Childhood is dead.

[Kapitan_Phillips]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4611350/No-prosecution-in-13-year-old-father-case.html

Truly a testament to modern times, dont you think? :nope::nope:

[AVGWarhawk]

Yes, in many respects it is dead. Some in part to the internent and what children are exposed to at an early age. But, it is up the the parent to keep a watch and steer in the right direct. So, were did this young fella learn to do that and produce a child? Perhaps mum and dad tought the birds and bees. Then Jr went on a field trip to experience first hand. -shrugs-

[Letum]

"A testament to modern times"?

Hell no!
This kind of thing was almost the norm a few hundred years ago.

It is a good testament to modern time that it is now rare enough to be newsworthy.

[Respenus]

I don't want anyone to take this the wrong way or interpret it in a bigot fashion, yet look at the kid. I'm not pointing fingers on the lower classes, yet his haircut and the look on his face denote everything I needed to know about a 13 year old parent. If I were the authorities, I would have terminated the pregnancy and made the sure tge couple "payed" for their "crime".

Christ, 13 year old father. I remember watching a clip of a stupid American teenager (around 15/16), saying that all her baby will need will be 3 pacifiers that she owns. Looks like this way of reasoning is apearing also on the Continent.

As far as the educational system should be concerned, 13 years is too young. I remember getting sex-ed classes at around 15/16 and although some of the classmates "knew" about this stuff, most of it was new to all of us. And this appears to be systemic. Again, I don't want to point fingers, yet I believe that working class children should be given a certain priority when it comes to education and an instilment of rationalistic and middle class values. The middle class has always invested into their children's education and make sure they are mostly well behaved. Seeing how the working class barely makes ends-met, education of such sensitive groups should be given special attention by the State, otherwise we might be seeing more of it in the future. And this is just a symptom, one out of many, and quite frankly, it scares me.

Oh, did I mention stricter parenting control and a hora legalis (police hour) and greater control over alcohol? You might call it "State interference", yet if this continues to rise along with other problems with teenagers, I don't see any other way. Education is a sure answer, yet if the parents don't instil certain values of decency and self-control, children get quite easily taken over by the crowd and might see something as "worth doing".

Again, what the hell were their parents doing? I guess he didn't just do it in the school toilet or behind a dark alley?

[Platapus]

13 year old father? Wow

I remember when I was 13, the biggest thrill of my life was popping a softball over the Short Stop's head and stretching it for two. :yep:

Of course, in cases like this I always want to know more about the parents :nope:

[A Very Super Market]

Honestly, this isn't a prime example of a kid is it? He's obviously experienced a life completely different to what any of us have. And while children are generally more knowledgable nowadays on sex and such, only ones like these would ever consider teenage pregancy to be "okay". I'm sure that better educated, and better brought up, this wouldn't have happened, but we just can't avoid that.

[Jimbuna]

Girl: Under the legal age of consent.

Boy: Over the criminal responsibility age.

Father of boy: Has sired nine kids.....god role model.

Mother of boy: Does anyone (not least of all him) know who she is.

Welfare State: Pick up the tab as usual.

Sensible, responsible law abiding citizens: Must work harder to generate tax income to fund the welfare state.

The real victim in this mess: The baby....God Bless her.

[antikristuseke]

"A testament to modern times"?

Hell no!
This kind of thing was almost the norm a few hundred years ago.

It is a good testament to modern time that it is now rare enough to be newsworthy.

Never let the truth get in the way of a good yarn.

[trekchu]

Still there will be those who blame it on the exposure of kids to 'unclean' materials in TV, games and especially the Internet. Also, as my own parents were/are doing stand-by duty for Child Services, we often have kids from screwed up families here. The biggest we had was a 15-year old, about 7 months pregnant that was kicked out by her own mother. So I can safely say I've seen quite a few things. This though breaks any record. :o


I think it's not so much a sign of modern times and more a case of crappy parenthood.