Nau mai haere mai.
Sexuality education is back in the news after reported comments from National Party deputy Nicola Willis at a town hall meeting in the South Island. Willis seemed to suggest sexuality education was best left to parents, while schools should focus on the basics.
But is this what parents are actually saying? Do they really want to be the sole educators on the topic of relationships, sex and gender identity? According to research from the University of Canterbury’s Tracy Clelland, the answer is probably “no”.
According to Clelland, “As contentious as the topic can be, many parents want to work with schools to educate their children about relationships and sexuality.”
What parents do want from their children’s schools is more consultation about the curriculum – something most schools are failing to adequately provide. Clelland warns that if we don’t work together on this, children will rely on friends and pornography to answer their questions on how to navigate intimate relationships and sexuality.
There is plenty more to read here and on our homepage, including Annabel Ahuriri-Driscoll’s timely analysis of why overdue adoption law reform has been stalled for so long in New Zealand.
As always, thank you for reading. Until next week, mā te wā.
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