The Editor, Sir:

The furore this past week over reports of a textbook which refers to same-sex unions as a type of family option being used in some secondary schools is simply absurd.

The 'controversial' clause being debated is merely stating a fact and by no means advocating the acceptance of same-sex unions. Isn't a family a fundamental social group of two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another, and reside usually in the same dwelling place? This definition is very broad and over time will come to include many different combinations of people.

Single-parent families became popular in the 1970s when the incidence of divorce in the U.S. increased. The fact that same-sex unions, and polygamy for that matter, are prohibited in Jamaica does not negate these family structures as perfectly legal options in other global spaces. In some States girls marry as early as 12, in Jamaica we cringe at the thought. These facts are not taught as a way of life in schools, but are explored and taught as the realities of other nations.

Use of marijuana

Religious Education textbooks, for example, state the use of marijuana by Rastafarians for ritual purposes. The use of marijuana is illegal in Jamaica Rastafarians use it as a holy sacrament and believe it should be a religious privilege, marijuana use in Jamaica is illegal and if caught smoking the herb they will face legal penalties.We should not allow our homophobia to impair our sense of reasoning. Isn't it sad that Jamaica's education system is in shambles and we choose to debate a factual clause in a textbook? If the clause had stated definitively that gays and lesbians living together in Jamaica or in the Caribbean are referred to as a family then I would understand the cause for concern. The clause stated that such union may be considered a family. Isn't 'may be considered' the operative phrase?

I am, etc.,

Concerned Educator

literacyadvocate@gmail.com

Via Go-Jamaica