Sex education in schools

Press, 28 April 1980, Page 16

Sex education in schools

Sir, — Messrs Gray and Wilson (April 22) probably do not w;ant to know, but anyone who does can find shelves of documentation by Catholics' of the . suffering caused by their Church’s teachings on human-sexual-ity. Felix Donnelly’s “Big

Boys Don’t Cry,” and “Candles in the Wind,” in New Zealand, “Loving Free,” and the “Hite Report” in the United States just scratch the surface of the pile. I have heard many sad stories from Catholics and former Catholics here in Christchurch. The social workers who try to pick up the pieces know the truth too. I am not saying no other religions are as bad — just that the Catholic Church has a real problem which cannot be ignored. — Yours, etc., ALAN WILKINSON. April 22, 1980.

Sir, — Re the article on the subject “Where does sex education go now?” by J. W. Taylor, principal of a local intermediate school (April 19): The final question as to what solution to the problem will now be found since Mr Wellington, the Minister of Education, has announced his decision against the section of the Johnson Report which recommended sex education in schools. The subject has now reached the stage where some urgent action is vital and E. Read (April 15) puts forward some sound suggestions, particularly the one which advocates that parental competence to handle instruction should be stepped up by promoting or providing ready access to suitable material on all sex matters and by organising voluntary cooperative discussion groups to exchange knowledge. The Government could distribute a circular to speed up organisation. — Yours, etc., L. E. REID; ■ April 21j 1980.