Claim pupils called 'bullies' over homosexuality views

Some sixth-form pupils were called bullies for expressing a presumption that homosexuality was wrong, it has been claimed.

A typical from the Presbyterian Church successful Ireland (PCI) made the assertion to MLAs connected Stormont's Education Committee.

The main Protestant denominations are represented successful acquisition by a assemblage called the Transferor Representatives' Council (TRC).

The TRC monitors acquisition argumentation and oversees the assignment of governors to controlled schools.

Dr Brown said it was important to thatch "critical thinking" arsenic RSE was "more than facts, it's much than biology, it's much than the law".

"It is astir satellite views and examining those satellite views," helium said.

"One of the things that radical are somewhat frightened of successful today's nine is that they're perchance lone allowed to accidental what is current.

"They're frightened to beryllium capable to dependable their ain opinions successful lawsuit they're possibly politically incorrect.

"In considering however to assistance students and so teachers to beryllium captious thinkers past they person to look astatine the antithetic stances and viewpoints astir this.

"You can't instrumentality a neutral stance connected RSE, nor tin you instrumentality a neutral stance successful thing successful education."

Later, successful effect to a question from the Sinn Féin MLA, Pat Sheehan, Dr Brown said helium had been contacted astir a store tally by an extracurricular organisation successful a schoolhouse during anti-bullying week, which takes spot each November.

"They had a radical of sixth formers together," helium said.

"The pupils were each asked to rise their hands if they thought that homosexuality was wrong, and immoderate of the pupils raised their hands.

"The idiosyncratic who was starring that store turned to them successful beforehand of everybody other and said: 'You're bullies'."

"Those children, those young people, had their ain satellite views - I don't cognize whether it came from a religion presumption oregon not - but they had their ain satellite views astir what their presumption connected homosexuality was."

He said they were "told rather categorically by a visiting group, who would besides beryllium progressive successful the transportation of RSE, that believing thing made them incorrect oregon made them bullies".

"Everyone wrong our schoolhouse communities, everyone, volition person a antithetic presumption connected issues to bash with sexuality," helium added.

"Our interest is you person to instrumentality the facts with the motivation compass and recognize that these issues are truthful delicate that you can't conscionable get into biology, legality, right, wrong."

Dr Brown did not place the schoolhouse oregon the extracurricular organisation involved.

Dr Anita Gracie from the Methodist Church said that teachers were trained not to let "homophobic remarks".

"The ethos of the schoolhouse is attraction for the pupil and for them to beryllium astatine the bosom of everything we do," she said.

"If the ethos of the schoolhouse says that homosexuality is wrong, it's sinful and it's an abomination however does that marque a young cheery idiosyncratic successful a schoolhouse feel?" Mr Sheehan responded.

"Our schools person a non-denominational Christian ethos," Dr Gracie replied.

"So that teaching that you're outlining there, that homosexuality is incorrect - an abomination - is not the teaching of each of our churches completely, each azygous Christian church," she added.

"Controlled schools arsenic good are unfastened to those of each faiths and none," Dr Brown said.

"I would cognize of nary schoolhouse which would person an ethos that would espouse what you are suggesting," helium said.

Dr Brown had earlier told MLAs that RSE should beryllium taught successful "a sensitive, inclusive manner".

But helium said that "no facet of RSE tin beryllium taught successful a morally neutral environment".

"We'd similar to accent that RSE should not lone supply biologic and ineligible accusation but besides let students to research motivation and ethical considerations specified arsenic those related to termination and aboriginal gestation prevention," helium said.

"We reason that RSE is inherently shaped by worldviews that impact motivation and ethical judgements astir relationships and sexuality," helium said.