Parents need assistance with sex education — survey

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 16

Parents need assistance with sex education — survey

Wellington reporter A survey of the Fendalton electorate shows that the vast majority consider parents the first and ideal source of information on sexuality and human relationships. The survey, initiated by the local member of Parliament, Mr Phillip Burdon, was conducted together with a poll on Homosexual Law Reform. In each case, 2000 questionnaires were sent out. The results, on legalising homosexuality, show 52 per cent opposition and 46 per

cent support, with the balance undecided. The results on the human relationships survey show 53 per cent would fully support a school-based programme were that available, 46 per cent would support it with reservations, and only 10 per cent would oppose it. Of those who cited reservations, 60 wanted a specially trained person with high moral and personal standards to take the programme; 58 wanted parents either involved in the talks or at least informed of their contents; 28 said lib-

eral ideas were unwanted and that they did not want the use of classroom teachers, whom a further 20 accused of showing low ethical and moral standards. Fourteen said the programmes must be suitable for different ages and levels of maturity; eight were concerned that deviances might be promulgated; five said they would consider withdrawing their children to private Christian schools if they thought the programmes unsuitable; four said the material must be factual and unbiased and

three said any programme i must be secondary to the : parental role. I i The survey asked people j to list, in order of import- j ance, the sources from which their children now got their information on sexuality and human rela- | tionships. Parents ran a j comfortable first with i family members, the school, i their children’s friends, and the media going down in descending significance. Asked who should have the main responsibility, the survey again put parents

first, but had the school second with family members third, television and radio fourth, children’s friends fifth, and newspapers and magazines sixth. The great majority of the survey felt, however, that parents needed outside support in educating their children on human relationships. Asked the kind of support they needed, 218 said facts and information, 137 said assistance in communication, and 168 said a schoolbased programme.