Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

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Any body else think that the schools have quite enough to do already without having to organise antinatal classes for pregnant teens

This quote just about sums it up for me

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

I thing they should show them how to use that "casper the ghost" thus stopping a 9 month issue.

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

I thought this quote summed it up, myself

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If a kid didn't listen about contraception from school, are they going to listen to anything about looking after a baby from school?

And if kids aged 15-16 are that concerned with a baby's welfare they wouldn't have the baby in the first place.

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

success in what though Hugh? preventing teen pregnancies or normalising it

---------- Post added at 20:14 ---------- Previous post was at 20:12 ----------

Quite right :tu:

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

"normalising" - an emotive phrase, imho.....

No, in supporting the young mothers to continue their education, by them not having to leave the school for a couple of hours to attend the ante-natal class elsewhere (because, whilst I might not agree with their life-style choice (and it may have been an "accident")), I believe it is important that a) they continue their education, and b) the mother and baby's health is monitored appropriately.

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I'm not sure how many of these teen mums would be interested in continuing their education ,granted some do regret it but most i fear aren't that bothered .Either way it's not something the schools should be responsible for

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I thing by having this in schools, they will make it seem like it's a normal thing for a young girl to get pregnant while she's still at school.

some girls may think at the moment that because there is no such thing that they are actually more careful. but by having it there they may not.

but if we're following America on this one, then we can only expect the worst.

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Completely agree. Im failing to find one negative in the idea here, help me out

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I agree Gary , it is not normal to have children while still at school and should never be seen as such

---------- Post added at 21:27 ---------- Previous post was at 21:16 ----------

The schools have enough to do educating the little toe rags in the first place

where will these antinatal classes take place in the school? during school time ?,what lessons will they miss while having these classes ,maths ,english? which lessons will be cancelled/moved to make room for them

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

I'm interested to hear how this "success" is measured. And how much "some" is.

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

In my kids' school it was "girls whose first language was not English" that got visits from a local nurse for antenatal lessons... because they "didn't understand" how to arrange such support through a GP or hospital.

And the school had translators available.

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

I agree.

Also, the risks associated with teen mums because they don't take as good care of themseves as an older woman often results in harm to the child or worse still miscarriage or stillbirth, a midwife was telling me yesterday.

Re: Antinatal classes for pregnant teens
 

Unfortunately, it is like the legal age for drinking - it's a legal boundary to activity, not a physical one; in an ideal world, no one would drink under 18, or have intercourse under 16 (but of course, young adults can stay on at shool until 18, so the teenage pregnancies could still "legally" occur), but we don't live in an ideal world, and this is one way mitigating the actions of those not acting ideally (imho).

Of course, we could just stigmatise them, call them toe rags, and hope the problem disappears....:dozey:

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Speaking from experience many pregnant girls who do wish to continue with their education get all sorts of help from home tuition to special classes set up via the sixth form colleges.The other half aren't bothered and probably wouldn't attend such classes in school anyway.Not voluntarily that is.

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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.

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

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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?

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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

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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