Many people argue that the earlier children are taught about sex, intimacy and relationships that they are more than likely to become interested in experimenting with it all. Furthermore others believe that due to the increasing statistics of teenage pregnancy in Britain then teaching children at a younger age will have more of a awareness on contraception and STI's, resulting in the teenage pregnancy limit to lower.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100617/hl_nm/us_britain_schools_sex
The above article explains how that Watchdog UK explored the case in sexual education being taught from the age of five.
Friday, 9 July 2010
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Sexual Education In Schools
What is sex education?
Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) in schools is a graduated, age appropriate programme which teaches children and young adults about sex, sexuality, emotions, relationships and sexual health. It is based around the three main elements of attitudes and values, personal and social skills, and knowledge and understanding. It aims to be age appropriate, and topics covered may include:
•the importance of marriage and stable relationships
•how to avoid teenage pregnancy
•how to recognise and avoid abuse and exploitation
•skills to avoid being pressured into unwanted or unprotected sex
•the benefits of delaying sexual activity and avoiding risky behaviour
•the importance of safer sex
While SRE includes the teaching of sex, sexuality and sexual health, it does not promote sexual activity, or any particular sexual orientation.
Parents have the right to withdraw their child from their school's SRE programme, except where the lessons form a part of the National Curriculum.
England
Under the Learning and Skills Act 2000 in England, a school's SRE policy must be available for parents to inspect. Primary schools are not required to teach SRE other than those elements that fall under the Science curriculum. However, they are required to either have a policy on SRE outlining details of their programme or explaining their reasons for not giving one. Primary school children can expect to be taught the names and functions of external body parts, and be informed about puberty before it begins.
In England, the sex education elements of the Science area of the National Curriculum are compulsory for all pupils of primary and secondary school age (7-16). They include biological aspects of human reproduction, anatomy, puberty, uses of hormones to control fertility and how viruses can affect human health.
At a minimum, information about sexually transmitted infection (STIs) and HIV/AIDS will be taught.
Other elements of sex and relationships education are taught as part of a Personal, Social and Health and Economic Education (PHSEE) programme, which may also include subjects such as citizenship and drug and alcohol awareness. However, SRE is not a compulsory part of the national curriculum.
In secondary education, the school governers will be able to provide an up-to-date policy describing the content that your child is taught.
What is taught at what age?
Where reproduction is taught as part of the Science curriculum in England, children will be expected to understand the following areas:
5-7 years old
•how animals and humans reproduce, and how their offspring grow into adults
•how to recognize external parts of both the male and female human body
•how to recognise similarities and differences, and to treat others with sensitivity
7-11 years old
•learning about the growth and reproduction processes common to humans and other animals
•stages of the human life cycle
11-14 years old
•learning how the fusion of a male and a female cell causes fertilisation
•the physical and emotional changes that take place during puberty
•the menstrual cycle and how it relates to human reproduction
•how a foetus develops in the uterus
14-16 years old
•how hormonal control occurs, and how sex hormones affect the body
•how hormones are used medically, including both how they control and aid fertility.
•how sex is determined in humans
Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) in schools is a graduated, age appropriate programme which teaches children and young adults about sex, sexuality, emotions, relationships and sexual health. It is based around the three main elements of attitudes and values, personal and social skills, and knowledge and understanding. It aims to be age appropriate, and topics covered may include:
•the importance of marriage and stable relationships
•how to avoid teenage pregnancy
•how to recognise and avoid abuse and exploitation
•skills to avoid being pressured into unwanted or unprotected sex
•the benefits of delaying sexual activity and avoiding risky behaviour
•the importance of safer sex
While SRE includes the teaching of sex, sexuality and sexual health, it does not promote sexual activity, or any particular sexual orientation.
Parents have the right to withdraw their child from their school's SRE programme, except where the lessons form a part of the National Curriculum.
England
Under the Learning and Skills Act 2000 in England, a school's SRE policy must be available for parents to inspect. Primary schools are not required to teach SRE other than those elements that fall under the Science curriculum. However, they are required to either have a policy on SRE outlining details of their programme or explaining their reasons for not giving one. Primary school children can expect to be taught the names and functions of external body parts, and be informed about puberty before it begins.
