Sex education in schools

Press, 18 April 1980, Page 12

Sex education in schools

Sir, —Having recently returned from “sinful Sweden” with a Christian faith intact. I grant to your correspondent N. W. Harris that it is a harsh, problematic land. However, my experiences, including four years working with children in Sweden, point to the conclusion that their abandonment of. the puritan sexual ethic has actually lessened their problems. The crucial issue is not whether children “make love” under 13, but whether ' they are loved, and wanted, in a way that allows them to gain knowledge and and maturity. Although hamstrung by consumer-mat-erialism and a vicious pace of life, which' must disrupt nuclear family life however much we bleat about its “sanctity,” Swedes do better than most in respecting their children and providing for their needs. — Yours, etc., B. P. LILBURN. April 16, 1980. Sir, — Since the Minister of Education refuses to publish the statistics of opinion on the Johnson Report, it is safe to assume that those figures do not support the Minister’s own opinion. If thev did. he would be hastening to get the details published. The Catholics’ claim that sex education would lead, to more unwanted pregnancies, V.D., etc.,

need not be taken too seriously. It is at best a halfhearted assertion, made only because the Catholics realise that they have to put forward something that at least has the appearance of a rational argument, eventhough it will not in fact stand close examination. The real reason for their rejection of the Johnson Report is, of course, their profound and irrational fear and hatred of human sexuality, which has caused untold misery in the past and would cause plenty more if they had their way. — Yours, etc., lAN HOOD. April 14, 1980.