The RSHP Strand is Seriously Affecting My Health and Wellbeing!
[RSHP is the sixth strand in the Health and Wellbeing Curriculum area.
The 6 strands are as follows: Mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing; Planning for choices and changes; Physical education, Physical activity and sport; Food and health; Substance misuse; Relationships, sexual health and parenthood.]
We can be grateful in Scotland that the requirements of the Curriculum for Excellence so closely match what Christian teachers and parents would consider to be a well-rounded education. Caring deeply, as we do, for the Health and Wellbeing of our pupils, the fact that there is a curriculum area called Health and Wellbeing and that, as with Literacy and Numeracy, we each have a responsibility for this across all learning, is welcome. There is a certain irony in the fact that Health and Wellbeing is taking so much of our mental and emotional energy, particularly the sixth strand of this curriculum area: Relationships, sexual health and parenthood.
Perhaps it is precisely because we care so much that, in our increasingly sexualised society with a growing diversity of beliefs and values, we find ourselves at a loss to know how to navigate the turbulent waters of the RSHP experiences and outcomes.
Let’s consider firstly the positives. There is much in the current guidelines with which we wholeheartedly agree and for which we are grateful. The Guidelines (frequently referred to in this blog) are found here: www.gov.scot/publications/conduct-relationships-sexual-health-parenthood-education-schools)
We affirm the necessity of “promoting a climate where all children feel safe and secure.” We celebrate diversity and “understand that it is everyone’s responsibility to challenge discrimination.” We are sensitive to the identities and characteristics and the diverse family backgrounds in which our pupils grow up. We always want to counter bullying. We challenge behaviour that diminishes the dignity of another person. We promote and model respectful relationships. We swiftly challenge criticism of another person on the grounds of their ethnic background, sexual orientation, social background, gender, creed, disability.
We are grateful that the Guidelines (in paragraph 55) acknowledge the necessity of consulting with parents before delivering the RSHP curriculum area. “It should be standard practice for schools to consult with parents and carers when they are developing or reviewing their programme of RSHP education. All parents and carers should be given the opportunity in advance to view key teaching materials and to ask questions about any aspect of the programme…”
We are grateful too that the choice of specific resources to deliver the curriculum is left to the professional judgement of school staff; so that we are at liberty to choose a variety of resources, materials and programmes relevant to the child, the school and the community; see paragraphs 24 and 25 of the Guidelines: “Whilst the Scottish Government and Education Scotland cannot prescribe materials for schools and other educational settings to use, Education Scotland has listed numerous resources that are useful for different levels of RSHP education. ….This is not intended to be a comprehensive or prescriptive list, but rather a list of materials that have been mapped against the experiences and outcomes for the RSHP organiser.” We are not obliged to use the suggested resources on the rshp.scot website. Our concern is to meet the requirements set out in the experiences and outcomes on 95-97 of the Curriculum for Excellence document: education.gov.scot/Documents/All-experiencesoutcomes18.pdf
Nonetheless there remain many challenges for Christian teachers. It is not unusual to hear:
- Sometimes I feel I am condoning actions or relationships that are at odds with my conscience
- I am asked to teach about delicate matters to pupils I hardly know
- There seems to be an imbalance in the resources available
- It feels as if it’s OK to hold any view apart from the Christian view
- If I exercise my right to be excused from teaching this strand of the curriculum, I fear it will spoil my relationships with colleagues
We don’t pretend to have the answers to these dilemmas but suggest –
Four things to remember:
1. Referring again to the Guidelines, paragraph 28: No school or individual teacher is under a duty to support, promote or endorse one type of relationship over another.
As a Christian teacher I will present different relationships and different views as fairly, generously and even-handedly as I can. This will require extra work as I listen, research and seek to understand other views so that I can present them knowledgeably. I’ll be willing to admit when I don’t know. I will model and encourage vigorous critiquing of all views. The Christian Institute’s resource Equipped for Equality cve-scotland.org.uk/resources/equipped-for-equality and the accompanying videos are helpful in this regard. youtube.com/watch?v=JFhfY2SVP7I
2. Paragraph 27 states: it is the Scottish Government’s expectation that if a teacher is asked to teach aspects of RSHP education to which they fundamentally object, they should feel comfortable raising this with the school or local authority…
It is understandable that a teacher may not want to exercise this right. There are times however when it may be advisable to graciously approach senior management and request some help. An example of this may be if the teacher felt that he or she had not had time to establish a secure and confident working relationship with the pupils.
3. Scholar and social critic Nancy Pearcey says: “Those who are most confident are also free to be the most loving and respectful toward others.”
We have a wonderful opportunity to share the good news of the possibility of flourishing as humans as we live in harmony with God’s intentions for us. I hope we haven’t lost confidence in the biblical story. We have a divinely given identity, we are made in His image, male and female. Marriage is a gift from God, a covenant between one man and one woman, it is a picture of Christ and his bride the church and the context for intimate sexual love. Family provides stability and protection for children. Let’s encourage each other in the truth of God’s Word and help each other to be confident about what we believe so that we can tell the story with contagious enthusiasm.
4. Lastly, remember these words of Jesus : “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16.33
Do get in touch to discuss these and any other issues via email to cve@cve-scotland.org.uk. We are always happy to hear from you.
Megan Patterson 04.12.2020.