In England, the sex education elements of the Science area of the National Curriculum are compulsory for all pupils of primary and secondary school age (7-16). They include biological aspects of human reproduction, anatomy, puberty, uses of hormones to control fertility and how viruses can affect human health.
At a minimum, information about sexually transmitted infection (STIs) and HIV/AIDS will be taught.
Other elements of sex and relationships education are taught as part of a Personal, Social and Health and Economic Education (PHSEE) programme, which may also include subjects such as citizenship and drug and alcohol awareness. However, SRE is not a compulsory part of the national curriculum.
In secondary education, the school governers will be able to provide an up-to-date policy describing the content that your child is taught.
What is taught at what age?
Where reproduction is taught as part of the Science curriculum in England, children will be expected to understand the following areas:
5-7 years old
•how animals and humans reproduce, and how their offspring grow into adults
•how to recognize external parts of both the male and female human body
•how to recognise similarities and differences, and to treat others with sensitivity
7-11 years old
•learning about the growth and reproduction processes common to humans and other animals
•stages of the human life cycle
11-14 years old
•learning how the fusion of a male and a female cell causes fertilisation
•the physical and emotional changes that take place during puberty
•the menstrual cycle and how it relates to human reproduction
•how a foetus develops in the uterus
14-16 years old
•how hormonal control occurs, and how sex hormones affect the body
•how hormones are used medically, including both how they control and aid fertility.
•how sex is determined in humans
Teen Pregnancy Counselling
Connnexions: Phoenix
Connexions is for you if you are 13-19, living in England and wanting advice on getting to where you want to be in life. It also provides support up to the age of 25for young people who have learning difficulties or disabilities (or both).
Connexions is a modern public service and young people are actively involved in its design and delivery.
The service is managed locally by your Local Connexions Service which brings together all the key youth support services.
Who is Phoenix for?
Our client group is young women who are pregnant, who have had or are thinking of having an abortion, as well as young mums. The experienced counsellor can also see young women who are likely to or who want to become pregnant, as well as partners of any of these young women.
What can counselling offer me?
Counsellors are professionally trained to offer clients support and empathy with whatever difficult issues and feelings they may be experiencing. Your counsellor will work to build an open, non-judgemental and understanding relationship with you to help you to feel able to talk about whatever is troubling you.
Counselling can help you explore your emotions, thoughts and behaviour, and this process and the acceptance offered by the counsellor, can help you to find solutions to your problems as well as improve your self-esteem
What about confidentiality?
What is said between a client and counsellor is confidential. However, if something said by a client suggests that serious harm may occur to her or him or to someone else, confidentiality may be breached. Your counsellor would, if possible, discuss this with you beforehand.
CareConfindential
Free confidential counselling, support, help and advice if you are facing an unplanned pregnancy or have post-abortion concerns. Abortion information and abortion facts are available.
I might be pregnant - facing an unplanned pregnancy
CareConfidential offers you a calm space, a listening ear, accurate information and time to think through the decision-making process. We offer you friendly support and practical assistance.
Had an abortion?
If you have had an abortion and have experienced difficulties, CareConfidential's advisors can provide support after abortion, help you come to terms with your experience, help you work through your thoughts and feelings and enable you to face the future with hope.
There are six ways you can find help
Local Centres - find a crisis pregnancy centre near you
Helpline - speak to someone on the free helpline
Online - contact an Online Advisor
Your Questions Answered - useful information with links
People Stories - read other people's stories; add your own.
Services Search - for services and site searches.
Connexions is for you if you are 13-19, living in England and wanting advice on getting to where you want to be in life. It also provides support up to the age of 25for young people who have learning difficulties or disabilities (or both).
Connexions is a modern public service and young people are actively involved in its design and delivery.
The service is managed locally by your Local Connexions Service which brings together all the key youth support services.
Who is Phoenix for?
Our client group is young women who are pregnant, who have had or are thinking of having an abortion, as well as young mums. The experienced counsellor can also see young women who are likely to or who want to become pregnant, as well as partners of any of these young women.
What can counselling offer me?
Counsellors are professionally trained to offer clients support and empathy with whatever difficult issues and feelings they may be experiencing. Your counsellor will work to build an open, non-judgemental and understanding relationship with you to help you to feel able to talk about whatever is troubling you.
