Daniel Andrews says the Safe Schools program is here to stay

Daniel Andrews says the Safe Schools program is here to stay

A VICTORIAN school has been slammed for creating a “culture of shame” by encouraging students to “delay sex”.

As part of the Respectful Relationships curriculum, Officer Secondary College in Melbourne’s southeast sent an email to parents of Year 8 students urging them to “delay sexual activity in school-aged youth”.

The Respectful Relationships curriculum was introduced in schools to educate young people about domestic violence. The Victorian Government invested $21.8 million over two years to roll out the curriculum.

“The unacceptably high rates of family violence, in particular violence against woman and their children, are well documented,” the state government said. “We know that cultural change is necessary and that education setting can play an integral role in this.

“Evidence shows that schools and early childhood services can play a powerful role in changing this story for future generations.’

Parents slammed the school, with one telling Fairfax Media the suggestion students should not engage in sexual activity until they finished high school was “archaic”.

“It sets up a culture of shame around sexual desire and feelings, and a culture of secrecy when students are in relationships,” the parent said. “Students who are already engaged in sexual relationships may think having sex is inherently risky and dangerous.”

Another parent told Fairfax Media it was unrealistic to expect a young person would abstain from sex until they were married.

The school has been shrouded in controversy before, enduring a backlash last year after it taught the book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. There were concerns 13-year-olds were reading chapters that related to masturbation.

According to Fairfax Media, Officer Secondary College told parents the Respectful Relationships curriculum would focus on pressures young people face, unhealthy relationships, “how to live a healthy life and avoid risky behaviours (abstinence)”, as well as STIs and contraceptive methods.

“These lessons aim to provide students with medically accurate information and communication skills to help them make decisions that can keep them healthy and safe,” the email said.

The school claimed the email was not reflective of the school’s program and assistant principal Hamish Moffett said: “The Health and PE program at Officer SC aims to educate students in being respectful, responsible and informed.”

The controversy over the Respectful Relationships curriculum comes after the (unrelated) Safe Schools program was accused of promoting “inappropriate sexual activity”.