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PARENTS’ INFORMATION EVENING TO HEAR “DEPTH OF CONCERN EXISTS ABOUT SEXUALISATION OF CHILDREN”
A Parents’ Information Evening, organised by Christian Voice Ireland, will take place on Tuesday 26th September. The free event will be held at 7:30pm in the National Boxing Stadium in Dublin.
The meeting will be the second of the information nights for parents, following a well-attended event held by the group in July. Christian Voice Ireland say 120,000 information flyers have been distributed across the country summarising and explaining the key issues for parents.
It comes as the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) published the updated Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum for Junior Cycle students in May. The course became available for first year pupils who entered secondary school this month.
Post-primaries are now expected to provide one hour a week of these lessons, which will cover health and wellbeing, relationships and sexuality and “into adulthood.” According to the NCCA, the relationships and sexuality lessons will teach pupils about “nurturing respectful, caring and healthy relationships”.
The process of adapting Primary and Senior Cycle SPHE began in late 2022, with a draft senior cycle curriculum document set to be available for public consultation in late 2023.
Christian Voice Ireland say the level of attendance at July’s information evening was “a key indicator of the depth of concern that exists about the sexualisation of Irish children.”
Speakers at Tuesday’s event will include Independent Senator Sharon Keogan, Pastor Tunde Oke of the Redeemed Church of God Ireland, and Pastor John Ahern among others.
Childcare will be provided on the night to facilitate parents of younger children, and free Stadium car park and also free street parking adjacent to Stadium in Dublin 8.
The group have encouraged parents who have concerns surrounding the new curriculum to come along and make their voices heard by the Irish government on what they described as a vital issue.
In May, members of Christian Voice Ireland met with the Rural Independent Group of TDs after they secured a meeting to discuss their concerns around the curriculum.
Pastors John Ahern, Valerian Jurjea, and Rev Mark Loughridge of Christian Voice Ireland met with TDs Michael Healy Rae, Mattie McGrath, Carol Nolan, Richard O’Donoghue and Michael Collins, to present a letter of concern, which was signed by over 250 churches. The letter had also been sent to the government, and a meeting had been requested with the Minister for Education, Norma Foley. To date, that meeting has not occurred – which prompted the first of the Parents Information Evenings in July.
Pastor John Ahern of Christian Voice Ireland, a father of five children, speaking ahead of the event, said: “We are deeply concerned about what our children are being taught in school.”
He said July’s meeting had attracted a diverse range of parents, including those from the Catholic and Muslim communities, and those of no faith.
“We’re all concerned about our children.” he said, as he assured parents, “You need to be concerned.”
“Many parents are utterly oblivious to the changes that have been made, and to the danger that their children are in, because unfortunately our schools are no longer an inclusive environment. Particularly for those that hold to a Christian worldview, or to a Christian view of marriage.
“The silence of many journalists, politicians, and ministers on this subject is not forgivable in light of the sexualisation of our children, and in light of the politicisation and sexualisation of our education system,” Pastor Ahern added, stating: “A time to speak has come.”
“We will not give our children over to be indoctrinated through our education system, it’s not acceptable,” the Pastor at All Nations Church said.
The content of the updated junior cycle curriculum has sparked backlash from parents and advocacy groups. There have been heated protests around the issue in recent months, while thousands of parents have sent opt-out letters to their schools’ board of management.
The 2023 updated Junior Cycle SPHE course provides 100 hours of learning – an increase from 70 hours – over the three years of junior cycle.
Among topics covered include “consent, intimacy and mutual pleasure” and how to spot the signs of abusive or violent relationships. Pupils will also learn about responses to unplanned pregnancy, and accessing sexual health services.
Children will also be taught “how harmful attitudes around gender are perpetuated in the media, online and in society” and how to confront this. NCCA guidance states that lessons should be taught in a way which means that LGBTQ+ identities, relationships, and families, are “fully integrated” into teachings.
POSTED IN IRISH NEWS
TAGGED WITH CHRISTIAN VOICE IRELAND, JUNIOR CYCLE, PARENTS INFORMATION EVENING, PARENTS RIGHTS, RSE, SPHE, SPHE CURRICULUM
Maria MaynesMOREBY THIS AUTHOR
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