Parenting classes for 14-year-olds could provoke teenage pregnancy
A government initiative that would see 14-year-olds receive parenting lessons has been rejected by campaigners.
Children's secretary Ed Balls hopes the proposal will put children off having babies until they are ready, but Margaret Morrissey of Parents Outloud was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying it could have the opposite effect.
"This is in danger of institutionalising teenage pregnancy and could create an interest where none existed," she remarked. Under Mr Balls's scheme, the responsibilities facing parents would be communicated to youngsters as young as 14 - two years before they reach the age of consent.
Basic techniques for keeping kids out of trouble and the key stages of development would be featured in lessons.
Mr Balls recently came under fire from Conservative leader David Cameron, who argued that the government refuses to acknowledge marriage as a good thing and pledged to reward married couples through favourable taxes if he becomes prime minister.
Your Comments
posted by Mo on 08-01-2010
I think advice given at this age is not too young. It is more important to look at the reasons why children this young are having sex? They need to be shown unconditional love from their families or they will seek it elsewhere and in the form of relationships, often sexual so that someone will say 'I love you'to them.
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