LONDON, : SPUC Safe at School has rejected the proposal that school sex education is a solution to the devastation of pornography in the lives of young people. ("Pornography 'desensitising young people'", BBC, )
A report from the Children's Commissioner for England and the NSPCC found that 65% of 15-16 year olds said they had viewed pornography. But Safe at School says that the way to tackle this urgent problem is for parents to be equipped and supported to protect their children from pornography.
Antonia Tully, national co-ordinator of Safe at School says: "Classroom lessons are all about helping young people to explore pornography. The approach is, if young people are taught how to distinguish between pornography and reality, they'll be fine. This approach is deeply flawed. Sexually-aroused teenagers watching pornography are not going to be calmly thinking it's not real. Classroom lessons run the risk of spiking interest in pornography, with possible tragic consequences for those who become addicted."
For more detailed comments or to request an interview, please contact Antonia Tully on:
Safe at School is a campaign of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC). SPUC's Communications Department can be contacted on: