Page 5329 - Week 14 - Thursday, 19 November 2009
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Department of Education and Training investigation into a seminar conducted by an organisation known as Focus on the Family at Canberra high school on 26 October this year. As members would be aware, a complaint was made by a parent about the content of seminars conducted at Canberra high school on 26 October and I immediately asked the Department of Education and Training to investigate. This complaint was the subject of some media interest.
The investigation considered both the content of the seminar provided at Canberra high school on 26 October and the selection process used by Canberra high school in selecting Focus on the Family to deliver the seminar. As part of the investigation, the department interviewed a number of people, including the principal and five teachers from Canberra high school and principals of three other high schools who have used Focus on the Family in the past. It considered a number of documents, including comments provided by a sample of students following the seminars and material provided by Focus on the Family relating to the seminars.
Mr Speaker, I will go through the allegations made in the complaint and impressions from teachers when interviewed. The impressions alleged from the complaint included that “sex is bad”. No teachers interviewed believed that this message was made or implied. “If you have sex, you will catch AIDS or some other STD and die”. No teacher believed this message was made or implied. However, one teacher recalled that the presentation suggested unsafe sex could lead to AIDS or STDs and that this could lead to death.
“If you have sex, you are bad”. No teachers interviewed believed that this message was made or implied. “You can become gay by watching gay pornography”. No teachers interviewed believed that this message was made or implied. “You can become attracted to animals by watching bestiality pornography”. No teachers interviewed believed that this message was made or implied. However, teachers reported that bestiality pornography was mentioned as an example related to desensitisation.
“Homosexuality and bestiality are part of a continuum of wrongness”. No teachers interviewed believed that this message was made or implied. However, one teacher reported that bestiality was not painted in a positive light. “If two people have sex, it is the boy’s fault”. Teachers reported that this was not stated directly but felt that some messages could have been misinterpreted. For example, a video clip about teenage pregnancy implied the boy was at fault. “Girls should not incite boys by, for example, wearing make-up or putting their hair up”. Teachers reported that this was not stated directly but that reference was made to girls dressing provocatively.
According to the report, Canberra high school teachers were positive in their feedback regarding the seminars, but some did say that some of the examples used could have been more wisely selected. All teachers, principals and the presenter reject the notion the young people would have formed the impressions suggested by the complainant. Principals from other government schools provided similar feedback.
Students’ feedback indicated that some content was ill-advised. There was no evidence to support that Canberra high school students formed lasting impressions. However, some misconceptions were raised. For example, in the student feedback
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