,” Maisch said. “It’s not a child yet. It doesn’t have any thoughts; it doesn’t have any feelings. It’s, at that point, a clump of cells.”

Some people consider it a radical measure.

“People approach it as ‘you’re murdering babies’…be so for real. You are not. That’s so crazy to me,” said Maisch.

In the case of an abortion, both sides are able to agree on the fact that there should be limitations in place.

“I feel like if you’re going to get an abortion for any foreseen circumstances, you shouldn’t wait until the very end to do it,” Cecini said. “If you’re going to get one, waiting until the eighth month, [or the] third trimester, does not make sense to me. So, I guess if you’re going to put any limits on abortion, or regulations, it should be toward the end, but no outright ban should ever be placed.”

Both sides also see clear problems that could be the cause for why someone needed an abortion and reasons they shouldn’t get one; they just didn’t agree on whether they should get it or not.

“If it’s for medical reasons where someone is trying to have a baby, but [aren’t] working out, then obviously you can’t really do anything about that” Cecini said, “but, if you’re getting abortions because you keep having accidents, then I mean just be smart and figure out other ways to where you don’t have to keep having that procedure done.”

In some cases, the argument to not have an abortion was that the child could be placed into foster care or similar systems. This brings that system into the argument.

“That whole [foster care] system is incredibly flawed. I mean, there are thousands of reports of abuse [and] neglect, and we don’t treat it like we should,” Cecini said. “So, for people to make the argument ‘well just have the kid and then put them into adoption’ that is just setting up that child for 18 years minimum of neglect and abuse. So, I don’t honestly see a very valid argument being made there.”

This introduces the concept of whether people truly back up their side by helping the organizations they claim are helping their cause.

“All these people with all these opinions about how it’s disgusting and ‘you’re murdering if you get an abortion’ do absolutely nothing,” Maisch said. “They’re just like ‘oh have the baby and put it up for adoption; put it in foster care.’ All of those people do absolutely nothing for the foster care system. They don’t foster; they don’t adopt. They just tell people what they can and can’t do with their lives.”

Something taken into serious consideration was if the life of the mother was at stake due to the pregnancy.

“By getting rid of abortion, you are not only still not solving their opinion of murdering babies, but you are now creating issues for that mother who are going to be going through the steps of unsafe abortion,” Cecini said. “It’s no secret that a very large percent of those who get abortions do it because it’s necessary for their health, so that just comes with [the] safety of the mother.”

Additionally, Cecini bridges from the physical side to the mental side of health.

“But, also, people who get abortions because of rape or incest, it’s not just physical safety, it’s mental safety. That’s traumatizing,” Cecini finished.

Oftentimes, within this debate, people discuss whether or not the father should have a say in the mother’s decision to possibly terminate the pregnancy.

“I believe in freedom of speech. I think you can voice your opinion all you want, but at the end of the day it’s not his decision. He’s not the one that would be carrying that child for nine months,” Cecini said. “Of course, I think he should get to speak his mind on the issue, but it’s not his decision; it’s just opinion.”

This discussion also traces back to school. Some believe it is their responsibility, or at the very least in the curriculum, to teach about sex education, contraceptives, and consent.

“Awful, God awful,” Maisch describes her opinion on the school’s teaching of sex ed. “They don’t teach us anything. [It was just] one class in eighth grade that nobody paid attention to because the boys were laughing about a vagina,” she finished.

However, some, like Maisch, believe that responsibility should fall to the guardians, too.

“Then you have to go to your parents about that. I feel like parents also don’t do a great job of explaining,” Maisch said.

Some believe there is a lack of teaching consent which is linked into the debate as well.

“Where’s that? Nowhere,” was Maisch’s response when asked if she was ever taught about consent. “I don’t think it’s being taught at all. I never got taught anything about that. Consent wasn’t a thing, or a concept I had heard of, until I would say sixth grade.”

With everything to consider about the court case, it leaves everyone with their own final opinion.

Cecini concluded, “Not your body, not your choice.”