SCHEME FOR SEX INSTRUCTION

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29767, 9 March 1962, Page 9

SCHEME FOR SEX INSTRUCTION

A scheme by which literature on sex instruction should be forwarded to the parents

of pupils at schools at an appropriate time in the development of the pupils, is the subject of one of the remits to the Dominion Federation of School Committees' Associations which begins its four-day conference in Christchurch today. The remit has been submitted by the North Taranaki association and says this procedure should be an accepted part of a pupil’s education.

The district office of the Department of Health in Christchurch has made the following comment on the scheme: “We feel that there is a distinction between sex instruction and simple instruction in reproduction, the latter being scientifically factual, the former indicating acceptable and unacceptable patterns of behaviour, and generally covering the wider field of problems facing the teenager and young adult. The ap-

preach to be made. in forms 1 and 2, therefore will differ from that given to the older ones.

“Where the parent-teacher association has agreed, we offer both these items and talks. It seems desirable that Primary school children attend with parents for mother and daughter and father and ton evenings when we show films on reproduction and talks on biological functions We endeavour to cover the topics as fully as possible so that there is no need for a great number of questions. The doctors are ready, however, to discuss privately any more mature problems the children may have. Parents usually go to see the films so that they can follow up from there. Recently a pilot scheme was put into operation as an end-of-year course for school leavers at a secondary school in Christchurch. About 60 girls attended a set of five lectures designed to be a following up on the reproduction talks they had earlier in the year. The theme was “Now we are almost grown up,” and was introduced by consideration of the new-

born baby, then the preschool and school-age child, followed by the needs and problems of the teenager, after which there was opportunity for discussion. The subjects of dating, going steady, petting, the duties and responsibilities of marriage,

budgeting and family planning, were considered in the final session. Judging by the questionnaire the girls answered afterwards, the course was voted either helpful or very helpful. It is interesting to note that both from the questionnaire and from comments from teachers, the girls definitely preferred to attend these talks without parents. This, then, is perhaps the best arrangement for the advanced course. But we feel that primary and intermediate school children need to be accompanied by parents. "The official sex education pamphlets are available from the department on, request but they need to be supplemented by a personal explanation to have real value.”