I have failed to find any record of anybody in government telling people that they shouldn’t tell their teenage children that it’s wrong to have sex in case they, you know, get offended. I believe the new leaflet to encourage parents to discuss sex and relationships with their offspring (available from chemists from 5 March) describes how telling young people that sex is wrong is likely to inhibit open discussion. I quote ( since the Scum failed to do so)
“Discussing your values with your teenagers will help them to form their own. Remember, though, that trying to convince them of what’s right and wrong may discourage them from being open.”
In the interests of balance I would draw attention to articles from different sources.
The government advice as it stands can be found here.
Quite how the Scum gets away with this nonsense is beyond me.
Given the fact that GB has the highest rate of teenage pregnancies and std infections in the modern world, its obvious we need better sex education, also, concerning the parents "right" to veto sex education - what if those parents hold bigoted or backward views concerning sex eduction, as in the case of strict catholics and moslems ?
I am the eldest of 4 girls and had a very strict upbringing (mainly on the part of my father but my mother generally backed him up). I had to babysit my sisters in the school holidays while my mum worked part time, and overall I was quite responsible and did what I was told.
From about the age of 11 or 12, I discovered my father's collection of porn mags and paperbacks. Nothing under-the-counter but pornography nonetheless. I wanted to join in and lost my virginity at 14, and was pregnant before my 15th birthday. I knew about contraception but was too scared to get it so I relied on knowing my monthly cycle and when to avoid intercourse. Where I came unstuck was in foolishly allowing my boyfriend a fuck for Christmas, which I knew was at a risky time. I guessed quite quickly I was pregnant and just knew I couldn't tell my parents because they really would kill me! But it didn't go away and my mum eventually twigged because I wasn't using up my sanitary products.
So at the age of 15 I had an abortion. The thing that stuck in my mind was how disappointed in me my parent's were but at no point did they shout at me or condemn me. My mother at least, took the blame on herself. I never considered having the baby as an option.
I don't feel I was let down by the sex education I had - neither at school nor from the leaflet my mum gave me with a red-face, mumbling 'come and ask me if there's anything you want to discuss'. I had enough trouble telling her when my first period started. I'm a very private person, and even now can't discuss my own bodily functions with anyone (including my husband) without squirming and blushing.
My point is it isn't always possible to blame something on the failure of the Government to act appropriately or in a timely way. On the one hand you're moaning about the 'nanny-state, and then on the other, how the Government isn't doing enough to reduce teenage pregnancies. I am no psychologist but I cannot see that anything in my upbringing or education could have been changed to prevent my curiosity that got the better of me and caught me out.
Aye fluff good sense typed their ty for sharing.
Who wrote that article?? Queen Victoria??
We're talking young girls who at the age of 13/14 these days are looking around 17 sometimes 18. Our average 16 year old isn't anything like the average 16 yr old of 20 years ago. Media, society all play their part in allowing our children to grow up too quickly.
Kids under the age of 16 have and always will have sex or will experiment.
People are too fast to say 'well it's illegal under the age of 16' yeah ok, but says who? only the government, the law says it's illegal in this Country.
Take a look at this link...
In Albania the age of consent is 14, in Angola it's between 12 and 15, in Nigeria it's 13.
All of those ages on the chart signify one thing, that is from puberty, if a young person is physically able to bear a child, they are physically able to have sex, and will do. This has gone on for centuries and it's only because of naivity and lack of education that is causing young people to fall pregnant or to father babies, not their age.
I'm all for continuing with sex education, and maybe even encouraging parents to the same. Old fashioned 'no absolutely no way will you have sex, you're not 16' will not stop 'mam, sit down, I've something to tell you'.
Sorry Mar but it almost seems that you are condoning under age sex?
If you really think that kids of 12 and 13 having sex, because they may look 17 or 18, is one big cop out.
We have laws in this country.....yes I am aware that people break them all the time but.......the age of consent is 16, not 11 or 13 but 16.
