A majority of councillors have voted to reject controversial sex education materials for schools across the islands.
The content of the lesson resources, provided by the Scottish Government (available on the website rshp.scot) has shocked many people. Concerns were raised that children risked being introduced too soon to some topics.
The materials for primary children include a supposedly ‘comic’ reference to bestiality in one YouTube cartoon. In a lesson to secondary-age pupils, in just one of several inappropriate clips provided for use, a man winks at the camera as he lists categories of pornography.
Comhairle meeting
At a special meeting of the Comhairle – a local council – the proposed programme was deemed ‘highly inappropriate’ for the suggested age levels. A vote taken to use materials used by the Scottish Catholic Education Services, with adjustments where appropriate, was carried with 23-4 votes.
Cllr Calum Maclean notes: ‘Some of the resources within the revised rshp.scot materials used in the teaching of Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood are in my opinion most inappropriate for teaching in our schools and a significant number of parents, carers, faith groups and staff voiced their concerns to us. I am relieved that a significant number of councillors were also of the same opinion and voted to reject these resources.
‘Now that Western Isles Schools are to adopt these alternative resources, I feel that this will relieve these anxieties.’
The debate was described as ‘quite fraught’ at times.
