Concern About Book (Press, 11 March 1977)

In a letter published in "The Press" on 2 March 1977, M. S. Waghorne, Secretary-Treasurer of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality, engaged in a debate with the Concerned Parents Association (C.P.A.) regarding the portrayal of homosexuality in the education system. Waghorne cited various reputable medical and psychiatric authorities, including the American Medical Association and the Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, to argue that certain behaviours, including those associated with homosexuality, should be considered normal. He questioned whether members of the C.P.A. viewed themselves as corrupt or unfit parents after reading materials they deemed controversial. While he recognised the necessity of guidelines from the Education Department, he advocated for a balanced educational approach that encompasses a wide array of human experiences. Waghorne asserted that education should empower children to make informed choices rather than impose a singular ideological perspective. He accused the C.P.A. of aiming for indoctrination into a narrow interpretation of values, which he described as an approach aligned with totalitarian Christianity. In response, P. C. Clements, the chairman of the Concerned Parents Association, defended the group's position, asserting that they did not wish to impose their beliefs on others' children. Clements emphasised that parents send their children to school for knowledge and skills and should not have their children's moral and social attitudes manipulated in the classroom. He argued that there are aspects of human experience that are unsuitable for educational contexts and highlighted the legal responsibilities parents bear towards their children. He insisted that parents have the right to oversee what their children are taught at school, particularly concerning topics like homosexuality that could conflict with their personal beliefs and values. Clements expressed that parents should expect schools to uphold societal laws and support the values they are instilling in their children. The correspondence represented a clash between differing ideologies on education and morality, with each side firm in their beliefs about the influence of educational content on children. The discussion ultimately highlighted the ongoing tensions regarding how to approach sensitive subjects in schools and the rights of parents in shaping their children's learning experiences. The exchange was noted to be closed by the editor, signifying the end of this particular discourse.

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