23 October 2008
Methodist Church welcomes compulsory education in schools about sex and relationships
The Methodist Church has welcomed the Government's
decision to make education in schools about sex and relationships
compulsory for children of all ages.
MP Jim Knight, Minister for Schools, was met with loud applause
from delegates when he made the announcement at Methodist Central
Hall in Westminster today.
Sandy Youngson, a drugs and sexual health trainer and Methodist
Church representative who sat on the review board that advised the
government, said he was delighted at the decision. 'I think this is
a positive and exciting move,' he said. 'It puts the importance of
relationships and sexual health education into a framework that can
be supported and managed. It gives teachers clarity about what they
teach in schools and assurance to parents that what is being taught
is age appropriate.'
The change in the law will mean that all school children aged five
to 16 will receive personal, social and health education covering
drug and alcohol misuse, healthy living, sex and emotional
education. It is hoped that the new curriculum will be ready by
September 2010.
Sandy said: 'We are not talking about teaching six and
seven-year-olds the Kama Sutra. The Methodist Church wants to
support young people to develop as a whole. We live in an
increasingly sexualized society. We are not trying to encourage
that, but prepare young people for that reality, prepare them for
the wonderful side of relationships and reduce risks.
'Just talking about sex does not increase the chances of somebody
doing it; in fact, it is the opposite. There is evidence that good
quality education about sex and relationships, covering a wide
range of topics, in fact delays a young person's first sexual
encounter. At some point in most people's lives they will become
sexually active, and preparing them for it on the basis of having a
good understanding of relationships is a good way of supporting
young people.'
Graham Russell, chief executive of Methodist Schools, said: 'It is
necessary to prepare young people to confront the problems they
will encounter in the modern world: ignorance will provide no
defence at all.'