Sex education in schools

Press, 5 August 1985, Page 12

Sex education in schools

Sir,—l do not doubt the sincerity of opponents to health (sex) education in schools, but sincerity can become a frightening weapon when guided by shallow thinking, such as the suggestion that children will be losing their innocence. The opposite of innocence is guilt, and it is this which I think gives the clue to understanding irrational opposition to sex education. While our society is still emerging from an era of repression, prudery and double standards over sexual behaviour it is not surprising that many of us suffer feelings of guilt about sex. We who are thus afflicted would be far better employed working out our own guilt problems, instead of trying to inflict them on future generations. The best way of ensuring our children keep their innocence is surely to provide them with the knowledge to make informed and responsible decisions. Ignorance, not innocence, is the opposite of knowledge. — Yours, etc., E. R. L. WILSON. August 3, 1985.

Sir,—lt seems to me that the 'fornication brand of sex education made familiar by the Family Planning Association, and tolerated by the present Minister of Education, sets conjugal fidelity at a discount, yet that “a society in which conjugal infidelity is tolerated must always be in the long run a society adverse to women.” So I think the Minister of Education’s philosophy, though seemingly in step with that of the Minister of Women’s Affairs, contains nevertheless a contradiction which eventually will trip them both.—Yours, etc., D. ELLIOT-HOGG, for Organisation for Moral Education. July 30, 1985.

Sir,—J. D. Black is “absolutely disgusted” by the thought of mixed classes of 12-year-olds discussing subjects such as menstruation. Presumably this attitude is a result of his or her not being allowed to discuss such matters as a child. I have three daughters, and would have no objection to their being present in classes concerning changes at puberty. If both boys and girls understood more about each other’s development and problems, as well as their own, I believe this would do much to aid mutual respect between them. Only by enlightened education can we remove such repressed attitudes as those displayed by the correspondent.—Yours, etc., (Mrs) B. IMAGE. August 1, 1985.