Counselling can help you explore your emotions, thoughts and behaviour, and this process and the acceptance offered by the counsellor, can help you to find solutions to your problems as well as improve your self-esteem
What about confidentiality?
What is said between a client and counsellor is confidential. However, if something said by a client suggests that serious harm may occur to her or him or to someone else, confidentiality may be breached. Your counsellor would, if possible, discuss this with you beforehand.
CareConfindential
Free confidential counselling, support, help and advice if you are facing an unplanned pregnancy or have post-abortion concerns. Abortion information and abortion facts are available.
I might be pregnant - facing an unplanned pregnancy
CareConfidential offers you a calm space, a listening ear, accurate information and time to think through the decision-making process. We offer you friendly support and practical assistance.
Had an abortion?
If you have had an abortion and have experienced difficulties, CareConfidential's advisors can provide support after abortion, help you come to terms with your experience, help you work through your thoughts and feelings and enable you to face the future with hope.
There are six ways you can find help
Local Centres - find a crisis pregnancy centre near you
Helpline - speak to someone on the free helpline
Online - contact an Online Advisor
Your Questions Answered - useful information with links
People Stories - read other people's stories; add your own.
Services Search - for services and site searches.
Real Life Stories
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-385968/Girl-11-Britains-youngest-mother.html A news article.
Well when i was 13 i got pregnant with my first child. it was a hard thing for me as i was pregnant with twins but lost one during birth and i ended up giving my other baby up for adpotion. it was such a hard decision but i made it through. having to bury my child was the hardest thing i had to do. then when i was 14 my mom had twins. my mom and step dad are druggies and my now fiancee and i took in the twins about 6 months ago. now im 16 and im pregnant again. this has been a very hard pregnancy for me. i started out with triplets but lost two during my third month. now i have one on the way. im excited and nervous and scared. i've been through it before but this has been hard on me and my fiancee. and now my baby is at risk for Autism because when before i lost the two this baby's brain didnt develop as it should have but they think that he/she will be fine.
http://teenadvice.about.com/library/weekly/aa122100b.htm
http://www.pregnancystories.net/single_moms/index2.html
This site was valuable in terms of real life stories in great depth.
Well when i was 13 i got pregnant with my first child. it was a hard thing for me as i was pregnant with twins but lost one during birth and i ended up giving my other baby up for adpotion. it was such a hard decision but i made it through. having to bury my child was the hardest thing i had to do. then when i was 14 my mom had twins. my mom and step dad are druggies and my now fiancee and i took in the twins about 6 months ago. now im 16 and im pregnant again. this has been a very hard pregnancy for me. i started out with triplets but lost two during my third month. now i have one on the way. im excited and nervous and scared. i've been through it before but this has been hard on me and my fiancee. and now my baby is at risk for Autism because when before i lost the two this baby's brain didnt develop as it should have but they think that he/she will be fine.
http://teenadvice.about.com/library/weekly/aa122100b.htm
http://www.pregnancystories.net/single_moms/index2.html
This site was valuable in terms of real life stories in great depth.
Exisiting Media Texts
Juno
Is a 2007 comedy-drama staring Ellen Page who is faced with an un-planned pregnancy.
http://watchmovie247.com/juno-megavideo-full-movie/
Mum at 16
Was released in 2005. Staring Jane Krakowski (30 Rock) and Danielle Panabaker (Read it and weep) who's mother tells her to keep the baby a secret and decided to raise the baby all on ger own.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZumXPlCoZ8k
Riding In Cars With Boys
Is the story of a single mother who dreams of becoming a writer but becomes pregnant at 15. 2001, staring Drew Barrymore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZtIe3fzL8s
Where The Heart Is
A pregnant teen goes on the road with her dreamer boy friend, who abandons her in a Wal-Mart store in Oklahoma. Stars Joan Cussack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbzcodGsaRs
Teenage Pregnancy Awareness
Viral video produced as part of the Leicester Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood Partnership's work to help reduce teenage pregnancies in Leicester. This video is shocking, but so are the statistics on teenage pregnancy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRGgWBROuWs
Is a 2007 comedy-drama staring Ellen Page who is faced with an un-planned pregnancy.
