Letter: Girls empowered

Sir: We find the assumption that the pregnancies of two young, wealthy women in their twenties, in stable relationships and intending to marry, will provoke a rise in teenage pregnancies to be unrealistic, and the criticism more than a little discriminatory ("Spice babes forecast for failing girls", 8 September). We do not hear the same claims about David Beckham, football hero for thousands of young boys, who is one of the fathers.

Perhaps this is a good moment for secondary school heads to take some time to evaluate the effectiveness of their sex education programme. We know that many young people think this was too little, too late and too biological. Is it not, therefore, a good opportunity for teachers to stand back and ask, "Are we doing enough to help our students to make informed choices about their lives?"

CLODAGH CORCORAN

Family Planning Association

London N1