The Editor, Sir:

This morning's Gleaner lead story - 'Same-sex lessons', reported on a textbook being used to prepare students for the CXC examinations in home economics; a section of the book was quoted, which indicated that same-sex unions may now be defined as a non-traditional family structure.

According to the article's writer, this has created some furore within education and religious circles.

There is no doubt that Jamaica is a homophobic country, to the extent that buggery is still illegal; however, it is time we take a realistic approach to what is happening in the world.

While not condoning the homosexual lifestyle, I believe we need to sensitise our children in an objective and professional manner about this and other non-traditional ways of life.

Burying our heads

What is the point of burying our heads in the sand and behaving as if it doesn't exist when they are seeing it via cable, the Internet, books and magazines?

Does this outcry reflect the sentiments of earlier days when sex education in schools was first taught? Was there fear that teaching sex education meant that we condoned early sexual activity among our children?

We should stop trying to impose our prejudices and narrow thinking on the education of our youngsters. When we equip them with the means to become critical thinkers rather than clones of ourselves, they will be ready to face the big bad world that we fear.

Let us not teach them to be so judgemental that they cannot see beyond our biases. Knowledge is power, as the saying goes; let us, therefore, empower our children to embrace diversity in all forms. We do not have to agree with each other to live in harmony.

I am, etc.,

MARCIA HARFORD

marciah@cwjamaica.com