Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

We could also stop calling it a 'life style choice' and try bring back the sense of shame associated with such irresponsible behaviour from yesteryear all be it without the forced adoptions and sterilizations.

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

I like the irony of this discussion on a Virgin forum......:D

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

As I understand it, the rules are changing soon so that they must stay in some form of education until they are 18, unless they have a job ? I guess their must be other exceptions, not sure what they are.

Even so, a girl can currently be 16 in the September of her last year, so be both legally married and pregnant.

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

Agreed - however, it's my opinion (having had conversations with my son (just left High School) and my daughter (left 4 years ago) that the small number of pregnancies in their school were mainly due to drunkenness or ignorance, not through a "life-style" choice.

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

However I can attest after 30+ years teaching experience that for some that I have known it was a lifestyle choice.

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

Totally agree, MJ - just trying to point out that sweeping generalisations are not always true, even if they are true for a subset.

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

What are antinatal classes? Are they teaching girls how to carry out abortions?

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

Nobody should be want to stigmatise or neglect girls who've made a genuine mistake (or indeed their offspring) but it seems to me that our benefit, health and education systems have evolved to accommodate and even normalise teenage pregnancy. Surely the various agencies and society in general ought to be doing far more to drive home the message to our young people that when it comes to pregnancy, irresponsibility isn't acceptable and that the welfare state will not simply continue to pick up the tab for those who blatantly ignore that message.

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

Quite agree ,i would much sooner valuable school time be used in teaching kids that there are consequences to certain actions (assuming parents are incapable of getting the message accross)and getting pregnant means responsibility and sacrifice .A girl cannot expect to get drunk ,get pregnant and expect the rest of society to bend over backwards to support them ,and to be honest the same message should be drilled into teen boys as they are just as much to blame

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

All of that IS covered.It's taught in PHSE lessons to every year between year 7 and 11.Contraception is covered.The consequences(pregnancy,STDs) are covered,drinking ,drugs and binging are covered,grooming is covered.The majority of teachers are bending over backwards to try educating and protecting the children they teach.

However what can you do when girls aren't parented by their own parents?When curfews aren't kept,when teenagers are left to wander the streets?

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

I thought that was the case ,so that means that schools are already doing the best that they can .



That is the problem that needs to be tackled imo ,and i'm not going to pretend i have the answer,but treating pregnancies at school as normal is not the way to go .If school girl finds herself pregnant then she only has herself to blame she cannot and should not expect society to bale her out any more than it already will