NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release April 5, 2005

Minister’s Sex Education Changes Cosmetic

The New Brunswick Right to Life Association is very concerned about the changes to the sex education program for anglophone middle schools that were announced today by the Minister of
Education, Madeleine Dubé. Executive Director Peter Ryan made the following comments.

"The changes appear cosmetic and inadequate. They do not address the wishes and deep concerns expressed by parents, parent-child advocates and a public opinion survey. We want to make clear we not against sex education. But we think an abstinence-based program would be healthier, more effective and more appropriate than the so-called ‘comprehensive’ type the Minister continues to defend.

"This morning we announced several criteria for evaluating the acceptability of the anticipated changes. From what we can tell, these criteria have generally not been met:
 
- The controversial teacher’s resource guide has definitely not been withdrawn.
- Abstinence is definitely not presented as a teaching goal.
- There is no indication that the issue of invasion of privacy has been adequately addressed.
- There is no indication that behaviours like oral sex and mutual masturbation are no longer
presented as healthy for middle school children.
- There is no indication that marriage is taught as a positive context for sexual relations.
- There is better provision for informing parents about the program and for allowing parents who
object to exempt children. It is not clear, however, whether parents must provide written consent
for the program. If not, the new provisions are inadequate.

"We have no reason to believe the revised program passes the grade. There is every reason for parents concerned about the moral and spiritual safety of their children to seriously consider an exemption."

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Contact: Peter Ryan 1-888-796-9600 / (506) 459-8990