Oral sex lessons to cut rates of teenage pregnancy

Dr. Laura must be having a field day with this one. Over in the UK, they are encouraging schoolchildren to experiment with oral sex as a way of curbing teenage pregnancy.

Pupils under 16 who were taught to consider other forms of 'intimacy' such as oral sex were significantly less likely to engage in full intercourse, it was revealed.

Britain's teenage pregnancy rate is the highest in Europe. In 2002 there were 39,286 teen pregnancies recorded. The government has spent more than £60 million to tackle the problem but so far failed to halt the rise. (source)

Call me old fashioned, but when I was 16, I wasn't having sex with anyone. Not that it didn't enter my mind, it's just that we were considered "children" and not adults. I honestly would be very upset (and disappointed) if I found out my 15 year old son or daughter was having sex. I'd like to think that wouldn't happen because I would foster a relationship with my kid that encouraged open dialogue and sex education would certainly be included.

A lot of the problem today is that parents aren't comfortable talking to their kids about sex. I don't know why. It's pretty basic stuff and if it's done right, would be a very healthy discussion on the topic. It seems that many think it's the school's responsibility to teach this. I've seen some of the programs that various schools use to inform students of sex education. They usually use a banana to show the proper way to put on a condom. They kids laugh in embarrassment, and they come away with the message that it's now ok for them to go out and have sex like rabbits because they know how to use a condom. What doesn't get taught is the very serious subject of responsibility.