The Reader: Pupils’ sex education is crucial but has not moved with the times

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Liberated: Hos much do we talk about sex away from events like Pride?
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5 July 2018
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FURTHER to Emily Sheffield’s column [“We need to talk about sex again — feminism and Sex and the City haven’t bridged the orgasm gap,” June 29]. Last week it was stated by the Education Secretary that Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) will no longer become statutory in schools in 2019. The Department for Education guidance was last revised at the turn of the millennium. There is no mention of consent in sex or LGBT+ issues.

Society has evolved since then but the official guidance has not.

Currently, schools are only obligated to teach “the mechanics of sex”, focusing solely on the aspects covered under the biology curriculum. Some schools go further and teach a more comprehensive programme, encompassing wider health issues, but there is great variation in quality, parents can opt children out, and schools’ opinions and beliefs can bias delivery.

Talking about sex in public, let alone in schools, is often met with looks of disdain and disgust. The failure to have conversations leads to unrealistic expectations of sex and pleasure, lack of tolerance towards those of all sexualities and genders, and a lack of understanding about the importance of safe sex. We need to combat this.
George W X Barker
National Director, Sexpression: UK

EDITOR'S REPLY

Dear George

YOUR letter comes at an interesting time: I am about to attend a parent- teacher meeting at my daughter’s primary school to discuss sex and relationship classes. I am rather hoping, since they’re only 11, that this will be a broad-brush affair — apparently the subject matter will focus on puberty rather than anything grittier. Children of that age know of gay identity but I wouldn’t want them exposed to the full gamut of sexual issues before time.

Your organisation focuses on issues of consent and diversity and you seem to take issue with parental choice in the matter. But I’d say myself that discussing sex should include sexual restraint and the value of continence as well as sexual expression — of course schools’ beliefs will be reflected in their relationships classes.

Emily Sheffield’s interesting piece suggested that young people need to think about sex as a pleasurable activity. She’s right, and it shouldn’t just happen in sex-education classes.

Melanie McDonagh, Senior Writer

We need to take a positive view of China’s economic miracle

HOW refreshing to get a positive view of China’s development — Rohan Silva’s perceptive analysis of China’s success in the world — instead of the unremitting negative propaganda coming from across the Atlantic [“China is showing us we can be part of an amazing future”, 3 July].

After many years working with Chinese people, the one common factor I have found among them is their energy and enthusiasm, best expressed as a “can-do attitude”.

In technology they have gone way beyond the outdated concept of just copying western goods, focusing instead on vigorous innovation and invention. As Bernard Charlès, CEO of Dassault Systèmes, says, the Chinese are ahead in so many ways, including drones.

We can indeed be part of China’s “amazing future” if we are prepared to work with the Chinese, not try to work against them, and enjoy success together.
John Pickup

Mela is the best of multiculturalism

The opening of the Zee London Mela in Southall Park is one of our local cultural highlights [“Southall set to host 2018 London Mela”, July 3]. The Punjabi, Gujarati, Pakistani, Somali, Afghani, Tamil and Polish communities come together from all around west London to experience the vibrancy and diversity of Ealing and Southall.

The UK’s Indian community has its spiritual home in Southall — it is where the first immigrants put down their roots and thousands still live in the area. I moved to Hanwell 50 years ago and I still live nearby with my family.

When the Mela comes to town, all faiths and cultures come together and represent the best of Britain, and prove how successful a multicultural community can be.
Virendra Sharma
Labour MP for Ealing Southall

Social care is vital as well as the NHS

AS THE country rightfully celebrates the achievements of the NHS, it’s vital to remember that it alone can’t tackle every health and care challenge we face.

When local government sneezes, the NHS catches a cold. The social care provided by London’s boroughs is crucial for supporting people who live at home, but the capital faces a £300 million funding gap in its provision. Our Public Health Grant has been reduced, meaning fewer services promoting good health and keeping people out of hospital

Rather than to continue to perpetuate a silo-based approach, central government must ensure all parts of the health and care system receive the resources they need – not just the NHS.
Cllr Ray Puddifoot

THE promised extra £20 billion for the NHS will soon be swallowed up by corporate vultures.
Ian Brown

Mining firms can help trapped Thais

I was living in South Africa in 2010 when South African mining companies, via the country’s government, received a request for assistance from the Government of Chile for the 33 miners trapped by a cave-in.

The South African companies brought heavy rock-drilling equipment in and (something I don’t understand to this day) managed to bore a narrow shaft around corners and into the area where the miners were. They then built a small, bullet-shaped “capsule” with wheels which was lowered down the hole to extract the miners, one by one.

Might I suggest that the Thai government requests assistance from the South African government and attendant mining companies to help the Thai boys trapped in a cave in Chiang Rai Province?
Edward Mitchell

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