Christian Organisation Starts Petition Calling For Independent Watchdog For RSE In Schools
Written by Heartsong Live on 24th July 2020
The Values Foundation- a Christian organisation set up to promote the views of faith and traditional family groups in the educational sector- started a petition calling on the Department for Education to appoint an independent watchdog to monitor Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in schools starting next term.
So far, the petition has garnered over 30,000 signatures
As from September, Relationships Education will be compulsory for primary school pupils, and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) for secondary pupils. The curriculum (which is apparently already being taught in some schools in England), is expected to include teaching on “sex, sexual health and sexuality”, with reading material in the new curriculum reported to include books like Are You A Boy or Are You a Girl?
In an interview with Premier News, Nigel Steele, executive director of the organisation, said: “Obviously, many schools are teaching things well, but there are places, and more than you would imagine, where things are happening that are concerning.
“The two main issues are early sexualisation, where children have been taught things, concepts and practices they’re not developmentally ready for.
“The second one is the teaching of unscientific ideas, specifically about gender identity, the idea that a child can be born in the wrong body. This is basically false and should not be happening in our schools, but it’s widespread.
“And even in many Church schools, there are organisations that are training teachers in these ideas. Many of these organisations are currently affirmed and funded by the Government, which is in itself a scandal because we’re talking about unscientific ideas.”
The Values Foundation, which started the petition on CitizenGo, said that many parents had “unquestioningly accepted” the claim that there was a “need” for compulsory RSE “without actually being aware of the content that their children may be being exposed to”.
“At a secondary level, the RSE curriculum is introducing children as young as 13 to explicit graphic sexual content where they are encouraged to experiment with and explore niche adult practices,” the petition reads.
The Values Foundation believes teaching this could leave children at risk of “exploitation, grooming and abuse”.
The organisation said it was important that schools are transparent about what they are teaching children, and that parents are properly consulted.
“The intention of RSE is to keep children safe, yet it is currently exposing children to harm,” the petition reads.
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