News

NEWS

Teenagers 'need to debate abortion'

A TIMES Educational Supplement (TES) poll has demonstrated that 47% of teachers oppose confidential counselling to girls under 16 who become pregnant, with 45% backing private advice.

“The TES poll clearly demonstrates that the teaching establishment is sharply divided on the issue of confidential counselling to pregnant students,” said Patrick Leahy, director of Student LifeNet.

“Given recent public opposition to confidential counselling and the inevitable difficulty with which some individuals handle the experience of abortion, it is now time to reconsider government policy on this issue. Parents should not be left to pick up the pieces.”

Responding to the finding that 69% of interviewed staff teaching pupils aged 11 to 18 think teenagers should learn about abortion, Patrick added: “Schools are already entitled to teach about abortion if they wish. The finding is nothing more than another weapon some will use to place pressure on Ruth Kelly and her Opus Dei connections – particularly as the related TES article explicitly refers to the education secretary. This story is both dated and highly uninteresting.

“However, Student LifeNet believes it is vital for pupils to debate the ethics of abortion from a young age. Any teenager considering an abortion ought to know where they stand on the issue. Otherwise devastating scenarios will continue to occur where a teenager has an abortion, only to realise she actually opposes the concept later in life. In its drive to lower the conception and the birth rate, the Government is sacrificing the mental and physical well-being of our generation.”

Narnia art contest: can you draw Aslan?

NARNIABECKONS.COM has announced the launch of an art contest to focus on the Chronicles of Narnia book series of C S Lewis, especially The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

“The problem with Narnia is that there aren’t that many artistic representations of it,” the site notes. “While Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy has attracted some incredible illustrators and illustrations, Narnia hasn’t attracted the same artistic attention. Not until now.”

Winners of the contest will have their art featured in an upcoming book on Lewis, Narnia, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and focusing on the spiritual dimensions of Lewis’ work.

James Baehr, one of the contest organisers, said: “The best of the submissions will be included in our book, and be available for viewing here online. This work of creation will benefit all those whose imagination has been awakened by Lewis’ world.”

For more information, visit www.narniabeckons.com (ASSIST)

School meals standard is ‘very worrying’ says NCH

Following the Government announcement that new nutritional guidelines will be introduced in schools in England in September, a national children’s charity has hit out at standards.

"The poor quality of school meals in some schools is very worrying,” said NCH (National Children’s Homes) policy adviser George McNamara.

“NCH is concerned that today's announcement does not address the low take-up of school meals by children from low-income households. For example, measures must be put in place to remove the stigma of free school meal tickets. Without addressing these kind of issues, this well-meaning initiative will fail to help the children who need it the most.

"NCH is pleased that the government has highlighted healthy school meals as an important issue and the new nutritional guidelines will go some way to improving the diets of many children. But it is vital that enough money is pumped into this initiative if it is to make a real difference.

“Every school must make healthy meal times a priority.

"NCH agrees with the idea of parents being involved in the setting school menus. But it is important not to forget the pupils in this process as they will be actually be eating these meals."

NCH published a report called Going Hungry in June 2004. It revealed the diets of many children in low-income families were nutritionally poor.

For example, only a minority of children ate vegetables regularly (28%); more than a quarter (28%) never ate green vegetables or salad. One in 10 never ate fruit and a quarter (25%) only ate it occasionally. In contrast, nine out of 10 children ate sweets and chocolate; almost one in five (17%) ate them every day. Half of children (50%) drank sugary drinks most days.

Going Hungry also revealed the high cost of healthy eating and the difficulties families on low incomes face feeding their families. Across the UK almost half of parents (46 per cent) on a low income went short over the previous year to feed someone else in their family. Some parents were so desperate for money to feed their children that they have considered doing something illegal.

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		NEWS Teenagers 'need to debate abortion' A TIMES Educational Supplement (TES) poll has demonstrated that 47% of teachers oppose confidential counselling to girls under 16 who become pregnant, with 45% backing private advice. “The TES poll clearly demonstrates that the teaching establishment is sharply divided on the issue of confidential counselling to pregnant students,” said Patrick Leahy, director of Student LifeNet. “Given recent public opposition to confidential counselling and the inevitable difficulty with which some individuals handle the experience of abortion, it is now time to reconsider government policy on this issue. Parents should not be left to pick up the pieces.” Responding to the finding that 69% of interviewed staff teaching pupils aged 11 to 18 think teenagers should learn about abortion, Patrick added: “Schools are already entitled to teach about abortion if they wish. The finding is nothing more than another weapon some will use to place pressure on Ruth Kelly and her Opus Dei connections – particularly as the related TES article explicitly refers to the education secretary. This story is both dated and highly uninteresting. “However, Student LifeNet believes it is vital for pupils to debate the ethics of abortion from a young age. Any teenager considering an abortion ought to know where they stand on the issue. Otherwise devastating scenarios will continue to occur where a teenager has an abortion, only to realise she actually opposes the concept later in life. In its drive to lower the conception and the birth rate, the Government is sacrificing the mental and physical well-being of our generation.” Narnia art contest: can you draw Aslan? NARNIABECKONS.COM has announced the launch of an art contest to focus on the Chronicles of Narnia book series of C S Lewis, especially The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. “The problem with Narnia is that there aren’t that many artistic representations of it,” the site notes. “While Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy has attracted some incredible illustrators and illustrations, Narnia hasn’t attracted the same artistic attention. Not until now.” Winners of the contest will have their art featured in an upcoming book on Lewis, Narnia, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and focusing on the spiritual dimensions of Lewis’ work. James Baehr, one of the contest organisers, said: “The best of the submissions will be included in our book, and be available for viewing here online. This work of creation will benefit all those whose imagination has been awakened by Lewis’ world.” For more information, visit www.narniabeckons.com (ASSIST) School meals standard is ‘very worrying’ says NCH Following the Government announcement that new nutritional guidelines will be introduced in schools in England in September, a national children’s charity has hit out at standards. "The poor quality of school meals in some schools is very worrying,” said NCH (National Children’s Homes) policy adviser George McNamara. “NCH is concerned that today's announcement does not address the low take-up of school meals by children from low-income households. For example, measures must be put in place to remove the stigma of free school meal tickets. Without addressing these kind of issues, this well-meaning initiative will fail to help the children who need it the most. "NCH is pleased that the government has highlighted healthy school meals as an important issue and the new nutritional guidelines will go some way to improving the diets of many children. But it is vital that enough money is pumped into this initiative if it is to make a real difference. “Every school must make healthy meal times a priority. "NCH agrees with the idea of parents being involved in the setting school menus. But it is important not to forget the pupils in this process as they will be actually be eating these meals." NCH published a report called Going Hungry in June 2004. It revealed the diets of many children in low-income families were nutritionally poor. For example, only a minority of children ate vegetables regularly (28%); more than a quarter (28%) never ate green vegetables or salad. One in 10 never ate fruit and a quarter (25%) only ate it occasionally. In contrast, nine out of 10 children ate sweets and chocolate; almost one in five (17%) ate them every day. Half of children (50%) drank sugary drinks most days. Going Hungry also revealed the high cost of healthy eating and the difficulties families on low incomes face feeding their families. Across the UK almost half of parents (46 per cent) on a low income went short over the previous year to feed someone else in their family. Some parents were so desperate for money to feed their children that they have considered doing something illegal. © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.