Strips Upset Miss Bartlett (Press, 18 October 1976)
This is a Generative AI summary of this newspaper article. It may contain errors or omissions. Please note that the language in the summary is reflective of the original article and the societal attitudes of the time in which it was written.
Summary: Strips Upset Miss Bartlett (Press, 18 October 1976)
On 18 October 1976, a controversy emerged in Hamilton, New Zealand over a series of sex education film strips intended for schools. Anti-pornography campaigner Miss Patricia Bartlett raised concerns, claiming that the material included "illegal instruction in contraception." This accusation was met with a firm denial from Education Department officials, who stated that such allegations could only be verified through legal proceedings. Miss Bartlett highlighted the dichotomy between the availability of the strips and prior commitments made by the Director-General of Education, Mr W. Rennick, that no sex education programmes would be implemented in schools until the Royal Commission on Sterilisation, Contraception, and Abortion had reported its findings. She pointed to one particular strip targeted at children aged 13 to 15, which she believed contained contraceptive instruction, asserting that it is illegal to provide such guidance to those under 16. The film strip set, comprising six titles such as "Love and the facts of life" and "Understanding your love feelings," has drawn scrutiny due to its educational content. Notably, the strip titled "Who am I? the search for self." ends with 12 frames that discuss contraception. According to the “Education Gazette,” these strips must be requested as a complete set, not individually, and are recommended for preview before use. Miss Bartlett expressed scepticism about the preview idea, questioning the ability of parents in 1976 to make decisions that would impact future generations. She demanded clarity on provisions for parents who oppose the use of such educational materials in schools. She reiterated the inconsistency of the Education Department's actions given the commitments made to the Royal Commission. In response, Mr D. J. Francis, the acting superintendent of curriculum development at the Education Department, explained that the strips consist of cartoon imagery accompanied by a sound track. He argued that the decision on whether the content included contraceptive instruction was up to individual school boards and committees, who would have to navigate any potential concerns from parents. He assured that schools aware of the possible implications would be diligent in previewing the material and discussing it with parents, and that if there was any chance of misunderstanding, the material would not be presented to students. The concerning section on contraception was optional, according to Mr Francis, who stated that the information contained within the 12 frames was minimal. However, he maintained that only the law could determine the legality of the material in question. The discussion reflects broader societal tensions surrounding sex education and parental rights in New Zealand during the 1970s.
Important Information
The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact
The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand