Parental Responsibility

It is ironic that Welsh Labour so often claim to be the party of inclusiveness, whilst at the same time, enforcing their ideological propaganda on the families of Wales. Their latest authoritarian act is enforcing the mandatory Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) Code Curriculum, whereby children will be taught sensitive and possibly inappropriate issues such as gender ideology. No longer will parents have the option to opt their children out of RSE, regardless of whether they agree or disagree with the ideological content being taught.

In the spirit of inclusiveness, surely “live and let live” should be the mantra of any fair and open society and that should include giving parents the freedom to choose for their children, what they see as appropriate sex and relationship education. By forcing the RSE curriculum on children, whose parents do not want it, is to ostracise a portion of society.

Ministers claim that the new curriculum, is ‘developmentally appropriate’. However, campaigners say the topics are ‘inappropriate’ for primary pupils. The chair of the campaign group Public Child Protection Wales, Kim Isherwood believes that “this will do great harm to children”.

The organisation has the support of 5,000 parents and they are bringing a case against the Welsh Government to the High Court. Their case is in the hands of barrister Paul Diamond and the latest developments have seen a High Court judge grant a Judicial Review. Therefore, the case will be heard in the High Court in Cardiff, with the date TBC. The new RSE curriculum comes into effect in Wales, September 2022, and children from the age of 3 years old, will have no choice but to take part.

Whatever a person’s belief around relationships or sexuality, surely it is the job of parents to teach their children this sensitive and personal topic, free from state interference and ideology?

Ritchie Robinson - Libertarian Party Wales