Sir, Having read the booklet issued to parents by the Minister for Education ("Relationships and Sexuality Education Going Forward Together") I feet confident about the general objectives as stated in it.
The course aims "to provide opportunities for children and young people to learn about relationships and sexuality in ways that help them think and act in a moral, caring and responsible way". Who could disagree with such an objective?
In the final analysis it is going to depend on how each individual parent and teacher interprets the guidelines. Parents are invited to participate fully.
Teachers have been given limited preparation for this onerous duty. Parents can feel very unsure as to what they should he looking for from the course. Certainly they should not abdicate their own responsibility in keeping in touch with what is going on in the school, helping where possible and continuing to read and attend talks on this subject. Parenting courses are available in most areas.
Recently, The Irish Times published a brief account of the storyline in the Irish "soap", "Fair City". It gave an idea of the sort of influences that provide children with questions regarding relationships. Many of their questions derive from viewing TV soaps and programmes such as Oprah Winfrey's discussion programmes etc.
I think that it is good that we are "Going forward Together" in this area of education. As in every subject, some teachers will be "naturals" and others less effective. We are all teaching our observant offspring whether or not we realise it. This course will, I hope, help us to focus seriously on our responsibility. Yours, etc., Eden Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow