Schoolkids told to consider oral sex

reuters ^ | 21/02/02 | Matthew Jones

[Jakarta ex-pat]

School children are to be controversially asked to consider oral sex instead of intercourse as part of a drive to cut the country's high teenage pregnancy rate.

Sex education teachers are being trained to discuss with youngsters various "stopping points" on the road to full sex in a bid to reduce the number of gymslip mums, the government said on Friday.

The idea is to encourage pupils to discover "levels of intimacy", including oral sex, which stop short of full sexual intercourse.

But the plan has been criticised as unworkable by family groups.

"The courses for teachers are to enable them to discuss various sex and relationship issues with pupils. One of those issues is oral sex," said a Department of Health spokeswoman.

"Oral sex is one of the 'stopping points' on the road to intercourse," she said, denying the advice was encouraging sexual activity.

"Another 'stopping point' is to hold hands," she added.

Family groups argue that oral sex is likely to lead to penetrative sex.

"One thing leads to another," said Robert Whelan, director of the Family Education Trust. "It is hard enough for adults to hold back and is even more difficult for teenagers with their raging hormones."

One teacher, who recently attended one of the courses, told the Times newspaper the advice could be construed as a green light to teens.

"By following this course, I feel that teachers are implicitly supporting underage sexual activity," said Lynda Brine.

Whelan also said oral sex was no protection against most sexually transmitted diseases.

"Delaying the onset of teenage sexual activity is the only way to cut teenage pregnancy," he told Reuters.

With nearly 39,000 girls under 18 conceiving each year, Britain has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Western Europe. The government wants to halve it by 2010.

In line with that aim, students have already been offered condoms, oral contraceptives and easier access to counsellors in schools.

The Department of Education said on Friday sex education was determined by individual schools.

"We give guidelines but we don't dictate what material is used," a spokeswoman said. "We trust head teachers and teachers to make sensible decisions about sex education."

[inquest]

As a matter of clarification, it looks as though this story refers to developments in Britain (though it could be a sign of what's to come here).

[tonycavanagh]

I hear one way to stop that sort of thing is to get married.

Cheers Tony

[Lunatic Fringe]

Anyone who suggests to CHILDREN that any type of sexual activity is ok should have their own kids taken away.... Honestly... Has anyone here ever dated someone, had oral sex, and said "Ok, that's good enough, we can stop there."

[SerpentDove]

The Clinton Legacy continues...

[Starwind]

"Oral sex is one of the 'stopping points' on the road to intercourse," she said, denying the advice was encouraging sexual activity.

"Another 'stopping point' is to hold hands," she added.

Obviously, with multiple progressive "stopping" points, they're really just milestones at which to pause, best-case, on the road to intercourse.

[Jakarta ex-pat]

Hey!

Keep smiling,

Philip.

[Sirloin]

"Delaying the onset of teenage sexual activity is the only way to cut teenage pregnancy,"

What a fool. Might as well have said "I am completely in denial about the intense sexual drive that occurs during the teenage years. They should just ignore it."

[BrookdalePark]

If the people promoting this idea are serious, they're virgins.

Oral sex is a "stopping point" for about 10 minutes. Then you're ready for more, and you want ... more.

It's as effective as telling a 2-year-old not to eat an Oreo you've put on the table in front of him.

[drunknsage]

Honestly... Has anyone here ever dated someone, had oral sex, and said "Ok, that's good enough, we can stop there."


Yes actually. Many times =) And if it's done well and to its fullest extent (i dont want to get too graphic here) there was never a need to go any further. Now keep in mind that I do not support the idea of teaching children oral sex is ok. Personally I think we need to teach our children the value of intimacy and how it should be cherished and reserved for either marriage or someone whom you "truely" love and care for. Too often our kids are flooded with messaged of instant gratification and are taut its ok to be sexually permiscuous (spelling) and are never taut the physical and emotional dangers associated within. Kids need to have respect for themselves and their bodies.


Drunknsage

[punster]

Gee! If they were really trying to sell that, they should tell the kids they would have a guaranteed job with der Schlickmeister, William Judas Clinton.

[ClearCase_guy]

I do hope they also tell the children to seek out cocaine dealers as their drug resource of choice. This would be a good thing to teach children, because Cocaine is a "stopping point" which can prevent drug abusers from proceeding on to the far more dangerous drug, heroin.

[linn37]

hey how about just going home horny??? worked for me

[realpatriot71]

Family groups argue that oral sex is likely to lead to penetrative sex.

They're right. Like communism - looks good on paper - but doesn't work in reality.

[realpatriot71]

Many times =) And if it's done well and to its fullest extent (i dont want to get too graphic here) there was never a need to go any further.

I agree that adults can make this distinction, but teenagers? While, I think there may be some unusually mature teenagers out there, most are not going to be able to stop - I wasn't able to stop at that age.

[HIDEK6]

I hear one way to stop that sort of thing is to get married.

Why do brides look so radiant?

They realize they've given their last "(oral sex euphemism)".

[upchuck]

HOMESCHOOLING!!

[j_tull]

a bid to reduce the number of gymslip mums

Huh?

[showme_the_Glory]

It's as effective as telling a 2-year-old not to eat an Oreo you've put on the table in front of him.

It's like telling a 2-year-old to eat the cream but dont touch the cookie