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Summary: Row Over Petition In Schools (Press, 30 March 1985)
The Post-Primary Teachers’ Association (P.P.T.A.) and supporters of a national petition against proposed homosexual law reform are at odds over the issue of allowing the petition to be circulated in schools. Graeme Lee, a National Party MP for Hauraki and a vocal opponent of the reform, has accused the P.P.T.A. of inconsistency. He rebutted statements from the Association's president, Tony Steel, who suggested that promoting the petition in high schools contradicted the intent of new sex education legislation, claiming that the legislation applies solely to primary and intermediate schools. Lee stated that the challenge to the petition was specifically aimed at secondary schools, and pointed out that the P.P.T.A. had previously supported reforming homosexual laws to set the age of consent at 16. He interpreted this stance as indicative of a "forked tongue" and suggested a biased viewpoint from the association. Highlighting concerns about the influence of the homosexual community in schools, Lee expressed alarm over the potential implications of the reform law for young people. He emphasized the need for students, particularly those around the age of 13, to be made aware of the realities of homosexuality as a lifestyle choice. He argued that while schools provide sex education, students should also be informed about the possible consequences of adopting such an alternative lifestyle. Lee dismissed Steel's characterisation of the petition promoters as engaging in a political exercise in schools, claiming that there had always been an emphasis on consulting school headmasters. Furthermore, Lee responded to accusations made by Fran Wilde, a parliamentary supporter of the reform, who described the Salvation Army's previous objections as "dishonest." He labelled her remarks as bizarre and unfounded, asserting that they stemmed from her desperation to undermine opposing viewpoints. The unfolding dispute highlights the tensions between advocates for homosexual law reform and those seeking to maintain traditional values within the education system, emphasising differing opinions on the appropriateness of discussing such topics in schools.
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