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UK Boy Scouts' to Distribute Condoms, Contraceptives, Teach about STDs

 By Kathleen Gilbert

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 11, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – New U.K. Scout Association guidelines have established directives for scout leaders to teach young scouts about sexually transmitted disease and contraceptives in a new sexual health initiative that is receiving mixed reviews.

Leaders will now be expected to speak about the risks of sexual activity to youngsters as young as ten and to hand out "emergency condoms" when they feel that youngsters appear to be on the brink of sexual activity. 

Contraception for female scouts is to be administered in case “their physical or mental health are likely to suffer” without it. 

The sex education guidelines were released in a document entitled “Promoting Good Health Sexual Health within Scouting,” which was issued following requests from leaders for guidelines on how to offer advice to scouts on questions about sex. 

The Norwich Evening News reports that leaders may arrange trips to sexual health clinics for educational purposes, and the document encourages leaders to start discussions about different religious beliefs regarding sex and craft roleplays to illustrate how to decline sexual aggression.  The Mail reports that leaders will be allowed to give confidential contraceptive advice to children under 16.

The scouts, long considered a norm of decency and known for encouraging wholesome outdoor activity, now appear to be joining forces with the ever-expanding movement in the UK to provide ever more sexual education for children and young adults.

"We must be realistic and accept that around a third of young people are sexually active before 16 and many more start relationships at 16 and 17," said chief scout Peter Duncan.

Wales Online reports that scout leader David Morris agrees that the changes were long overdue, saying that the image of the scouts as angelic young boys exploring the countryside is outdated in the face of today's sexual pressures.

The Daily Mail reported that the new sexual health problem would likely shock parents seeking a conservative environment for their children.

"This will horrify a lot of parents," said Nick Seaton, of the Campaign for Real Education.

"These things have nothing to do with Scouting. They should be sticking to the traditional activities of camp fires and sing-songs instead of learning about sexually transmitted diseases and emergency contraception."

The Mail also quotes Margaret Morrissey, chairman of pressure group, Parents Outloud, who decried the damage done by premature sexual education rampant in the United Kingdom.

"The last people you would expect to be making children sexually aware is the Boy Scouts," said Morrissey.

"They should stop trying to be politically correct. All the signs are that political correctness has got us in the situation we're in now where young people are trying to grow up too soon and can't cope with it," she continued.

"They're confused and do things they probably wouldn't have done if they hadn't had that information in the first place. If we overload young children with information they will use it in the wrong way."

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