life

I WOULD hope that all sensible Catholics will oppose the campaign by Tory and Labour MPs for an amendmeht to the sex education clause in the Education Bill.
At a time when a number of Labour Councils — including Ealing — are putting forward education policies that undermine family life, I can sympathise with the concerns which underline demands that parents be given the right to withdraw their children from sex education classes.
Nevertheless, I believe that such demands are impractical and irresponsible.
As a teacher I have worked in a school which allowed children to be withdrawn from lessons when sex education matters were under discussion. Despite the sensitive efforts of teachers such children suffered very great embarrassment.
I have also taught in schools where children were withdrawn from religious education lessons and experienced at first hand the difficulties in setting up sensible alternative arrangements for such children.
Although no supporter of the present government, I am in wholehearted agreement with the present policy on sex education as published last month in the pamphlet "Health Education from five to 16". The document makes it clear that although parents do not have the right to withdraw children from sex education lessons, each school has a responsibility to consult parents on the syllabus and materials being used.
In addition, schools are instructed not to undermine the strong moral and religious views of parents about sexual matters.
It would be irresponsible for Church or Government to allow young people to face adulthood without an adequate grasp of the facts and issues traditionally embodied in the sex education component of the curriculum of all good Catholic schools.
Alan Whelan London W7