Sir, - Thank you, Kevin Myers, for your recent robust attack on the intellectual cowardice revealed in the sidelining of uncomfortable issues during the election campaign (An Irishman's Diary, June 4th). Your warning about the "brand new generation of males without male authority figures around" finds echoes across the land. Which is one reason why parents and teachers are rejecting the controversial proposed Relationships and Sexuality Education Programme (RSE). In it marriage is clearly presented as just another lifestyle, alongside "differing patterns of behaviour" which the young child must understand and accept" (page 26 of the Interim Curriculum, content for first and second classes).
The Department of Education's information booklet for parents, Going Forward Together, is an exercise in public relations for example (page 8, point no 6): "topics for pupils from junior infants to second class will include appreciating and understanding family life". That sounds innocuous until we read Carmel Wynne, a teacher of RSE, writing in The Irish Times Educational and Living Supplement, May 6th:
"Since 1980 there has been a 44 per cent decrease in the birth rate within marriage and a huge increase in the extramarital birth rate. Almost one in four children now entering primary school is not from a traditional two parent family. Parents and teachers need to show great sensitivity when they agree on the language that is to be used to talk about family situations. It is essential that no girl or boy is ever made to feel that her or his family situation is unacceptable.
"Clearly, a high proportion of adults no longer believe that it is necessary to save sex for marriage. Parental attitudes to sexual morality form the views children hold. They pass on their values or lack of values. The RSE programme in each school is to be built on what children experience at home and outside school" (my italics).
There you have it. As you wrote, Kevin Myers, "Mums, unmarried, loads of". And those who demand clear moral teaching in schools are ridiculed, humiliated and label led "right wing fundamentalists".
Nine months ago local parents studied the Interim Curriculum for the RSE programme over a period of 12 weeks and produced a summary of their views. Readers who wish to avail of their work can obtain a copy from me. Yours, etc.,
Ashgrove,
Ballyvelly,
Tralee,
Co Kerry.