Sponsored by
Sex education won't cut pregnancies
Jean Broadman (Letters, March 15) is absolutely right in her condemnation of New Labour's failed sex education policy.
There is little evidence that sex education and the dishing out of contraceptives reduces teenage pregnancy – in fact experience shows it has the opposite effect.
One of the significant factors behind Britain's stubbornly high rate of teenage pregnancy is the breakdown of the family and broken homes without a male role model – in other words fatherless families and not the lack of contraceptive advice, as this government insists.
Add to this the lack of shame and social stigma and the fear of being judgmental about individual behaviour, we thus live in a broken society of 'do what you want, with anybody you want and who cares, because the nanny state will always step in a pick up the pieces?'
Far from promoting restraint and responsibility, the entire emphasis of this politically correct system is on the sexual rights of the young. The dreadful consequences are there for all to see in the rise and rise of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease.
This politically correct, non-judgementalism is now the faith of New Labour, with any attempt to raise issues of morality regarded as heresy, especially by the likes of Harriet Harman and Ed Balls.
The only stigma in modern Britain is now directed at those who oppose infidelity, easy divorce, adultery, promiscuity et cetera in this brave new world, where personal, individual rights and any lifestyle choice trumps all.
The nanny state should stop penalising marriage by skewing the tax system in favour of fatherlessness.
Too many teenagers leave school thinking the world owes them a living.
Girls should be severely warned about getting pregnant to set up in a life on state handouts, told that getting a council flat will not be of their choice but probably in some tower block on some sink estate, far, far away from home and friends, the gradual loss of friends who stay on in education or take up careers, leaving the single mum sucked into the scrounging underclass.
Until the nanny state stops subsidising fatherless families and teenage pregnancy and society heaps stigma and social shame on illegitimacy, then the scourge of teenage pregnancy will continue to rise – but will any of the political parties have the guts to stamp it out?
Brian Johnson, Rigton Drive, Leeds
Email to a friend
Print this page- Politics: Mark Hookham's Westminster blog - 5.33pm
- Castleford RSPB Fairburn Ings: High wire act Swallows’ summer parade
- Worker dies on North Yorkshire Moors Railway
- Video: Restaurant reopens on Leeds Harry Ramsden’s site after £500,000 refit
- Chocolat author will tempt guests at Leeds Big Bookend Festival
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
