[Paleopsych] BBC: Sex education 'is a legal right'
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Thu Aug 4 22:39:36 UTC 2005
Sex education 'is a legal right'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/education/4723783.stm
Published: 2005/07/28 08:59:22 GMT
Parents should be forced by law to teach their children about sex,
teachers are expected to argue.
Too many teenage girls are becoming pregnant because of lack of
knowledge, the Professional Association of Teachers' annual conference
will hear.
Tony Reynolds, a teacher from Cambridge, said many parents did not
deal seriously enough with children's sex education.
The UK has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in western
Europe.
'Taking the blame'
Mr Reynolds, from Over Community Primary School, said a family in
Derby, where three sisters aged 12, 14 and 16 were mothers, showed the
seriousness of the situation.
Their own mother, Julie Atkins, blamed their pregnancies on schools
for not teaching children enough about sex, he added.
Mr Reynolds said: "We don't need to go into the rights and wrongs of
this case as to me it is clear that schools cannot and should not be
left in a position where they may take the blame for the current
situation.
"The delivery of sex education has to be the joint responsibility of
both the home and the school.
"Of course, there will be too many parents unwilling or unable to do
this at present.
"Therefore the government must ensure via legislation that parents
have their responsibilities clearly set out."
Peer pressure meant many pupils were afraid to ask questions about sex
when it is covered in class.
Meanwhile, many parents were too embarrassed to tackle the subject at
home, he said.
The conference is debating Mr Reynolds's motion demanding new laws
requiring parents "to take more responsibility for teaching their
children about sex and morality".
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