The age of 14 is enough for some parents to turn their kids out. 12Y/o kids roaming the streets at night. This is why govt's have to presume carer. The kids that are treated like human beings in the home would not be in this situation. If this situation were taken back from relevant authorities, these kids would miss out even further.

Kassie,

Thank you for accepting the fact that I am entitled to my opinion. I like that:-)

Kassie, the name of the Forum is after all onlineopinion!!

"I guess your point about not knowing all the facts is correct...so we don't need to make gratuitous speculations about the age of sexual partners, etc."

And you don't feel for one second that the truth of the matter should be 'investigated'. Or, is that morally, ethically and legally incorrect also. Or. would you be happy to simply shove head in the sand?

I couldn't find the story on the TT website, so I don't know who was identified in it. But there's a gross invasion of privacy in investigating a 14-year-old girl and her sexual/medical issues, and identifying her parents had the effect of identifying her. I wonder what school was like the next day?

Applying privacy laws to minors (and people with intellectual disabilities or dementia) is fraught. There are no easy answers. These kinds of laws are necessarily arbitrary — blanket rules overlaid on flesh and blood people. Nevertheless, I think it's incorrect to suggest this situation indicates over-governance, as Steel does. We need privacy legislation; the question here is about when it kicks in. And, when it comes to contraceptives, fourteen is not an unreasonable age. We must be realistic rather than idealistic about teenagers and sex. Not everybody wants to talk to their parents about losing their virginity. I didn't, although I'd be honest if they asked, which was, thankfully, infrequently. Parents are responsible for educating their children about sex. But, ultimately, their sex lives are their own business.

In this case, the privacy laws only kicked in because the girl in question DIDN'T talk to her parents about what had happened at school, and her parents found out. Now they want legislation that would reinforce their relationship with her, not provide her with a way to avoid talking to them. Unfortunately, even if the law was different, their relationships would remain the same. Their daughter wanted contraception, and odds are she would have found some. Their distress is understandable, but they're focussing on the wrong solution.

I think Yvonne's point, Usual Suspect, was that it was interesting that the parents on this forum who actually had teenage kids were generally being the most pragmatic. I'm sure that's right. It all sounds easy until you're faced with a living, breathing, raging-hormoned teenager in their rangy, strangely adult bodies. Then every thing that seems clear cut about this issue starts blurring at the edges.

Country Gal,
The programe may still be on TTs website, I don't know. Thanks for your input and no, it did not say the pill was for contraception. I did not consider the fact that it may have been prescribed for other ailments. However I cannot, for the life of me, imagine a girl starting menstration and not talking about it with her mother.

But I still consider that irrelivant, it is the fact that she received medication without parential approval or knowledge that is the issue.

Kassie,
Parents are responsible for their children until they are 18, after they are free to make their own decisions. Yes, some kids may be very mature at 12 but many are not. I have seen 30 year olds that should, IMHO not be able to vote, they are so immature.

I think you and Jolanda had some crossed wires there as I took it that Jolanda was refering to the age of concent at 16, which is correct and what I referred to.

I do not think I am delusioned to believe that when a young girl becomes sexually active is up to the parents. No other person should have that right or to aid and abet it. Surely you do not condone underage sex. Would you knowingly allow your daughter to be involved in criminal acts. She may be infatuated with an older male.

It may well be rare these days, but it is not unknown for young people to be virginal when they turn 18. If that is what some parents decree. I may not agree, but I respect that.

Banjo

I can well understand your distress at not being consulted by your children in what is a major transition for many teens.

However, if the choice is between accurate information and support versus misinformation and no support - which do you choose? Ideally the 14 year old go to their parents, but failing that this young girl was apparently well treated and cared for. There is insufficient information to determine whether she received counseling, I would hope that is the case.

Reality: we don't live in an ideal world, that is why schools have support staff to aid students, I am glad to know that they were there for her, when her parents (for whatever reason) couldn't be.

It's called the y generation. They are different from every other gen; that has ever been. Drugs, niteclubs, outdated education, No respect for law, Parents that say do wat ever ya want, as long as it is not here. Don't blame the system.