Sex circular upsets assn

Press, 3 July 1978, Page 10

Sex circular upsets assn

Wellington The Family Planning Association is “incensed” about a Department of Education circular interpreting the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act.

- It has sent a letter to the Minister of Education (Mr Gandar) protesting about the circular, which has been given to principals and school authorities.

The association’s president (Mrs D. T. Nicholson) described as "intimidating in the extreme” a suggestion in the circular that each school authority be urged to pass a by-law prohibiting the sale or disposal of contraceptives to pupils aged under 16 without approval from various quarters. It had never been her association’s policy to give contraceptives to any pupils. “The school authorities will get a totally wrong impression of the intentions of association speakers,” said Mrs Nicholson. With children aged under 16, the association discussed contraception in general “information” terms. In answer to specific questions, it recommended a visit to the

pupil’s doctor or one of the association’s clinics for more information.

In particular, the association felt that the circular’s reference to the vulnerability of counsellors and teachers to possible prosecution was intimidating. Teachers might feel that they were unable to mention the word contraception under any circumstances.

If a school implemented any human-relationships courses the association did not see any reason in the act preventing acceptable teachers from mentioning contraception in this context.

“It is our experience over many years that there is a vast number of parents who cannot or will not discuss these matters and are usually more in need of such education than their children,” said Mrs Nicholson. “Parents not in need of such education are the ones most likely to encourage more informed help from the school.”