Media reports about the explicit nature of some school sex education programmes have drawn numerous responses and a diversity of opinions, many of them expressed with considerable intensity.
The CEO of the The New Zealand Catholic Education Office, Br Pat Lynch, says they are dismayed that some teachers of the national curriculum sex education have taken an extreme approach in their classrooms. “The curriculum itself does not support such an approach, and requires teachers and schools to take account of the wishes of parents and the developmental stages of the individual students in the class,” he said.
“Students are entitled to feel safe in classrooms, and the alleged incidents are likely to have made at least some of the students in the classes feel distinctly uncomfortable and embarrassed which is not a healthy learning environment.”
Br Pat said sexuality education, which is obviously very necessary, must always be approached with sensitivity, prudence and discretion on the part of teachers, with personal agendas kept out of the equation.
Catholic schools are provided with support materials to enable staff to teach sexuality according to the beliefs of the Catholic Church. Understanding Sexuality is the professional development programme for teachers of Sexuality in Catholic schools. It is mandated by the National Centre for Religious Studies. In Catholic schools it is recommended that the sexuality programme be taught by Religious Education teachers, and if appropriate, in combination with Physical Education teachers.
Source
- New Zealand Catholic Education Office
- Image: Taranaki Daily News