Our statement on the 'BBC Sunday Morning Live' sex education discussion
24 October 2011
Please read our response to the 'BBC Sunday Morning Live' show discussion on sex education, broadcast October 16th:
"The PSHE Association, the subject association for personal, social, health and economic education (of which sex and relationships education is a key component), is very concerned and disappointed that the BBC allowed comments by Lynette Burrows comparing teachers of sex education to paedophiles to go unchallenged by the presenter of BBC Sunday Morning Live. Allowing such extreme language could put those teaching SRE at risk from violence.
Alice Hoyle, the sex and relationships education teacher who appeared on the show, is an elected member of our Advisory Council. We are very proud of her for going on the show and attempting to explain why good sex and relationships education is so important. It is a shame she wasn't given sufficient chance to do this properly.
Sex and relationships education is absolutely not about showing "dirty pictures" or "destroying childhood innocence". It is about sensitively teaching and supporting children and young people at an age appropriate level to manage the
transition into adulthood. To suggest otherwise is a gross distortion
of the truth." Dr. John Lloyd, Policy Advisor, PSHE Association.
Although the show itself is now unavailable to view online you can read the following articles and statements relating to it:
- The Guardian's Lay Scientist blog post (featuring comment from the PSHE Association): 'Why did the BBC broadcast a clip comparing sex education teachers to paedophiles?'
- A statement from Family Planning Association Chief Executive Julie Bentley: "Sex and relationships education is NOT teaching children how to have sex. When FPA talks about relationships and sex education for primary-age children we mean talking to children about friendship, love, caring and respect."