Parents Lose Legal Fight Against 'Woke' Sex Education in Primary Schools

A group of parents lost a legal challenge against gender identity and sex topics taught to children in primary schools across Wales.

Parents called out the Welsh government's new curriculum on Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE), which they described as "dangerous" and "woke." The campaigners launched a judicial review in the high court against it.

Justice Steyn of Cardiff rejected the legal challenge after a two-day hearing.

"There is nothing in the code or the guidance that authorises or positively approves teaching that advocates or promotes any particular identity or sexual lifestyle over another, or that encourages children to self-identify in a particular way," the Judge concluded.

Students becoming better citizens

The RSE curriculum, launched last September, involved mandatory teaching to students as young as seven years old.

Parents complain that the code and guidance supporting schools to teach it didn't mention traditional ideas relating to family life and gave prominence to LGBTQ+ themes.

Judge Steyn stated that the curriculum and its introduction had been crafted with "careful consideration, The Guardian reported.

She further stated that it encourages tolerance among individuals' respective sexual identities and orientations. The curriculum, the Judge said, enables the students "to deal critically with influences from society," which will lead them to be "responsible and emancipated citizens capable of participating in the democratic processes of a pluralistic society."

Disappointments on both sides

The education minister in the Welsh government, Jeremy Miles, welcomed the judgment positively, expressing that the government has been clear that the curriculum is intended to keep the students safe and learn to respect and promote healthy relationships.

Further, he assured parents that the teaching the kids receive would be appropriate for their age and maturity.

In fact, according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the RSE is made effective and of high quality, as it ensures the children experience the following rights:

• Non-discrimination (Article 2);
• Be heard, express opinions, and be involved in decision-making (Article 12);
• Access information (Article 17);
• Experience the highest attainable health, access to health facilities, preventative health care, and family planning education and services (Article 24);
• An education that supports all children to develop and reach their full potential and prepares them to be understanding to others (Article 29);
• Government protection from sexual abuse and exploitation (Article 34).

Thus, he was quite disappointed by the misinformation that has been "purposefully spread" by some parents and campaigners. He continued that they have also added pressure and stress on schools and the workforce.

Kim Isherwood, on the other hand, the chair of the Public Child Protection Wales campaign and one of the claimants, also felt disappointed with the court's decision. She said they expected it to help parents and protect the kids from future emotional, physical, and psychological harm. She also accused the Labour-led government of Welsh of an "overreach of power."