The push for sex education in schools continues by many who seem to have a conflict of interest in that they work for agencies that also provide abortions. As parents we need to be aware of who is teaching our children (or supplying program material to teachers) and what they are being taught about sex.
According to an article in The Herald Sun, Ms. Richards, nursing director at one of the state's busiest private abortion clinics (the clinic is unnamed in the article), "many young women lacked skills to help them negotiate with partners and were frequently forced or persuaded to have sex against their will". She reportedly asked 'Did you agree to this?' and according to this source, the girls commonly responded, 'Well ... yes. I didn't really want to, but I didn't know how to say no'. The Herald Sun also reported that 'A survey recently revealed a third of high school students have had unwanted sex' (details of this survey were not included).
It is a great concern that the girls described in this situation may also not have the advice, resources and support to make an informed and mature decision regarding their pregnancy. Negative attitudes in society about teenagers having babies would make a decision to keep their unborn baby very difficult. There is also an increased likelihood of coercion to abort due to the mother (and perhaps her partner) being so young.
It is deceptive to inform a girl that things go back to how they were before or that she can replace this baby with another when she is older. Research shows the damage abortion does to women, psychologically and physically - at such an impressionable age, there is potential for years of grief and regret.
The Herald Sun article goes on to say that more sex education is needed in schools and that youth are unaware of the risks involved with having sex. We would all hope that the relentless push for sex education is aimed at better guiding our youth in responsible decision making regarding their sexual behaviour, an important role that would ideally be filled by parents.
Life Network Australia has responded here to negative reporting of values based programs, such as 'Choices, Decisions, Outcomes' (Real Choices Australia) and The Wonder of Life (In the Womb) (Choices of Life) that unashamedly encourage girls and youth to value themselves and respect their bodies.
Deb Garratt of Real Choices Australia described that "They (parents) want their children to understand their value and worth, to have self respect and to understand sexuality as an important and valuable aspect of themselves, not simply a ‘recreational’ activity".
Ms. Garratt also stated that "our program teaches young people that, as with any other activity they may not want to participate in, that they can develop strategies for saying ‘no’. Sex is not just about physiology, it is also about relationship, and about our emotional selves. Teaching the physiology of sex in the absence of a relationship context, and in the absence of also teaching about possible consequences, is both irresponsible and dishonest".
"What it (our program) does is encourage young people to be critical thinkers, to think ahead to the consequences of their actions, and these consequences do include the possibility of pregnancy and of sexually transmitted infections, some of which are lifelong diseases, not just a short lived ‘love bug’".
'The Wonder of life (Before Birth)' was removed from the list of programs approved by the NSW Education Department when The Sydney Morning Herald published an article citing its creator, Bruce Coleman, had historic links to pro life groups. What is bizarre about the removal of this program is that it is merely footage and discussion of life in the womb. One would think this would already be part of all school curriculums.
According to the Herald Sun article (Nov. 21), the Federal Government is devising national sex education curriculum for primary and secondary schools.
We should be concerned that groups who benefit financially, such as Marie Stopes, Family Planning, Children by Choice, etcetera are increasingly being allowed into Australian schools and are becoming the "sexperts" in the lives of our youth. With the decriminalising of abortion in Victoria last year, girls under the age of 18 are now able to get abortions without parental consent/knowledge....could the abortion industry be increasing their education campaign to increase business? According to the Herald Sun article, "The number of under-age girls ending pregnancies came despite a drop in the total number of terminations last year" and "State Government data shows 16,084 Victorian women had terminations in 2008-09 - a 12 per cent dip since 2005-06".
While some may question this planning/scheming and believe that the intentions of most sex educators are genuine, this awful scenario has been documented in the United States where the aim of Planned Parenthood was to provide every girl between the ages of 13 and 18 years with three abortions. Please view trailer Blood Money.
As parents and as a society we must ensure the protection of our youth, offering appropriate information, guidance and support. Sex education by groups who also offer abortion services is not acceptable. Our youth deserve better!
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