Helen Houghton
Co-leader
New Conservative
“Activists are targeting our children with harmful ideologies. Not only through indoctrinating kids with anti-biology teaching on gender, but they are now attacking religious schools like Bethlehem College for their beliefs. This has to stop,“ says Helen Houghton, a former teacher and New Conservative co-leader.
New Conservative is calling for the following to be implemented:
- More independence for religious schools so they can have confidence that their beliefs and funding are secure against ideological campaigns and attacks by anti-religious activists.
- A complete ban on damaging anti-biological gender education in all schools and a complete ban on sex-ed for primary school children.
- To deal with increased truancy and bullying at schools, more tools need to be given so that schools can follow up on absent students to give them the support they need. Schools need greater flexibility to deal with students who bully and provide toxic and dangerous environments to other students and teachers.
- The recent increase in homeschooling following the COVID-19 pandemic shows that more can be done to make this a good option for families. Financial support that homeschooled children receive should be doubled.
“Giving families more options and making sure that schools are safe places for students is a key part of the common-sense policy needed for a better New Zealand.”