Madam, - Mary Raftery (Opinion, August 14th) berates the former Taoiseach John Bruton for his wise rejection of the new sex education booklets: 4 Boys - A below-the-belt guide to the male body and 4 Girls - a below-the-bra guide to the female body. These booklets for 12- to 16- year-olds are produced by the Irish Family Association in conjunction with the North-Eastern Health Board. They were due to be foisted on naturally indiscriminating adolescents. They may still be.
Each booklet starts by presenting cartoon-style pictures of full frontals of eight nude boys or girls. The youngsters are questioning the size, shape and performance of their sex organs in the crude way children might do. (It is quite simple to state that sex organs can vary in shape and size without gross illustrations.)
Even when facts may be correct they can be presented with gratuitous vulgarity. Such is the tone of both booklets. One gets the feeling, on reading these booklets, that they were prepared either by "lads" to impress their mates or by adults kow-towing to the lowest common denominator in adolescent culture. The key message is to be at the ready with condoms when the urge strikes.
The books do not deal with the wholeness and dignity of the human being. There is no caring, self-control nor love; there cannot be such when refinement is missing.
The result of reading such de-forming material will be further peer pressure on adolescents. They will guffaw and giggle at the booklets and feel further pressured to "get into" irresponsible sex rather than risk rejection. These booklets illustrate the new enslavement imposed on children in the name of "freedom".
The story has not ended. Parents, be aware and awake! The producers of such material do not give in easily. Make inquiries at your child's school. - Yours, etc.,
ANGELA MACNAMARA, The Old Farm, Lower Kilmacud Road,
Dublin 14.