Warning: This article discusses sexual content.
A horrified mum has taken her 11-year-old daughter out of a rural Northland school after she was taught graphic details about sex during class.
The mum says her daughter, who attended Tauraroa Area School in Maungakaramea until recently, was embarrassed and upset by the class - which she was told would be about health and periods.
The class included the option for students to ask anonymous questions. One asked "how is sex done?" which prompted the teacher to detail different types of sex such as genital, digital, object, oral and anal.
The students were also given a handout that included details about the different sexual acts such as using hands and feet to "sexually pleasure someone".
The mum told Newshub she had no idea about the graphic nature of the class until another parent gave her a heads up.
"We got a note saying they were going to be doing sex education a few weeks ago and I read through it... [and] I thought about it and decided it was okay because it said she would learn about periods and consent, stuff like that.
"She started her sex education classes and she didn't tell me too much about it because she was shy."
The mum said she didn't think anything of it until her daughter's friend's mother messaged her on Monday saying she was very upset by the contents of the class.
"I asked my daughter about it and she just said, 'Yeah they went through a handout about what sex was'. And I asked her, 'Where was your handout?' and she said, 'I gave it back to the teacher because I didn't feel comfortable about it'."
The handout, which Newshub has seen, includes details about what was taught in the class such as the different types of sex and how they're performed.
The mum said her daughter was very "uncomfortable" and felt "sick" after the class.
"We try to keep our daughter as innocent as possible...I just thought... no you can't teach my daughter about that. It has details about anal sex and all sorts of things. It was just disgusting and I am so disgusted by it."
She said the school's response wasn't good enough for her either and so she decided to remove her daughter from the school.
"I'm really shocked and horrified by what they were teaching children... I just feel like they were completely over-sexualising children and there is a very big difference between teaching children the very normal things about what their body is, how it is made and how babies are made than this really heightened sexuality stuff.
"This is adult stuff they were teaching. I just really feel this could get these children hurt because obviously none of them are going to tell their parents they learnt this because they're all too embarrassed. But all of a sudden there are these ideas that you're allowed to try, they said we can try these at school but they're children and they don't understand their bodies properly to be able to go and practise these things," she said.
Tauraroa Area School principal Grant Burns told Newshub the content was taught by mistake and the school has apologised to the parents.
"We had an incident where some inappropriate material was shared with a Year 7-8 class last Friday [August 12].
"I have apologised for the incident and put steps in place to ensure there is no repeat. Counselling is available for affected children," he said.
Burns also sent a letter to parents, which he shared with Newshub, apologising for the mistake. In the letter, he said the health curriculum allowed students to ask anonymous questions which teachers provided factual responses to.
He said last Friday students were given answers to some questions which were not "age appropriate".
"Our school's delivery of the sexuality aspect of the health curriculum provides an opportunity for students to ask anonymous questions to the teacher, who then answers with factual information. This allows students, who might have issues affecting them or a friend, to ask a question without a sense of fear or embarrassment," the letter read.
"Last Friday, 12 August, students in Room A received some answers to questions (written and spoken) that were not age appropriate. I write to apologise for the offence and embarrassment this has caused some students and their whānau. I also want to assure you that this will not happen again," he said in the letter.
Burns told Newshub teachers will no longer be answering all questions to ensure only age-appropriate responses are given in the future.
"I sincerely apologise for this information being shared with our young people through our school.
"It is regrettable that the information went beyond the scope of the sexuality programme as outlined to parents.
"Everyone involved is now acutely aware of the harm that can be caused through sharing inappropriate information. Students affected have counselling available to them. We will no longer use the Anonymous Question Box in this way, and will be careful to remain within the scope of the curriculum."
He said the school's sex education programme takes a holistic approach to sexuality and relationships which includes physical, social, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects.
"Sexuality in our Health curriculum is much more than traditional 'sex education'. It is important that, alongside important information about puberty and reproduction, we adopt a holistic approach to relationships and sexuality education.
"This is defined by the 'hauora' (wellbeing) model which includes physical, social, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects.
"I know that many parents value the work the school does in this potentially difficult area of the curriculum. The frank and open approach is framed within the context of a genuinely caring school. I know that our strategy contributes to the safe and inclusive environment we enjoy - and opens the way to positive conversations at home."
