Sex education must be reformed so all kids in Ireland are taught in same way without input from religion
SEX ed must be reformed so that all kids are taught about the birds and the bees in the same way, it’s been claimed.
Social Democrats Education Spokesperson Gary Gannon has launched new legislation to reform the way Children’s Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) is taught.
He insists that faith and religion must have no influence on the teaching of the subject, which must be informed by best practice in science and healthcare.
He says: “It is not acceptable that children in primary schools can be taught that relationships can be placed in a hierarchy, depending on sexual orientation. It is also utterly unacceptable that LGBTQ+ teachers could be expected to teach that their relationships are somehow lesser.”
Last summer, there was controversy when a new sex ed programme for kids was launched at the Irish Bishops Conference. On foot of the outcry surrounding the controversial messaging, Education Minster Norma Foley promised to bring forward legislation to reform the delivery of RSE.
Here, GARY GANNON explains why it’s essential that we overhaul and standardise the teaching of RSE.
SCHOOL SEX ED
EARLIER this year, I was shocked to learn a new relationships and sexuality education programme for primary schools had been developed by the Irish Bishops’ Conference.
The programme, in its introduction, stated that when discussing LGBTQ+ issues with children, “the Church’s teaching in relation to marriage between a man and a woman cannot be omitted”.
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We know what that teaching is. Relationships between men and women are natural. LGBTQ+ relationships are not.
As recently as a few months ago, the Vatican reaffirmed its view the Catholic Church can’t bless same-sex unions because God “cannot bless sin”.
That’s the Church’s position. There’s no secret about that — so, let’s not pretend otherwise.
But, it is not the State’s position. We had a marriage equality referendum in this country in 2015, which passed by a huge majority.
Same-sex marriage is every bit as valid as heterosexual marriage. That is the law — and it should be what our children are taught, in clear and unequivocal terms.
Regrettably, this isn’t always the case. It’s horrifying children in Ireland today can be taught relationships should be placed in a hierarchy, depending on sexual orientation.
LGBTQ+ EDUCATION
How, in 2021, can this kind of blatant discrimination be incorporated into our children’s education?
Do we really want LGBTQ+ children in schools, who may be struggling with their sexual identity, to be taught their relationships are any less worthy, meaningful, loving or deserving of respect than their heterosexual peers?
Because, that is the inference of this programme.
This is not just an issue that impacts on children.
Speaking at the INTO’s conference this year, INTO vice president Joe McKeown, right, said up to 4,000 LGBTQ+ teachers were hiding their sexual orientation because they feared their job or promotion prospects would be harmed if their school patrons discovered their true identity.
Given that more than 90 per cent of our primary schools are owned by the Catholic Church, this kind of fear is understandable, if deeply concerning.
This “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy would not be tolerated in any other workplace — particularly when salaries are being paid by the State.
Consider how it must feel, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, to be asked to teach that the way you love, and your intimate relationships, are lesser than your heterosexual colleagues. It’s monstrous to expect people to do that.
CATHOLIC INPUT
Catholic schools in Ireland have a constitutional right to teach according to their ethos, but sex education needs to be fact-based. Facts do not have an ethos.
One important fact is that Ireland is an open and inclusive country where gay people are afforded the same dignity, respect and human rights as straight people. That must be reflected in the contents of our children’s curriculum.
This is why I have now introduced legislation to the Dáil to ensure that the teaching of RSE is standardised across all publicly-funded schools in Ireland. Most importantly, it must be factual, objective and inclusive.
This change to the law would amend the Education Act to ensure that sex education is evidence-based and would entitle the Minister to require that RSE is taught solely in accordance with the official curriculum. This would mean that the Irish Bishops’ Conference would not be able to dump the State’s curriculum in favour of their own.
RSE is too important — for children’s development and the fostering of their own values — to be skewed by religious doctrines. This doesn’t mean schools lose their ethos.
It simply means they have an obligation to teach children in accordance with best practice in science and healthcare.
We updated our constitution, when we voted in a referendum in favour of marriage equality. Now, it is up to politicians to do their jobs and change the law, in relation to education, to reflect that overwhelmingly positive vote.
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My legislation is ready to go and could be enacted by the Dáil very quickly, if the Government agrees to support it.
The question now is, will they? Or, are they happy for the contents of children’s sex education to be written by the Church and not the State?
