Father outraged after school sends safe sex letter home with young students
A Queensland school has apologised over a letter sent to parents of young children about safe oral, vaginal and anal sex.
The letter, obtained by news.com.au from the parent of a Year 1 student, tells guardians of kids at Ipswich West State School Molluscum contagiosum, a viral skin infection, has been detected in the school.
The letter advises parents of the infection and contains a separate fact sheet from Queensland Health.
According to Queensland Health, Molluscum contagiosum is a common skin infection.
It can be transferred via the sharing of personal items such as towels and razors but also through contact sports such as rugby.
Another form of transferring the infection is sex, which was explained in the Queensland Health fact sheet attached to the letter to parents.
“You should not have sex with someone who has a visible lump or sore on or near the genitals,” the fact sheet reads.
“Genital lumps or sores could be due to Molluscum contagiosum or some other sexually transmissible infection (STI) such as herpes, genital warts or syphilis. If a sexual partner has a genital lump or ulcer, advise that person to have a sexual health check.”
The information includes advice on safe sex including encouraging people to use condoms with “water-based lubricant” during vaginal or anal sex.
“If you are giving a man oral sex ... then he should wear a condom,” the fact sheet reads.
The dad told news.com.au he’s glad his son didn’t read the letter.
“What type of education system/staff do we have in this state that thought it was fine (signed off by the principal) to hand primary school children a letter which describes sexual intercourse and fellatio?” he said.
In a statement to Yahoo News, a Queensland Education Department spokesperson confirmed the letter was sent from Ipswich West State School and put it down to an “administrative error” which resulted in the “incorrect fact sheet” being sent with the notice.
“The school apologises for any distress that may have been caused by the provision of information that is not considered age appropriate,” the spokesperson said.
“The school is communicating with parents and is working to provide more age appropriate information.
“Parents concerned about the health of their child are encouraged to seek medical advice.”
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