Selwyn_Times: September 27, 2023

Readers respond to
the district council’s
decision to review
the controversial
sex education book
Welcome to Sex: Your
no-silly-questions guide
to sexuality, pleasure
and figuring it out, by
former Dolly Doctor
and youth health expert
Dr Melissa Kang and
TV personality Yumi
Stynes, after a Selwyn
resident raised issue
with the book being in
the district’s libraries in
a public forum at the
district council meeting
I’m honestly so disheartened
that in 2023 people are still not
open about sex or sex education.
When we don’t talk about things,
it encourages people to feel
shame. Sex is not something
anyone should feel shameful
about, it’s a natural part of life
that we should be open about.
If you’re a parent, you should
be setting your children up
for success. And that includes
educating them about their
bodies, allowing them to be
curious and bringing them up
in an environment where they
feel safe to ask questions and
know they will be listened to
and answered. You’re kidding
yourself if you think your child
is “too young” to learn about sex.
Sex is everywhere, they see it on
TV, social media, they talk about
it at school. Denying this is only
adding fuel to the shame cycle.
-Anna Strange
The Selwyn resident who finds
this book “disgusting” clearly
has her maladaptive view of sex
and sexuality frozen in the 1950s
and should have no role in advising
the council library on what
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
books it should have available.
-Brandon Hutchison
West Melton
This book should absolutely
not be in public libraries,
especially in Selwyn. It is the
parents right and responsibility
to introduce their children, at
an age they deem appropriate,
regarding being knowledgeable,
informed and prepared for their
sexuality.
They, and not the state or
librarians, are fundamentally
in charge and responsible for
their children’s full education.
Schools must gain permission
and consent from their parents
in provision and the content/
information of the sex education
delivered in schools.
-Judi Lawrence
All I can say about Nicki Moen
and Tracy Clelland is that they
should be absolutely ashamed
of themselves for even attempting
to justify that disgusting,
inappropriate trash of an “educational
resource” being shared
in the library to begin with and
anywhere near children at all.
-James Jones
Lincoln South
development decision
I have followed the various letters
to the Selwyn Times regarding
the contentious PC69 issue.
LETTERS 15
An open book: Sex ed controversy continues
TEEN BOOK:
Welcome to
Sex: Your nosilly-questions
guide to
sexuality,
pleasure and
figuring it out
has divided
readers on
both sides of
the Tasman
since it was
published in
May.
We want to hear your views
on the issues affecting life
in Selwyn
Send emails to:
barry@starmedia.kiwi
Wednesday September 27 2023 Selwyn Times
Whilst I don’t know the finer
details I certainly understand
the frustration and outrage by
the various writers.
It does sound very familiar.
Trying to get any sensible
information from council staff
and the elected ratepayers
representatives is a futile
undertaking.
How dare someone challenge
their existence and rattle
the cage at that imperium in
Rolleston.
My beef? Trying to get
answers why the swimming
pool inspection fees rose more
than 40 per cent since January
2021. In 2021 a visit was charged
at $150, it is now $215. In
comparison the Christchurch
City Council fee for the same
inspection is $140.
-Basil Meyer
Letters may be edited or rejected at Star Media’s
discretion. Letters should be about 200 words.
A name, postal address and phone number should be
provided.
Please use your real name, not a nickname, alias, pen
name or abbreviation.
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