Sex education

Press, 23 October 1984, Page 12

Sex education

Sir,—Mary Broughton confuses morality with religion. There is not necessarily any link between high moral standards and belief in divine beings. Children, whatever their family’s personal morality, and whether or not they have religious beliefs, inevitably have bodies and emotions. They inevitably have sexual feelings, with both physical and emotional implications. Most will spend a considerable proportion of their adult lives living in relationships of which sexuality is an important aspect. From the earliest age they are interested in how their own and other people’s bodies function; learning about these things is a part of learning about life. Sex education is to be introduced into schools, not as an isolated subject, but as an integral part of learning about human feelings and family relationships — just as sexuality in real life is a part of such feelings and relationships.—Yours, etc., CATHERINE GLUE. October 16, 1984. Sir,—“Sex education ratified” said “The Press” recently. Could I ask these sex education experts a few questions? I presume there are such by the noise they make. First, how has the human race survived for 5000 years without all this education? Second, how has animal, plant, and insect life survived for a similar period without the necessary education? Why does this “lower” creation have no wifeswapping. adultery, fornication, divorce, homosexuals, transvestites, pornography, or V.D.? Could it be that they are governed by season X.

whereas “highly intelligent” humans are not even governed by common sense?—Yours, etc., JOHN REID. Blenheim, October 17, 1984.

Sir,—D. Elliot-Hogg, national secretary of the Community Organisation for Moral Education, raised some good points in his letter to “The Press” on October 18. We agree that withdrawal of pupils from classes is no solution. It is good to have someone prepared to stand up for traditional values. Indeed it is inconceivable that classes should not be suitable for all children. We applaud the efforts of C.O.M.E. Does it not seem right to react against all amoral trends in education? — Yours, etc., W. R. THOMSON, M. VIVIAN, members, Society for the Promotion and Extension of Religious Moralism. October 19, 1984.