DANIEL AND HIS TWIN, BRADLEY IN YOUNG AGE
EDUCATORS expect some backlash from parents with the introduction of the words "penis" and "vagina" to school lessons for young children.
In a move expected to make some parents uncomfortable, Prep to Year 2 classes in Queensland will use these words under the new Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum in a bid "to remove the shame and embarrassment often associated with discussing genitalia".
Parents would have to opt out of the classes, similar to their option to remove children from religion classes, if they objected to the use of the words.
Holly Brennan, research and program development manager of Family Planning Queensland, which was consulted on the curriculum, applauded the move.
She said there was overwhelming international evidence that the approach helped prevent child sexual abuse.
But she, and the Queensland Council of Parents and Citizens' Associations, expect some parents to be uncomfortable with their children being taught the terms.
A guide for parents on the new curriculum states: "Students will use anatomical language for private body parts in lessons to remove the shame and embarrassment often associated with discussing genitalia.
"Using anatomical language (e.g. penis, vagina) can improve the confidence of children to report inappropriate touching and removes any confusion that nicknames can cause."
The guide encourages parents to talk to students about what they are learning.
Ms Brennan said she expected a minority of parents to be uncomfortable with the terms being taught "but I think most parents are more uncomfortable with the fact that their child might be sexually abused".
"One of the reasons that children don't disclose, or one of the reasons that they don't know that what is happening to them isn't OK, is because of the shame and the embarrassment and the lack of communication that exists," she said.
Department of Education, Training and Employment assistant director-general Sharon Mullins said there was "no specific reference about the teaching of anatomical language for private body parts in Prep-Year 2 Queensland curriculum documents" before the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum, but visiting experts may have used the words.
She said the new curriculum wasn't compulsory.
QCPCA president Margaret Leary said she understood a letter would be sent out to parents before the lessons were taught, allowing them to opt children out if they wanted to.
"Yes, there will be some parents that may be uncomfortable with this for a variety of reasons depending on their own beliefs and values," Ms Leary said.
Where I Found It?
Click Here
No comments:
Post a Comment