EDITORIAL - Sounder logic from the other Mr Thwaites

We agree with the proposal by Ronald Thwaites, the education minister, for a "positive, value-laden and age-appropriate family-life curriculum" in Jamaica's schools.

Yet, we do not believe that Mr Thwaites' prescription for addressing Jamaica's significant incidence of teenage pregnancy - including in schools - goes far enough. Further, we are disappointed with the tone he adopted in dealing with this and related sexual-relations matters during his recent speech in Parliament.

In that context, we feel it unfortunate that the education minister has short-circuited the discussion on making condoms available in schools and we are also concerned that, despite his words, he would hardly have promoted the tolerance he avows to wish for people in same-sex relations.

On the matter of condoms in schools, as this newspaper reported of the National Family Planning Board chairman, Dr Valerie Knight, as observing recently, 60 per cent of the students - both boys and girls - in one grade at a Kingston high school were parents.

EDUCATION NOT ENOUGH

Not only do Jamaican youngsters engage in sex early, many also become parents young.

The estimate is that more than 70 per cent of youth in the 15-19 age group are sexual active. The fertility rate among girls in this age group is nearly 80 per 100,000. These girls become pregnant by having unprotected sex.

Indeed, it is widely accepted that education is among the best facilities for breaking the cycle of family poverty and that early childbearing tends to perpetuate the cycle through its disruption of education.

These are issues acknowledged by Minister Thwaites as symptoms of " … some of the mass media, carnival culture and confused family values which have weakened the truth that premature sex is the thief of true love".

Ronald Thwaites' antidote to this condition is to promote parenting support, the prosecution of men who carnally abuse underage girls and, of course, family-life education.

This newspaper says yes to all of the above.

But while, like Mr Thwaites, who invoked the dancehall DJ Vybz Kartel, we do not perceive school to be a "romping shop", we do not believe them to be sufficient.

ARMING STUDENTS WITH TOOLS

The 'crisis' ought to be tackled with all available tools. It is in that context that we prefer the thinking of another Thwaites, Daniel, the philosopher/lawyer who contributes regularly to this newspaper.

Reflecting recently on Jamaica's culture of high sexual engagement and the perils therein, Daniel Thwaites reckoned that providing "students with good and useful information" so that they can make better value-based health decisions, "while making prophylactics available", would be a good thing.

He said: "I reckon that while we continue to explore the outer limits of a society without restraint, young people shouldn't be allowed to fend for themselves in ignorance and without appropriate tools. There are sharks out there, so swimmers need strong suits."

We concur.

The other (and elder) Mr Thwaites let it be known that the Simpson Miller administration won't be grooming children towards same-sex unions and would reinforce the value of marriage as between a man and a woman, "even as we insist on tolerance and love for those who are disposed towards homosexuality".

There was something distinctly and disturbingly patronising about the minister's observation that would hardly be of value to Jamaica's gay community. We wouldn't be surprised if there was a backlash thereto.

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