Opposition to seek publication of Johnson report

Press, 3 April 1980, Page 3

Opposition to seek publication of Johnson report

PA Hamilton The Government has been sharply criticised by the Opposition for its rejection of sex education for primary and intermediate schools. The Opposition spokesman on education (Mr C. R. Marshall) will seek publication of the secret Johnson report when Parliament sits in May. Denouncing the decision of the Minister of Education (Mr Wellington) not to make public an analysis of Johnson report submissions by Link Consultants, Ltd, Mr Marshall said he would raise it with the Minister in the House. I Mr Marshall accused the Minister Of showing “a complete lack of moral courage" by refusing to implement the report’s major recommendations on sex education in primary and intermediate schools. “So many people have made submissions on this issue, and they have a right to know the collective results,” Mr Marshall said. “I am suspicious that the analysis would reveal a

more liberal consensus than the Minister is prepared to follow.” In view of the fact that the Minister regarded human development and relationships as the responsibility of parents, Mr Marshall hoped the Minister would take very seriously the report recommendation for urgent priority to be given to education for parenthood. The Opposition’s spokeswoman on women’s affairs (Mrs Mary Batchelor) said the Government had wasted an opportunity to ensure education for parenthood.

She said the Government had turned a blind eye to the pressing need for adequate sex education and had ignored the advice of its own Health Department. “In spite of increased teen-age pregnancies, illegitimate births, venereal disease, and changing community attitudes towards sex, the Minister has opted largely for the status quo,” Mrs Batchelor said.

“This moral timidity is inexcusable; The Johnson report may well have been left undone for all the good the Government has made of its findings in this area,” Mrs Batchelor said.

Present problems would be perpetuated because the parents of tomorrow were not receiving sex education today, she said. “When the young people come to raise their own children they will pass their ignorance on to the next generation.”