Compulsory Sex Education Slated (Press, 5 February 1974)

On 5 February 1974, Patricia Bartlett, the secretary of the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards, addressed a public meeting in New Plymouth, criticising the proposed introduction of compulsory sex education in New Zealand schools. She argued that such a programme could lead to a disconnect between children and their parents, insinuating that children would perceive their parents as uninformed on the subject if sex education were to be provided by teachers. Bartlett stressed the importance of parental involvement in teaching about sex and expressed concern that dedicated parents might feel inadequate in their ability to approach the subject if formalised education was introduced. Bartlett lamented what she viewed as a failure in New Zealand's educational approach, attributing a lack of focus on values such as love, self-control, and respect for women. She suggested that there were forces within society advocating for extensive sex education programmes that disregarded moral and religious considerations. These plans, she noted, would extend to all New Zealand schools, from kindergartens to Form VII, and had been laid down by a government-appointed committee in late 1973. She further commented on the makeup of this committee, highlighting that it included few members with local educational experience and raised concerns about the selection process, particularly the absence of representatives from the Roman Catholic educational system. Bartlett worried that the proposed programme could enable teachers with permissive views to influence students, citing existing issues of transvestites and homosexuals being allowed to address school pupils as indicative of a broader trend. In voicing her opinions, Bartlett raised the issue of parental rights, noting that there would be no provision to allow parents to withdraw their children from sex education classes. She argued that parents ought to have the same right to remove their children from these lessons as they do from religious classes. She called out the lack of resources available for parents needing guidance on educating their children about sex, suggesting that classes should be offered on this topic. During the meeting, Dr Michael Harry, a specialist from Denmark, contributed his perspective on compulsory sex education, citing it as a contributing factor to what he described as an "over-sexed" society. He expressed dismay at the erosion of traditional values in countries like Sweden and Denmark, attributing these societal changes to the breakdown of marital structures and morality that he believed were essential for preserving democracy. Overall, the discussion highlighted the stark divide between proponents and opponents of formal sex education, with Bartlett emphasising the need for parental involvement and moral education to counter what she viewed as a concerning trend in contemporary society.

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