London: Nationwide petition launched as poll finds most parents don’t want sex ed in schools

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Nationwide petition launched as poll finds most parents don’t want sex ed in schools
London, 6 May 2011: A group representing parents has launched a nationwide petition calling on the government to ban sexually-explicit videos from primary schools (see note 2 below). The petition's launch comes at the same time as a poll which found that 59% of parents with primary-age children are opposed to sex education in schools (note 1). The petition has been launched by Safe at School, a campaign started by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), a leading UK pro-life group. The petition cites content from the sexually-explicit DVDs which are part of Channel 4's “Living and Growing” programme for primary schools. Children between seven and nine years of age are shown animations of sexual intercourse in different positions and are told that touching their sexual organs is pleasurable. “Living and Growing”, heavily promoted by local authorities, is the most-widely used sex education teaching resource. Antonia Tully of Safe at School welcomed the Babychild.org poll on sex education published today, saying: "This fits in entirely with what parents are telling me. We’re now in the sex ed season, as the summer term is when many primary schools cover sex and relationships education, and I’m getting a increased number of calls from worried parents.” “Safe at School is supporting groups of parents around the country who are mounting local campaigns to get the 'Living and Growing' resource out of schools." Antonia Tully of Safe at School can be contacted on (020) 8407 3463. http://www.spuc.org.uk/campaigns/safeatschool/ Notes: 1. The findings of the Babychild.org poll have been reported by the BBC http://bbc.in/mgKA0x and the Daily Mail http://bit.ly/kW2K4L 2. The wording of the Safe at School petition is below. People wishing to collect signatures for the petition should contact SPUC by email at orders@spuc.org.uk or by post to SPUC, 3 Whitacre Mews, Stannary Street, London, SE11 4AB. Give children back their childhood Sex education programmes in primary schools are causing widespread concern among parents. In many primary schools children are exposed to indecent, sexually explicit DVDs. Children are forced to grow up too fast.  - Children as young as 7 years old are shown how to perform sexual intercourse.  - Children are told that touching their sexual organs is pleasurable. Now some MPs want to:  - force all state-funded schools to teach sex education  - stop parents having any say over whether their children are given sex lessons. We the undersigned call upon the secretary of state for education to protect children from explicit sex lessons in primary schools.