New Zealand: School defends using 'intolerant' pamphlet

The school says it is inclusive and the material does not reflect its own views

A secondary school in New Zealand has defended using a conservative Christian sex education pamphlet during a health class.

The pamphlet, titled Safe Sex, describes women who have pre-marital sex as "cheap prostitutes" and says unwed couples who live together are "habitual and irresponsible fornicators", the 3 News website reports. Published by the US-based Bible Baptist Publications, the material also claims "death and hell" await anyone having gay sex. It was handed out to 15-year-olds during a health studies class at Papanui High School in Christchurch. A mother who complained about the pamphlet says there wasn't enough context provided in the lesson, something the school has apparently put down to a substitute teacher taking the class.

Headteacher Jeff Smith says the material was used in order to show students an extreme perspective and in no way reflects the school's own views. "This is a perspective that is out there and they need to be aware of this, so they can then make informed decisions themselves," Mr Smith is quoted as saying on TVNZ website.

The Ministry of Education says it hasn't received any complaints, but the debate continues to rage online. Some social media users point out that the material may upset gay students or those from single-parent families, and many think it has no place in a classroom setting. "There is zero excuse for exposing children to this hate-filled nonsense," one user writes on the Stuff.co.nz website. But others support the school's argument. The pamphlet was used "in the same way one might discuss perspectives of terrorism" or the views of Adolf Hitler, one man writes. "It is an educated mind that considers a point of view without necessarily accepting it."

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