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Posted on 10/14/2001 1:05:25 PM PDT by concerned about politics

Children 'horrified' by pro-life talk

Some parents of Leary’s Brook junior high students in St. John’s were “horrified” this week to learn their children were subjected to a one-sided presentation by members of the pro-life movement.

The concerned parents, who plan to send a letter expressing their concerns to Avalon East School Board director Brian Shortall, are appalled to learn the school did not review the material prior to the presentation.

Further, the school didn’t ask for parental permission for the children to attend the 90-minute afternoon session. Some parents are equally disgusted about the manner in which John and Gaetanne Hetherington of Longueuil, Que., described an abortion to the grades 7-9 children — 11- to 14-year-olds.

Parents claim the pro-lifers told their children that when abortions occur, the fetus is turned in the womb so that the feet are delivered first. That physicians then reach in, cut the head from the neck and suck the brain out.

Some children placed their hands over their ears while others were reduced to tears by what they heard, a parent said, noting the presenters also showed the students a model of a fetus.

“My son was so horrified and gripped by this story that I don’t think he can get it out of his mind,” a mother said Thursday.

The woman agrees children have to learn the facts of life at some point, “but they do not need to be exposed to what is in fact fear-mongering.”

The presentation on how an abortion takes place isn’t factual, she said.

“This was clearly not appropriate, nor was it fair, nor was it objective, nor did it consider medical, moral, or legal realities in this country.”

Another parent said she was flabbergasted to hear her child associate the word “murder” with abortions. This goes well beyond whether someone is pro-life or not, she said.

She’s also annoyed the pro-life supporters got into the school without any review of the material.

“We are apologizing, we’re accepting full responsibility, we share parents’ concerns that this presentation was not appropriate, (and) a letter of apology is going home to all parents today from the principal of the school,” said Mary Tucker, the school board’s manager of communications.

The board and school officials also plan to take some corrective action to deal with it. If it’s necessary for followup instruction with the students from qualified people, such as a public health nurse or medical professional, it will be done, she said.

The board will also ensure that information being presented to children in the future is “age-appropriate, tasteful and balanced,” she said.

Tucker said material brought into the schools must be reviewed and sanctioned by the board and must be linked to the curriculum.

Tuesday’s presentation was not a well-rounded discussion as was expected, school officials claim, adding the Hetheringtons planned to focus on abortion, drugs, alcohol, leadership and values.

But many admit the afternoon session went off course when the floor was opened up to a question-and-answer session between the Hetheringtons and the students.

So who are the Hetheringtons?

They were in contact with the school before the end of the 2000-2001 school year about making a presentation. School staff claim the couple showed up Tuesday out of the blue from Quebec and wanted to do a presentation.

A parent said school officials could have easily found out about the Hetheringtons using the Internet.

The 100 Huntley Street page clearly shows that the couple appeared on its Sept. 6 show.

They attend Eglise Nouvelle Vie in Longueuil (the New Life Church). The Web site goes on to say “John is an abortion survivor and musician, and Gaetanne, a broadcast journalist.”

It says the couple returned to their Quebec roots “to be planted there in answer to God’s call on their lives, which is to bring the message of revival and the promised harvest of souls through the repentance for the sin of abortion.”

They have spoken to more than 300 churches and schools.

Some parents, meanwhile, have raised concerns to the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Association about Tuesday’s presentation.

‘One-sided’

Jerry Vink, the association’s executive director, said the issue does raise questions of human rights.

The Rights of the Child, which was enacted by both the Government of Canada and United Nations, speaks to the appropriateness of education, including “the development of respect for the child’s parents.”

“In human rights one of the things that we recognize is the education of a child should involve the parents and they should be aware of what goes on in the school,” Vink said.

Vink said the activities, which occurred Tuesday, did not — in his opinion — present a message of understanding, peace and tolerance as identified in the Rights of the Child.

“It’s the kind of one-sided, biased views that have no place in the educational process,” he said.

The Telegram could not reach the Hetheringtons Thursday.

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