22BUK

From this week's Sunday Times education column:

My son sat his religious studies GCSE paper with the Edexcel exam board this month. The following question was included: “Condoms are the best form of contraception. Do you agree? State reasons why others might disagree with you.” My son is only 15 and it seemed an inappropriate question. I wonder whether other parents share my concerns. What are your views?
Name withheld

SamUK

iTrader: (1)

not sure actually..as my sons only 4..but would be interesting to know what people think

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

id rather my son of 15 knew what a condom was and how good a contraception it was rather than he not know and may catch something, most 15 year old lads are either thinking (constantly) about having sex or having sex imho there wont be many nowdays that wont.

Lee247

I might be being thick here, but what has contraception got to do with religious studies

zs_phil

iTrader: (1)

I thought same thing isnt it a trick question

Hysteria1983

It is appropriate.

It is to encourage them to discuss the ways in which different religions feel about the use of condoms as contraception.

Examining such issues as how different faiths/religious backgrounds or individuals feel that the use of condoms has on society.

Issues such as them encouraging sex before marriage and promiscuity.

markjmd

iTrader: (11)

Valid as an academic exercise, but if one of us asked the same question of a 15-year old in real life we'd probably end up on the sex-offenders register.

skoobidude

"My son is only 15"? I'm sure kids discuss condoms/dobbers/plonkers/Jonnys whatever you want to call them in playgrounds way before hitting 15 anyway. I'm sure I knew what one was a few years before that.

I did however, recall a guy in our class being asked to read during sex education and he said "Pennis" instead of "Peeeeenis" ha ha ha. We were about 13 at the time. Poor guy obviously didn't get out much

Hysteria1983

True, that is the case in modern society.

However it was once considered normal to attend church every week, and only associate with men/women who were able to be considered husband/wife material. There was a no sex before marriage rule and anyone who did otherwise was branded a ****.

These days a visit to the pub is a lot more comman than a visit to the church, and if you met someone who was 'saving themselves' for
marriage, you might wonder why, and for all the wrong reasons.

It is a very valid question, and a very interesting one to explore.

GlesgaKiss

Oh no, I hope he's going to be OK.

David Lock

I don't think it's RE material. Don't kids have a General Studies class or something?

If they are going to kick off with that why not go for broke and ask "Why are the beliefs of the catholic church responsible for a huge number of Aids related deaths all over the world?"

And of course that particular question tends towards a feeling in an impressionable 15 year old that sex is OK as long as you use a condom. More an A Level question I would say.

dl

CREWJ

I understand the question for the subject but it does seem a bit young to "expect" them to know. I doubt such topics were covered in RE at 15.

PaulC72

Do not see any problems with the question, having a 16 (nearly 17) yo daughter and a 14 year old son I hope they coth would understand the benefits of condoms and other contraceptions and also appreciate the beleifs of other cultures and why or why not they are used etc.

iirc when I was around that age (a long long time ago) I can remember a topical dicsussion in a lesson one day about the withdrawal method not being the most effective way to stop pregnancy...

David Lock

And with 2 kids to prove it

dl

legb4rsk

ANything that teaches kids about safe sex is ok in my book.Just look at the UK's unwanted pregnancy numbers. 15 is way too late to learn about these things(not the sh*t you pick up in the play ground) as they are already old enough to get themselves in trouble .We seem to be way behind the rest of Europe when it comes to sex education.They sould be discussing the 'mechanics' of sex,the biology,the psychcology & inter-personal relationships i.e. self-respect,respect for others,love,infatuation,lust and anything else you can think of.It's too important to leave to chance & they need to make informed decissions base on as broad an education as possible.

You wouldn't let your kids drive a car first then give them lessons afterwards.

Myles

iTrader: (40)

Ask ol' Popey, he'll tell you!

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Yes, that is an acceptable question.

Call the headteacher if you see any of the following though:

Question 1) Describe and evaluate the "Angry Pirate"

Question 2) "Any hole's a goal" Discuss.

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

I answered a question on the pros and cons of abortion in an exam when I was 16 (AO level for those that remember them). Oddly I still hold the same view now as I did then.

I think it is a valid question to ask at that age.

Lee247

We are not on speaking terms. I refused to become a Catholic

I just find the whole question odd. If they had asked if contraception was acceptable within religion and to describe why some faiths might not agree with it, I would not have queried it.
Anyway, at 15 he/she knows more about sex than everyone else in the world, or so they think

CREWJ

They have to make it a little cryptic to make sure the kids realize they are actually in an RE exam

Hysteria1983

Totally agree.

This is the sort of thing they probably want discussed.

Religion, health relationships etc.

DYK

Answering questions on Monty python's The life of Brian would be more close to RE than that...

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Just do some research on the number of 14 year old girls getting pregnant...

Or ask any Catholic priest ?

dunx

P.S. Google PSHCE...

dnc

Took the words out of my mouth. Very good question and (IMO) good to see the examiners throwing it in there.

David Lock

As a matter of interest which religions actively support the use of condoms? dl

Rob Day

iTrader: (78)

The questions has everything to do with religious education. Condoms are not used in 3rd world countries, thus we are being over run with with foreigners in our country !!!

Lisawrx

iTrader: (1)

Totally agree. Perhaps the question could seem out of place in a RE exam to some, but I wouldn't have a problem with the question itself.

I think we are behind the times in terms of discussing these issues, as if it is someway 'wrong' or too young. Tbh, I think if anything, basics should be taught earlier. As stated, look at our problems with teen pregnancies and look further to the problems with diseases in this country and abroad. Surely these problems come down to lack of real education and perhaps an element of religious involvement.

I don't think talking about forms of contraception is necessarily giving the OK to whoring about, it needs to be discussed, but perhaps in a wider context (and who is to say by that comment, it hasn't been).

For those who seem to take issue with the age this discussion takes place, out of curiosity, what age do you think is suitable?

Leslie

Might be better if children of that age could be persuaded that they are too young to be taking part in sexual intercourse.

Les

Saint AAI

If this is an exam question, how would it be marked?

CREWJ

Probably based on the understanding that some forms of religion are against it whilst others are open to it and why. 4 marks?