Govt’s 'no’ to sex classes criticised

Press, 2 April 1980, Page 6

Govt’s ' no’ to sex classes criticised

PA Wellington The. Minister of Education (Mr Wellington) has come under criticism after he announced yesterday that the Government had rejected seX education in primary schools. The Opposition’s shadow Minister of Education (Mr Marshall) accused Mr Wellington of showing a lack of moral courage. “He has tackled the report in a personal fashion, leaving out the parts he does not like and making a weak commitment to the rest,” Mr Marshall said. Labour approved of the commitment to the adoption of recommendations concerning values and moral education, outdoor education, and parent participation. The Post-Primary Teachers’ Association, said last evening that Mr Wellington had bowed to the pressure exerted by a few individuals and minority pressure groups.

In opting for the status quo, Mr Wellington had failed to face up to the prob-

lems the Johnson Committee had been set up to consider, said the association’s president (Mr D. Baird), The president of the Auckland Federation of the Parent-Teachers’ Association (Mr J. Pybus) said last evening that he was disappointed about the Government’s decision. “A majority of our members favoured sex education in consultation with parents,” he said. The association might organise sex education evenings to which parents and children would be invited. Mr Pybus said the lessons would be given by a specialist teacher. Mr E. Wadsworth, a senior lecturer in education at Waikato University and a member of the Johnson Committee, said he was disappointed about the Government’s decision. The supporting Climate of community opinion would be negatively affected by it. But the principal of Hamil-

ton Teacchers’ College (Mr R. Wright) said that the appropriate decision had been made in the light of all the circumstances. “I would have to be convinced that the primary service especially could make the expected contribution to •sex education without, a lot of preparation of teachers to handle it adequately,” he said. “You cannot introduce a mass change of philosophy and attitudes overnight. People have to grow into it and ideally it is a slow, evolutionary transition.” The president of the Educational Institute (Mr E. Pankhurst) said his own initial reaction wao happiness at the positive decisions to act on such aspects of teacher training, and research. “But I am disappointed that the Minister has not taken the nettle and done something about sex education.” he said. “It’s a . pity he did not as people were hoping for a positive lead. “It will leave a gap in the educational process,”