Grave concerns have been voiced over a Dundee secondary school hosting talks by a controversial anti-abortion charity.
St John’s RC High School has had the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) in to speak to pupils several times over the last few years.
According to research by The Herald the Dundee school has welcomed the pro-life campaign group nine times since August 2017.
Pictures of smiling S6 pupils at a religious education conference hosted by St John’s in September 2019 and said to have included speakers from SPUC Scotland can be seen in an article on the Teaching is Believing website.
Staff and pupils from St Paul’s Academy, St John’s Academy and Kilgraston School also attended, it says.
Tiny Feet programme for primary schools
An unnamed primary school in the city also had at least one visit in relation to SPUC’s Tiny Feet programme, which teaches children about the ‘beauty of life before birth’ and covers running a pro-life club.
Dundee City Council and seven other Scottish local authorities whose schools have welcomed the SPUC should consider whether young people’s rights had been violated, according to the Humanist Society Scotland.
Fraser Sutherland, the society’s chief executive, said: “We have grave concerns regarding the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children delivering sessions and attending schools across Scotland.
“There is a huge difference between schools objectively presenting differing viewpoints led by professional teachers on ethical issues in the RE classroom and repeatedly inviting in groups that hold anti-abortion views to provide classes on healthcare and wellbeing.
…we have not – and would never – run pro-abortion clubs for children.”
Fraser Sutherland, Humanist Society Scotland
“Despite our firm belief in a woman’s right to choose a safe and legal abortion, we have not – and would never – run pro-abortion clubs for children.
“We are calling on Cosla and local authorities across Scotland to review how inviting partisan actors on healthcare might constitute a violation of young people’s right to objective and balanced information.”
Nic Nesbitt, a member of the Abortion Rights Dundee campaign group, recalled a talk at another Dundee school in late 1990s in which she said she and fellow pupils were shown pictures of aborted fetuses.
She said: “As a young teenager, I kind of just believed whatever my teachers told me, so I was able to be convinced that the UK had a baby murdering epidemic, that women just went out and had abortions willy-nilly, and in some cases got pregnant intentionally just so they could have abortions.
“I think it’s ok for charities and campaign groups to go into schools but children and young people really need to be able to see both sides.”
Head teacher’s decision
A Dundee City Council spokesperson said it was “a matter for the head teacher to take a decision about visits like this”.
The SPUC insisted it is “completely transparent” about what it covers with schools and complies with any requirements schools make.
Michael Robinson, executive director for public affairs and legal services, said: “The Tiny Feet pack, for example, is designed to meet the national curriculum and complement the good work of teachers.
“Information provided in schools should be based on robust evidence and expertise.
“Teachers who do not deal with particular issues on a regular basis may benefit from the support of those who have such familiarity with a topic.
“SPUC provides such support and does so always under the approval and supervision of the teachers who invite us into their classrooms.”
Conversation