2023-10-09 03:21:54
Geneva10.10.2023 – 08:42 Written by Adelita Genoud
SCHOOL • Sex education lessons irritate some parents of Geneva students. The tensions mainly revolve around the notions of sexual orientation and gender identity. The school authorities will not grant an exemption for this teaching validated by Berne.
All primary school students in Geneva follow sexual and emotional health education courses in 4P, 6P and 8P. Published in September 2022, the leaflet from the Child and Youth Health Service (SSEJ) gives information on the themes covered in these courses. Available on the Internet, it is entitled Sexuality, health, well-being: at school, it’s a whole program!.
In 4P, the course is called With Caution, With Confidence. It aims in particular to promote each person’s identity and to promote living well together. In 6P and 8P, students tackle the “History of Life” course. In addition to the child’s body and anatomy, students become familiar with the concepts of sexual orientation (which addresses heterosexuality and homosexuality) and gender stereotypes (generalized opinion or prejudice regarding the attributes or characteristics that women and men possess or must possess as well as the roles they play or must play). The objective of this approach is to make students aware of the difference.
No exemption granted
However, some parents are offended, others try to remove their offspring from this program. In order to prevent their children from attending these classes which arouse their distrust, some parents have requested exemptions. It’s a waste of time because the school doesn’t grant any. This is evidenced by the written response from the General Directorate of Compulsory Education (DGEO) to one of these recalcitrant parents. “These courses must be understood and seen as complementary to the educational action of families. They are given to all students in the canton of Geneva and meet specific criteria,” indicates the executive of the Department of Public Instruction (DIP).
Among the criteria set out, we can notably read that these courses are anchored in national and international reference frameworks recognized by the Confederation and that they are not subject to any exemption – not even for religious or philosophical reasons. Xavier*, a parent of a student, explains the reasons for his anger: “I do not want my child to follow lessons steeped in LGBT propaganda. There is an insidious desire which seeks, ultimately, to make our children gay or trans. I refuse to allow schools to adopt the ideological agenda of active minorities who seek to fracture society. As a last resort, I am considering legal action with other parents.”
*Person known to the editorial staff
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#Sex #education #parents #step #plate #GHI
