Contents of workshop in line with expert advice

Although there is some discussion on sex, Focus on the Family’s It’s Uncomplicated workshop is on relationship management.

Nevertheless, it is apposite that in “Sexuality workshops should reflect spectrum of values” (Oct 11), reference was made to the 2009 controversy over the sexuality education syllabus taught by the Association of Women for Action and Research.

The lesson learnt then was that, in matters of sexuality, schools should reflect the mainstream views and values of Singapore society, “where the social norm consists of the married heterosexual family unit”.

The Education Ministry added in its 2009 statement that schools “do not promote alternative lifestyles” to students. Despite changes happening worldwide, statistics have shown that Singapore remains a largely conservative society.

This year, a survey by the Institute of Policy Studies found that most Singaporeans regarded premarital sex (56.4 percent) and having a pregnancy outside of marriage (72.5 percent) as always or almost always wrong.

As part of a relationship workshop, the contents of Focus on the Family’s booklet are broadly in line with the analysis and advice given by relationship counsellors and experts.

For example, in his bestselling book “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus”, Dr John Gray highlights the general differences between the emotional needs and communication styles of men and women, before offering some practical solutions to both sexes.

“When men and women are able to respect and accept their differences,” he writes, “then love has a chance to blossom.”

I would encourage critics to compare like with like rather than jump to hasty conclusions, and to begin by examining the Focus on the Family booklet according to the category in which it belongs.