You may well think that artical is " Victorian " but with attitudes like yours, I am sorry but no wonder we have a teenage pregnancy crisis.
Too many do gooders seem to think that kids are old enough at 12 to be given condoms and the pill, which only encourages them even more.
Yes people will have sex under the age of 16, and yes that has always happened, but unlike in years gone by it was frowned upon, now people seem to whoop with joy. It seems to be the be all and end all for a lot of kids.
Yes attitudes change and yes we are more " hip hop ", but to think it is in any way ok for a 12 or 13 year old to have sex, whether they look old enough or not, is quite frankly appalling.
You say about who makes these laws, well the same laws that say you have to have insurance to drive a car. Yes a silly law that one, but I bet you have it if you drive. Like so many other laws that you abide by. Why bother? It is only a Government law anyway.....isn't it?
Who wrote that article?? Queen Victoria??
You have already from the start expressed your feelings about the artical, as being old fashioned views.
We're talking young girls who at the age of 13/14 these days are looking around 17 sometimes 18.
So what does that mean? Just because they look older it is ok?
Our average 16 year old isn't anything like the average 16 yr old of 20 years ago. Media, society all play their part in allowing our children to grow up too quickly.
Well in that case then, why not reduce the age of consent to? What you think? 14 or 15? Seeing as they are so much more grown up now.
Kids under the age of 16 have and always will have sex or will experiment.
Agreed.
People are too fast to say 'well it's illegal under the age of 16' yeah ok, but says who? only the government, the law says it's illegal in this Country.
I have already expressed my views about who makes the laws. I presume you have got insurance then?
Take a look at this link...
Means nothing to me. ITs the law in this country, that counts.
In Albania the age of consent is 14, in Angola it's between 12 and 15, in Nigeria it's 13.
Well well..........countries that are really in touch with the modern world. Albania? Their attitudes are way behind most civilised countries.
All of those ages on the chart signify one thing, that is from puberty, if a young person is physically able to bear a child, they are physically able to have sex, and will do.
On that basis if a child started her periods at ten ,then that would be ok then.
This has gone on for centuries and it's only because of naivity and lack of education that is causing young people to fall pregnant or to father babies, not their age.
So in the 40's and 50', with a severe lack of sex education, why did most not have sex until way over 16? If they did why was the pregnancy rate much lower than now? The contraception was crap then, so surely in your eyes pregnancies should be worse than now, but they were not. Why do you think that is?
I'm all for continuing with sex education, and maybe even encouraging parents to the same. Old fashioned 'no absolutely no way will you have sex, you're not 16' will not stop 'mam, sit down, I've something to tell you'
That in my book is not the attitude people should take, but as I have said many times before..." hip hop ", is not for me.
Albania is civilised. Big ups to any country where Norman Wisdom is a national treasure.
Piiitkiiiin
My mum got pregnant in 1953. (Not with me, I hasten to add)
She got married. It got hushed up.
My husbands Nan (we found out just before she passed away) got pregnant in the early 40's.
She got married. It got hushed up.
They were both in their teens. One of them was under the AOC.
That's just two cases from my own, narrow experience.
My mum was incredibly strict. I wasn't allowed a boyfriend until I was 18. Didn't stop me having sex at 15. As you admitted, under age teens always have & always will. You've already acknowledged that- does that equate to you encouraging it?
I agree with you on one thing Kent, there is too much emphasis of & exposure to sex from the media. The emphasis, from childhood, should be to learn to love yourself- not to strive to look like Barbie and to fit in. But this is a complex issue. It won't be resolved with a one size fits all approach.
Like I said- what does making like an Ostrich solve?
Thank you. I thought our teenage pregnancy rates were falling. I also thought this was one of the governments key targets. Here's another article for your consideration.
I must once more point out that the statistics used for comparison rarely target under 16s. I dont think our culture can necessarily be contrasted accurately with our mainland europe neighbours.
So big ups to the government for continuing to address this issue and their success over the last few years in bringing the figures down and keeping our figures lower than the USA.
but look- it's a map with pretty colours. 
).
