Mattie McGrath demands immediate withdrawal of SPHE textbook
Mattie McGrath raised alarm over a new SPHE curriculum textbook, saying teachers are resigning and the content could be harmful to young school students. He called on the Minister of Education to immediately withdraw the textbook and accused the Department of Education of failing to carry out proper risk and impact assessments.
Allegations about SPHE material
McGrath said the explicit content in the textbook and associated materials has "crossed a line" and could be hugely harmful to young school students. He emphasised that he is not opposed to sex education in secondary schools but objects to the explicitness of the material.
Teachers' resignations and concerns
He cited a teacher with 16 years' SPHE experience who reported she is one of several teachers who have resigned or are considering resigning because they are "completely appalled and sickened and deeply concerned" by the material.
Demand for immediate withdrawal
McGrath called on the Minister of Education to "immediately withdraw this textbook for the teacher training" and questioned who is driving the curriculum agenda within the Department of Education.
Criticism of departmental processes
He accused the Department of Education of failing to conduct the proper risk or impact assessment on the potential harm the material can cause to young students, urging urgent action from the Minister.
Departmental referral recorded
A colleague queried whether the material related to teacher training or to SPHE or the RSC and said they would refer the matter to the Minister and ask her to come back with a response, according to the exchange recorded in the debate.
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A great teacher who has taught SPHE over a period of 16 years says she is one of several teachers who have resigned or are considering resigning from their roles because they are completely appalled and sickened and deeply concerned at the new SPHE curriculum which they say has the potential to be hugely harmful to young school students. I'm not against sex education in secondary schools but the explicit content in this textbook and the associated material have crossed a line. The Department of Education has failed to conduct the proper risk or impact assessment on the potential harm this material can cause to young students and indeed I am calling on the Minister of Education now to immediately withdraw this textbook for the teacher training. What is going on in the Department of Education? This is not the first time that we have seen things like this and who is driving this agenda? So this has to be withdrawn immediately and I call the Minister for it to act immediately and if not so you should act on it. I did not fully, I did not fully, I did not quite get the overall import of what you were saying there but my understanding is if that relates to material for adults in respect, if that is a teacher training material is it? In respect of the SPHE or the RSC? I will refer the matter to the Minister and ask her to come back to you on it.
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