Questions are being raised about whether the sex education review will make woke indoctrination better or worse in our schools.
Released this week, the Education Review Office report into sex education is being used to set the base for recommended changes to Relationship and Sexuality Education (or RSE).
The proposed curriculum will be provided to ALL schools and will be uniformly taught across New Zealand, including in Christian based schools.
While this review was initially seen as positive as it was called for by New Zealand First as part of the current governments coalition agreement, it now seems the process is being welcomed and controlled by radical leftists in the education sector.
The report paints a concerning picture especially given it constantly highlights students and parents who “practice faith” compared with those from “rainbow communities”.
22% of faith-based parents involved in the survey did not support RSE being taught to their child. This is more than double that of secular parents.
The report states that most parents who practice faith want less RSE, in particular around gender identity, different sexual identities, and gender stereotypes, because of concerns that this content does not align with the views outlined in their faith, and that it is the role of their church or faith-based community to teach RSE to their child.
That is then immediately compared to parents of students from rainbow communities who are more likely to want their children to learn about all RSE topics and they want it at an earlier age.
Nowhere in the review has it been indicated that any elements of RSE will be restricted.
In terms of age groups, around 20% of teachers report teaching sexual identities, gender identity, and human reproduction to students as young as 8 to 10 years old. This number jumps to 75% of teachers pushing rainbow pride indoctrination by the time students are aged 12-14.
And what do the students say? Students of faith are more likely to want to learn less about gender identity and different sexual identities than other students.
Meanwhile, secondary school students from rainbow communities want to learn about all RSE topics and at an earlier age.
Nowhere in the review has it been indicated that teaching the likes of gender identity will be pulled back.
Is this painting a clear picture?
And, ERO doesn’t think the opinion of parents’ matter.
One of its recommendations is that school boards will INFORM parents rather than CONSULT with them about what is taught in these classes.
And for those parents who don’t like the content, they will have to remove their son or daughter from the lessons.
In its press release, ERO, points to the fact that two thirds of 14 to 17 year olds in New Zealand have seen pornography which is impacting students perceptions of healthy sexual behaviours.
I’m sure we can all agree that is an absolutely disturbing figure but it seems that it is providing the perfect red herring.
ERO’s head of Education Evaluation Centre Ruth Shinoda says RSE plays an important role in teaching students to identify and reject misinformation and harmful attitudes.
She says ERO is concerned that there is too much variability in what is taught as what students are learning depends on where they go to school.
The final outcome of this review is still to be seen.
Will the likes of New Zealand First play a trump card and rip the woke gender and sexual ideologies out of our schools?
Or will the progressive leftists in the education sector push their indoctrination even further?
If you are looking for more information on this topic be sure to check out these two websites for additional resources.
www.parentguide.nz
www.sexeducation.nz
Family First Staff Writers
