THE education ministry moved swiftly yesterday to quell fears among teachers and parents that it had hit rock bottom by endorsing a school textbook that apparently promoted same-sex unions and homosexuality.

Minister of Education Andrew Holness said a decisive ‘no’ to Rita Dyer and Norma Maynard’s book, C-SEC Home Economics and Beyond (Management), which reportedly refers to same-sex unions as family.

Holness angrily dismissed as “very unfortunate” a lead article in yesterday’s Gleaner newspaper which reported that the book was recommended reading by the education ministry, despite the fact that it included a section suggesting that there has been a “broadening of the traditional definitions of a family structure” and that “when two women or two men live together in a relationship as lesbians or gays, they may be considered as a family”.

“We want to make it absolutely clear that the Ministry of Education does not endorse or support the teaching of homosexual relationships as the accepted standard of family. We don’t teach it and we don’t recommend it,” said Holness.

He insisted that the ministry had endorsed another book called Home Economics: A Caribbean Perspective, which was written by the same authors who are said to be project directors at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in St Lucia.

“The book that is not endorsed by the ministry is the one with the offensive clause. The book that we have endorsed has nothing like that in it,” Holness said.

He lashed the newspaper for not consulting with him or his ministry before reporting that they had recommended the book.

“More than that, we published a list of approved books in the Gleaner three weeks ago, and the list is also on the ministry’s website,” he added.

Holness’ disclaimer came as teachers and church groups were marshalling their forces for an assault on the textbook.

When he spoke with the Observer yesterday, the minister had a copy of a letter from the president of the conservative Lawyer’s Christian Fellowship, Shirley Richards, expressing alarm that the ministry had recommended the book.

The group also sought an urgent meeting with the minister to discuss the report and promised to include other church representatives in the discussions.

The minister immediately reassured church leaders that the ministry was not supporting the teaching of same-sex relationships, and he reaffirmed his commitment and that of the government in “upholding the moral standards of the society and reinforcing a wholesome family structure”.

Earlier checks by the Observer found that teachers had strongly opposed the alleged recommendation of the offending home economics book.

Some educators said they would not support the teaching that two men or two women may constitute a family, and may have children by adoption or artificial insemination, as that book suggested.

Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) President Ena Barclay said the matter of homosexuality in the curriculum was not addressed in the JTA’s articles of association. However, she said based on comments by teachers in past meetings, the association did not support the promotion of the gay lifestyle.

“The JTA does not condone such things and our teachers do not wish to promote such activity,” Barclay told the Observer.

The JTA head declined to advise teachers on a course of action when using such books, but said she did not believe that not teaching the offending clause would affect the students’ preparation for CSEC examinations.

“It (homosexual relationships) is not something that we embrace in Jamaica, and we can’t ask our teachers to teach such a matter to students. But we will continue to discuss it among our teachers, and we will speak to the ministry about it at the earliest possible opportunity,” she added.

Principal of Kingston High School, Charles Reid declared: “I do not believe there should be same-sex relationships in our society, much less to teach it in school.”

Visibly upset, Reid continued: “I don’t care who in the Ministry of Education recommended it, I will not promote it in my school… And if the ministry sends it to me (for use at Kingston High), I’m going to send it right back to them.”

Stating that the Jamaican society should be grounded on biblical principles, Reid said: “I don’t think anyone has the right to impose this literature on our children”.

Immediate past JTA President Hopeton Henry said he would have to inquire whether the controversial textbook was being used at his school, Seaforth High. However, it was likely that it would be rejected by the staff, given their orientation and attitude towards homosexuals, he noted.

“It’s something we are going to have to engage the ministry on, but given the orientation of the staff, I think persons would find some of the things as stated repugnant to their conscience and would have a problem with their delivery,” Henry said.

– Additional reporting by Luke Douglas