An east Auckland parent strongly opposed to some of the material to be taught to primary school children on gender and sexuality wants to see what the new Government plans to replace it with.
The relationships and sexuality guidelines (RSE) implemented by the previous Labour Government were met with a backlash from parents who believe they’re inappropriate for younger children.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has provided schools with guidelines to assist the preparation and delivery of sex education, which is part of the New Zealand Curriculum.
Part of the National Party’s coalition agreement with New Zealand First states the new Government will “refocus the curriculum on academic achievement and not ideology, including the removal and replacement of the gender, sexuality, and relationship-based education guidelines”.
The Times contacted Education Minister Erica Stanford’s office for comment on when parents can expect to see the RSE guidelines removed and replaced and what they’ll be replaced with, but did not receive a response.
As recently reported, Mellons Bay School parent Katherine Chua is strongly opposed to some of the RSE material that was to be taught in schools under the previous Government.
She says children are not able to give consent to “permanent life-altering ideologies which can tell them their body is wrong, just because if they do not fit the typical stereotypes for a boy or girl”.
She’s expressed her opinions on the current RSE guidelines to Mellons Bay School and distributed flyers she had printed on the issue to parents.
Chua says while she should be grateful for any promise to repeal and replace the RSE guidelines, “it feels too little, too late for an ideology that’s strongly undermined respect and trust in schools, and which is right now causing physical and relational harm to children and families”.
“Any review and replacement of the RSE is likely to take a long time, especially if consultation is planned.
“It was not prioritised to be halted in the [Government’s] 100-day plan.
“Changes are limited to the RSE and exclude ‘inclusive education’ policies which would continue the use of preferred pronouns and hiding gender changes from parents.
“Even if the RSE is replaced, using a robust consultation process, I am likely to opt my kids out of any RSE lessons, unless it was limited to biology-based pubertal and anatomy lessons.
“If the intrusion on parental rights continues, depending on the content of the Curriculum refresh, I would consider leaving public education altogether.”
MoE Hautu (Deputy Secretary) Te Tai Raro (North) Isabel Evans previously said the RSE guide recommends exploring gender stereotypes as a means of promoting critical inquiry, reflection, and social-action skills related to issues of equity, gender, body image, risk and safety.
“The RSE guide promotes challenging unhelpful stereotypes such as those that may limit aspirations, opportunities and careers.
“Key learning in the RSE is organised according to curriculum levels which provides developmentally- and age-appropriate guidance on what teachers can include in the health curriculum.”
Evans says parents and caregivers have the legal right to withdraw their children from any aspect of the health curriculum by writing to their school’s principal.
