Antinatal classes for pregnant teens

22-09-2010, 19:23

Quote:

Antenatal clinics could be set up in schools to care for pregnant teenagers

link

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

Quote:

Schools exist to assist and support parents in the education of their children, not to be the panacea for every social ill.

Norman Wells, director of the Family Education Trust

Hom3r · 22-09-2010, 19:34

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

**Hugh** · 22-09-2010, 20:00

I thought this quote summed it up, myself

Quote:

Rhona Hughes, chair of the guideline development group, said no British schools were currently providing antenatal classes.
But she said it was "common" in the US and had shown some success.

punky · 22-09-2010, 20:07

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.

22-09-2010, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

I thought this quote summed it up, myself

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

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by punky

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.

Quite right

**Hugh** · 22-09-2010, 20:44

"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.

22-09-2010, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

"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.

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

Gary L · 22-09-2010, 21:03

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.

speedfreak · 22-09-2010, 21:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

"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.

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

22-09-2010, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

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.

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 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedfreak

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

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

punky · 22-09-2010, 21:30

Quote:

But she said it was "common" in the US and had shown some success.

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

Taf · 22-09-2010, 23:27

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.

superbiatch · 23-09-2010, 08:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

"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.

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.

**Hugh** · 23-09-2010, 10:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

Whatever happened to age of consent?

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....

**Maggy** · 23-09-2010, 10:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

"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.

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.