Government urges under-16s to experiment with oral sex

Times Online ^ | February 21, 2003 | Glen Owen

[Gamecock]

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.”

[nickcarraway]

Is this payback to Clinton for favors he did Blair?

[Quix]

I agree.

It's kind of like encouraging kids to play with kitchen matches in the hopes they won't light all the fire crackers, gasoline cans or dynamite lying handy.

Or like . . . giving them one taste of a delicious doughnut in the expectation that will help them refrain from eating the whole thing.

Or like . . . teaching them the finer points of lying in the hopes that they'll then become spontaneously more honest.

[Quix]

Probably not knowing what to say in such company is very wise.

At least keeping one's MOUTH CLOSED would be a healthier decision!

[cavtrooper21]

And this is the model that our Demosocialists tout as an example of what our country should be........
Saber practice time!

[Exit148]

"Better keep your mouth shut.

And your pants zipped.

[Quix]

A lot of people will find this hard to swallow.

But a "LOT" of people may not be enough to make a difference!

[Quix]

This is probably too dangerous to reply to . . .

Bill Clinton's legacy continues to grow.

You mean . . .

someone uhhhhh

welllll,

tried some

uhhhhh

lengthening exercises?

OUCH!

But probably not OUCH enough.

Where is Bobbit when she's needed.

[therut]

O:K as a Doc I'll throw in my 2 cents. Oral sex like other things between consenting adults is one thing. But be aware that like with other sex acts with multiple partners diseases can be transmited. Gonorrhea, warts(on the vocal cords) and possiblility of AIDS to name just a few. It is not necessarily what you do but with how many or who you do it with. Bad idea. Problem is England has turned its back on morality even worse than this country and they refuse to tell anyone anything is morally wrong except owning guns.

[GeekDejure]

Oh, man. Life just got a lot more complicated.. I'm still working on multiculturalism.

Oh, good grief. I thought you said masturbation. I must need new glasses, eh??? ;-))

.

[quietolong]

This is British News. Check the link
Comming to the US Next if the Rats's have there way.

[NormsRevenge]

better get your eyes checked. Ya know what they say about mmmmmm.. the m word.. eyesight loss and all. you might have astickmatism, series stuff. ;-)

[coloradan]

I predict a lots of kids will fail this class...

... and have to take it over and over and over ...

[Gamecock]

Comming to the US Next if the Rats's have there way

Let's see, they like the European health plans, the social security systems, etc. Yup, I'll bet you're right!

[sonsofliberty2000]

Is this really necessary? Whatever happened to abstinence education. Next we'll have a kama sutra class.

[bannie]

I'll bet the Brits (those who have discerning tastes) will say it's an import from the USA...via the Clintonian Infection. I don't think I'll blame 'em for that.

Don't look back: You'll turn into a pillar of salt!

[Quix]

MUCH AGREE.