The Christian Institute is calling upon the Government to put a stop to the use of explicit material in sex education classes.
In a new report, ‘Too Much, Too Young’, the organisation says sex
education should not be made mandatory for all primary schools, contrary
to the wishes of some lobby groups.
It expresses alarm over some of the resources that are already
recommended for primary-aged children by local councils and concludes
that control of sex education should remain firmly in the hands of
school governors and parents.
The report details sex education resources recommended for primary
school children that show images of full frontal nudity, including erect
penises, and illustrations of couples having sex, alongside detailed
explanations.
Other resources for children as young as five describe
masturbation and oral sex.
Local councils endorsing some of the materials include Brighton and Hove, Derby City, Gloucestershire and Birmingham City.
“Any reasonable parent reading this publication will see that these
resources are simply not suitable for primary-aged children and that
today’s sex education is quite unlike anything they had at school,” the
report reads.
“Although the right of parents to withdraw their children from sex
education is very likely to remain in place, no child should be exposed
to materials of this nature.”
Mike Judge, of the Christian Institute, said there was “clearly a
problem” with the judgement of local councils that believe such
resources to be suitable for primary school children.
He said parents must be fully consulted about materials used in sex
education classes and have the opportunity to veto any they find
unsuitable.
The report recommends that parents contact their children’s schools
to find out which materials they are using in sex education lessons and
approach the head teacher if they have
concerns about the content.
If the school fails to address the concerns of parents, then the
report recommends that parents withdraw their child from sex education
lessons.
“This is, of course, a last resort but it may well be the only one you feel is available to you,” the report says.
Earlier in the week, Christian Institute director Colin Hart welcomed
as “good news” the expressed intentions of Education Secretary Michael
Gove to resist attempts to make sex education mandatory for primary
schools in England.
Mr Hart expressed concerns, however, over the announcement from
Public Health Minister Anne Milton last week of plans for a new Sexual
Health Strategy that will go further than the previous government’s work
on sexual health.
“We shall strenuously oppose any attempt to sideline parents, or push
agendas that undermine Christian beliefs about marriage and family
life,” he said.