Dear Banjo,

I apologise, I didn't realize that you were
waiting for a response from me.

I've really got nothing more to add however,
Bronwyn has said it beautifully.

I stand by my earlier post. The child behaved
responsibly. As did the school nurse and GP.
The parents should get over their shock of
"not being told," and move on. The welfare
of their child should be the key issue here,
and not their parental rights.

The child behaved as an adult in this case.
It's the parents who are behaving like children,
and they're risking losing their daughter's
trust completely in any future problems that
may arise.

The degradation of parental rights is another bi product of womens liberation. Women preferred to work rather than bring up their kids, so i don't see what you are on about. some-one has to take parental control. Our govt, can only rule for the majority so it's bad luck for the mothers that take the responsability in hand and stay in the house to raise their kids.

Banjo, I'll have a crack at your other scenario's given that no-one else has taken the bait. And this is a concern for me as I have young children and will soon have to face such issues.

Whether it be an infected body-piercing, an STD and a boy or a girl, I could probably come at not knowing SO LONG as someone makes the judgement that the behaviour will not be continuing. Eg an STD contracted by a 14 yo, it is likely to scare them out of sexual activity for a while (although some may be stupid enough to continue). An infected body-piercing is likely to be enough to prompt the child to let it close-over (with the right gentle guidance). In the case of contraception (and this would hold as true for my son caught buying condoms at the same age), there is an underlying inherent understanding that there is not going to be a ceasing of the behaviour that is putting the child at risk. And in the case of sexual activity the riskiness is as much one of emotional wellbeing as physical.

If an outsider assumes the role of confident of the child, then they have a duty to work out why the child is unable to discuss with their parents, strongly encourage involving the parents including acting as intermediary if necessary, and if it is clear that the child is going to continue with risky behaviour then there must be a requirement to inform the parents. I'd rather a pregnant child than one with HIV (and that would include my son finding out he is about to be a father at 14).

Hello Everybody.

Hang on we are not encouraging 14 year old kids to have sex are we?

The child was being reasonsible?
The 'child' needs a good kick up the bum and some discipline from where it should come " her parents" and the teacher and principle should be sacked.

The parents should Sue the Government if its a state school and the board if its not.'( After removing the child.)

I fully agree with Banjo.

Thanks to all the good do`ers I dont think.

What is to become of this country. God knows.

Whatever happend to our carnal knowledge laws and what idiot Government let this law in.

Dont tell me Let me guess

ALP

Interesting to see the mothers on this thread all fairly pragmatic in regards to their teenage children.

The school nurse acted absolutely correctly. As did the GP.

My youngest is a girl and also 14. Though I would be personally devastated if she went on the pill at this very young age and didn't have the confidence to speak to me I would be even more horrified if she couldn't have gone to other responsible adults in whom to confide and help her.

As a mother, as Foxy already alluded to, I can tell you that it is too late to start developing a trusting and meaningful relationship with a teenager. Parents are the ones who have to work at their relationships with their children from birth. That's about the only right we have. The right to develop a relationship from birth and to teach and expose your child to your morals and values over the course of years. Navigating mostly succesfully through teenage and young adulthood depend on this.

Banjo, I believe that children are deemed from about 13 to have the ability to consent on a number of medical issues on their own behalf when there are conflicts between child and parents. Though, don't quote me on this.

Body piercing of course is not a procedure done for medical reasons.

Banjo

We often ask ourselves what has happend to our morals. What has happend to our society. Why are our kids out of control. .

Well it seems clear to me these poor kids dont know the difference.
I can not imagine any parent thinking its ok for a 14 year old child to be sexually active.
I am really shocked that some mothers would support this.


No wonder kids dont know right from wrong anymore. We learn that through our parents. Well at least we used to. I just cant get over this its a real shock.What else can I say. How sad.
No wonder she wouldnt raise this with her parents because its pretty clear she knew darn well what they might say.

To think a school can interfear with parents rights who have
some morals is criminal and requires urgent address from the Government.