As a part of a debatable new program, schools are encouraging young children to refuse kisses from their grandmothers if they wish to do so.
The program called ‘Respect Matters’ was brought to life by the Government of Australia and was adopted by countless schools in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
Through the initiative, the children will now be taught everything from gender equality to navigating relationships to a proper exchange of respect.
An important topic for discussion is also sexuality and consent, as a part of which students of all ages are to be encouraged to refuse unwanted touching, including kisses on the cheek from grandparents.
In addition, the educators, who are hoping to reduce the number of sexual assaults and incidents with the help of the implementation of the program, will teach the kids where it is appropriate for others to touch them and where it isn’t.
“We’re talking about situations such as Grandma wants to swoop in for the big sloppy kiss and if the child doesn’t want that to happen what can they do,” childhood educator Margie Buttriss said in an interview with ABC.
“And they can respectfully say: ‘No thanks Grandma, let’s have a hug instead.’”
As educator Lael Stone added, parents would be shocked if they knew just how much their children know about the sexual stuff and how little they know about relationships.
According to Ms. Stone, young people want and are in need of more information on how to manage relationships in a respectful manner.
“The evidence says that face-to-face education is much, much better than online education in actually achieving attitudinal and behavioral changes,” Anna Hush of the End Rape on Campus initiative said, defending the program.
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