DCU employees were threatened with violence after a viral video “misrepresented” a sex education course, the university says

The program was intended to help second level teachers and schools deliver the new Social, Personal and Health Education/Relationships and Sexuality Education (SPHE/RSE) curriculum, but was the subject of what a spokesman called a “concerted disinformation campaign”. in the last few weeks.

The university said it was now “exploring all legal options” in the matter as teaching staff had subsequently been subjected to “unacceptable” threats, insults and “defamatory comments” online.

A viral video said teachers on the course were shown videos of a cartoon woman masturbating and other images depicting sex and sexual activity between heterosexual and homosexual couples.

It also stated that participants had to make sexual organs out of plasticine as part of their class preparation for conducting SPHE.

The video, which claimed the course contained “inappropriate” and some “devilish” course material, has been the subject of numerous online discussions in the weeks since.

The university said the ensuing “disinformation campaign” incorrectly conflated what teachers were taught with what would be taught in schools.

“This campaign specifically brings together what is taught to teachers through the Graduate Diploma program so that they have a broader knowledge of the SPHE/RSE sector, and what is actually taught to secondary school students under the national curriculum,” it said in a statement from DCU.

“It has resulted in targeted attacks on the academic staff teaching the course, with unacceptable threats of violence, misogynistic and homophobic slurs and defamatory remarks on social media, in comment sections on articles about the course and via email,” the said Statement added.

“The university is exploring all legal options regarding these matters.”

The university added that the course is aimed at second level teachers to support them in delivering the curriculum and “to enable them to help children and young people at what can be an incredibly challenging time in their lives”.

“It covers topics such as mental health and wellbeing, consent, sexuality, respect and relationships; “all in a sensitive and age-appropriate manner,” it said.

“Supporting and protecting children and educating them according to the curriculum is a top priority for teachers and DCU.”

The materials in the course would be made available “only to teachers as adults” as part of their broader training, they said.

“The DCU clarifies that no graphic or explicit material is intended for use by teachers in secondary school teaching. Any claims saying otherwise are completely false,” the DCU said.

“The university stands firmly behind the content of the course and fully supports the academic staff who deliver it.”