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Too young to learn about sex
A SHEFFIELD infants school is at the centre of a sex education row after furious parents claimed lessons for five-year-olds will be too explicit. Worried parents of children at Dobcroft Infants School in Millhouses have voiced concerns over the proposed classes which will introduce the names of body parts such as 'penis' and 'clitoris' to Year 1 pupils.
Now Hallam MP Nick Clegg is to quiz Education Secretary Ruth Kelly over the lessons for five to seven-year-olds after being contacted by anxious parents. City education chiefs say the syllabus proposed is the same as one introduced without protest in a number of other Sheffield schools.
But one young mum said: "I think children of that age are just too young to learn about such things.
"Around 30 parents got together to discuss the proposals and many want to take their children out of the classes.
"It has caused quite a bit of unrest - and it was decided to approach Mr Clegg to raise the issue at a higher level."
Mr Clegg said he had met parents who were concerned about the nature of proposed sex and relationships classes for five-year-olds at Dobcroft.
"They emphasised they were uncomfortable with the degree of detail planned for these classes," he said. "Of particular concern were detailed references to the genitals, and also the content of a video which is to be shown to the children."
Mr Clegg said he had written to Mrs Kelly to shed more light on whether the school was following Department for Education guidance, or whether the school had discretion over what it could and could not teach.
"I am a parent of young children myself and I can relate to this as it is a delicate matter.
"Schools should be able to make a judgement about how to introduce such important issues. I want to establish who is responsible for this degree of detail and what rights our schools have.
"If the school is to introduce lessons it is duty bound to teach, it is an issue I would want to take up.
"But if it is Dobcroft's own decision then that is a matter of debate between the parents and the school itself."
Headteacher Cathy Robson said the new updated lessons were part of a wider Healthy Schools Initiative. "The lessons are the same as those used in many other schools and concentrate on relationships and friendships. Outside agencies including the education authority are fully supportive of our approach," she said.
"We've written to parents and the feedback from the vast majority were very pleased with the plans.
"But a small minority were unhappy and they do have the right to withdraw their children from the classes if they so wish. Some of the parents are focusing on what is a minute element of the wider curriculum."
An education department spokeswoman said the authority was impressed with the way Dobcroft Infants had approached the work.
"Their consultation with parents is exemplary
"We are very clear that the reproductive information element of sex and relationships education is presented within the context of learning about friendship, relationships, affection and sharing, particularly with younger children."
Should children as young as five be given sex education lessons? Email starletters@sheffieldnewswpapers.co.uk or write to The Star, Letters, York Street, Sheffield, S1 1PU.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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