http://watchmovie247.com/juno-megavideo-full-movie/
Mum at 16
Was released in 2005. Staring Jane Krakowski (30 Rock) and Danielle Panabaker (Read it and weep) who's mother tells her to keep the baby a secret and decided to raise the baby all on ger own.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZumXPlCoZ8k
Riding In Cars With Boys
Is the story of a single mother who dreams of becoming a writer but becomes pregnant at 15. 2001, staring Drew Barrymore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZtIe3fzL8s
Where The Heart Is
A pregnant teen goes on the road with her dreamer boy friend, who abandons her in a Wal-Mart store in Oklahoma. Stars Joan Cussack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbzcodGsaRs
Teenage Pregnancy Awareness
Viral video produced as part of the Leicester Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood Partnership's work to help reduce teenage pregnancies in Leicester. This video is shocking, but so are the statistics on teenage pregnancy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRGgWBROuWs
Friday, 2 July 2010
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Teenage Pregnancy Interview
Theme and Issue Research
Interview with Dawn Bishop – Family Planning
1)How long have you worked for NHS family planning?
8 years
2)You must deal with million of cases, how many would you say over the past 8 years have stuck in your mind?
Not as many as you think, its my job. I’d say less than 10.
3) Can you tell me some?
There was an eleven year old, but she looked really young and was very quite. She was very scared so she asked us (NHS) to ring and tell her mum. Her mother was mortified and she was made to terminate.
One girl had had four terminations over the past 18 months. She didn’t bother or care about contraception and just thought abortion was her way out of it.
A 14 year old was in care and hung out of a sexual active group of 17 year olds. She thought it would be cool and decided to copy. She ended getting pregnant and having the baby.
Last year a 17 year old got pregnant. Her dad brought her to the clinic which is quite unusual, for a termination. She then got pregnant again but left it until 20 weeks until she told her dad. And she knows that at 20 weeks we are not aloud to terminate by law, she would have to go private.
What do you think of sexual education in schools?
I wouldn’t really know since I left myself apart from my sons primary school ones that I have to of consented to. I know school nurses are still around to talk to as well. But yet there are millions of girls who come to me and millions who don’t. I do think that more should be done to educate. Teaching in schools means the kids get embarrassed and laugh. If there could, there should be one to one sessions, where I think the children would listen more. Then they wouldn’t be to embarrassed to ask questions because their friends aren’t there. We shouldn’t just rely on the schools for teaching it because some of the responsibility is with the parents. But yet even today the parents seem too embarrassed to talk about it. I don’t think that any younger than those of year five should be taught sex because they wouldn’t understand.
Interview with Dawn Bishop – Family Planning
1)How long have you worked for NHS family planning?
8 years
2)You must deal with million of cases, how many would you say over the past 8 years have stuck in your mind?
Not as many as you think, its my job. I’d say less than 10.
3) Can you tell me some?
There was an eleven year old, but she looked really young and was very quite. She was very scared so she asked us (NHS) to ring and tell her mum. Her mother was mortified and she was made to terminate.
One girl had had four terminations over the past 18 months. She didn’t bother or care about contraception and just thought abortion was her way out of it.
A 14 year old was in care and hung out of a sexual active group of 17 year olds. She thought it would be cool and decided to copy. She ended getting pregnant and having the baby.
Last year a 17 year old got pregnant. Her dad brought her to the clinic which is quite unusual, for a termination. She then got pregnant again but left it until 20 weeks until she told her dad. And she knows that at 20 weeks we are not aloud to terminate by law, she would have to go private.
What do you think of sexual education in schools?
I wouldn’t really know since I left myself apart from my sons primary school ones that I have to of consented to. I know school nurses are still around to talk to as well. But yet there are millions of girls who come to me and millions who don’t. I do think that more should be done to educate. Teaching in schools means the kids get embarrassed and laugh. If there could, there should be one to one sessions, where I think the children would listen more. Then they wouldn’t be to embarrassed to ask questions because their friends aren’t there. We shouldn’t just rely on the schools for teaching it because some of the responsibility is with the parents. But yet even today the parents seem too embarrassed to talk about it. I don’t think that any younger than those of year five should be taught sex because they wouldn’t understand.
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