Government urges under-16s to experiment with oral sex

A GOVERNMENT-backed course is encouraging pupils under 16 to experiment with oral sex, as part of a drive to cut rates of teenage pregnancy. Family campaigners believe that the course, called A Pause, is having the reverse effect by exciting the sexual interest of children.

The scheme, which has been pioneered by Exeter University and is backed by the Departments of Health and Education, trains teachers to discuss various pre-sex “stopping points” with under-age teenagers.

It aims to reduce promiscuity by encouraging pupils to discover “levels of intimacy”, including oral sex, instead of full sexual intercourse.

More than 100,000 children are now taking the course at one in every thirty secondary schools. It forms part of efforts to tackle Britain’s teenage pregnancy rate, which is the highest in Western Europe.

Robert Whelan, director of the Family Education Trust, said he hoped that the Sexual Offences Bill, currently going through the House of Lords, would lead to the course being banned. A provision in the Bill would make it an offence for anyone to “arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence”.

He said: “I don’t think anyone believes that teaching pupils about oral sex will stop them having full sex — it is more likely to make them want to try it, and it doesn’t protect them from sexually transmitted diseases.”

John Rees, programme manager for A Pause, said that he was keen to teach children that “it is acceptable simply to hold hands” and to discover different levels of intimacy.

“We make it clear that there are many ways to manage relationships — that it doesn’t all have to be about full sex,” he said. He added that he was “very worried” that the Bill would end the scheme.

Lynda Brine, a teacher from a Doncaster comprehensive who recently attended a training day for the course, says in today’s Times Educational Supplement that she was primed to deal with detailed questions about oral and anal sex. “I was amazed. Are these really the sort of questions to which we as a profession should be responding?” she writes.

“There was no framework for talking about responsibility or the emotional side of relationships. By following this course, I feel that teachers are implicitly supporting under-age sexual activity.”

It aims to reduce promiscuity by encouraging pupils to discover "levels of intimacy", including oral sex, instead of full sexual intercourse.

OMG... lunacy!!! So it'll be fine when the adolescents end up with STDs as long as there's no pregnancy? What the #### is wrong with people?!

Oral Sex

You can get an STD or HIV (the virus that causes AIDs) from oral sex - you must use a condom or dental dam no exceptions.
Oral sex is not something that everyone is interested in - don't pressure somebody to do this, it is the same as pressuring them to have intercourse and it is wrong.
Oral sex is a very intimate, undeniably sexual act. You may technically hold on to your virginity by having oral sex instead of intercourse, but you are sexually active none the less.
The old "spit or swallow" question is outdated. When having oral sex you must use barrier protection such as a condom or dental dam.
Oral sex can and does change the nature of a relationship, it should not be entered into lightly.
Oral sex is not a consolation prize - if your partner says no to intercourse they don't owe you oral sex instead.
Oral sex is not a "safe" alternative to intercourse, although you can not get pregnant from this act you can catch an STD or HIV.
Most religions do consider premarital oral sex, like premarital intercourse, to be wrong and some actually consider oral sex off limits even within a marriage.
Oral sex is every bit as sexually intimate as intercourse.
Oral sex should only be done with a person who you trust, both the players in an oral sex encounter are very vulnerable to the other.
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