Sir, - As a teacher, I feel I should add my voice to the growing tide of concern about the "Relationships and Sexuality Education" (RSE) programme which is to be introduced into our primary schools from September onwards.
I have listened to various representatives from the Department of Education and other interested bodies declare that no video is to be used to explain certain aspects of the course. Why then are the following instructions to be found in the teachers' handbook issued by the Department of Education? RSE Handbook, page 64: "Using an Educational Video - the teacher uses an appropriate video/ video extract (which might be supplemented with charts and/or books) to explain sexual intercourse" (5th and 6th Classes).
It seems to me that someone is trying to hoodwink parents with regard to the most important part of their child's education. Is it any wonder then, that we learned with horror last week of the rape of a nine year old child by her fellow classmates in England - a country which has had sex education for years, and to what avail?
It is about time that parents and teachers stood up and were counted. Let us follow the example of the teachers in Killarney and say "No" to those who would rob our children of their childhood. -Yours, etc.,
Ashford,
Co Wicklow.