SPUC handouts in RE class - normal or not?

[BeingFluffy]

DD age 13 in year 9 is doing RE GCSE this year - the ethics course. I just found a print out from SPUC in her book and was furious. To be fair to the teacher it was in respect of stem cell research and not abortion, but I don't think the views of those misogynist loons have any place in education.

Should I say something or just grit my teeth?. The RE GCSE is compulsory in her school in year 9.

[BonnyDay]

is it giving the opinion of one side of hte argument? if so leave it

[Northey]

She needs to know the different points of view in order to be able to relate/analyse/criticise them in coursework and exams.

[seeker]

I would want to find out the context- had she written about it? Was it as part of an an analysis of the issues? But I woudn't be happy.......

[BonnyDay]

i would expect learners to be able to be anti abortion as well as prob - oyu need to give both sides to get top marks

[LineRunner]

I would find out, tbh, whether this was part a lesson giving pupils the skills to deconstruct stuff like the SPUC lunancy, or whether the teacher was promoting SPUC in some way.

My DD had a teacher who told them (only a couple of years ago) that AIDS was made in a laboratory and not sexually transmitted, so unfortinately madness sometimes does creep into schools with a few strange teachers.

[Northey]

Not sexually transmitted? What? How did they say it got transmitted then?

[Northey]

Oh silly me. Toilet seats. Of course.

[OrangeLily]

Absolutely normal if being used to investigate both sides of an argument.

Speakers from pro-life/pro-choice organisations can also be invited in o discuss their viewpoints.

[LineRunner]

God knows, Northey. At least DD's class knew the teacher was bonkers.

Even if the SPUC stuff was part of a two-sided debate, I wouldn't want their photos of late stage aborted foetuses being used to argue against all abortions.

That's why I would probably make a discreet enquiry of the teacher and see what response I got.

[GrimmaTheNome]

I would think your DD is old enough to explain to you the context of this material before.

Its a bit hard to do RE without coming across the views of misogynist loons, isn't it?

[GrimmaTheNome]

sorry, that should have been '...before checking up on the teacher'

[seeker]

"Its a bit hard to do RE without coming across the views of misogynist loons, isn't it?"

[SecretSquirrels]

The ethics part of RE does seem to involve examining extreme views on sensitive subjects. My atheist DS really enjoyed it, particularly the discussion and debating. I suspect though that he picked up one or two opinions that I disagree with, particularly on abortion. I wonder whether he saw the stuff you refer to?

[Northey]

OP's stuff was about stem cell research, not abortion, secretsquirrels.

I might have to remind myself what the objection to stem cell research is actually supposed to be...

[BeingFluffy]

Hi, thanks for your responses. To clarify, the print out gives the SPUC view on embryonic stem cell research. In their opinion it is wrong to experiment on embryonic cells even if hours old because they are human beings. I cannot imagine that SPUC could give a rational or intelligent argument on anything and I was surprised that teacher included it. As far as I can tell he was completely uncritical and was presenting it as a balanced argument.

They are studying the holocaust later in the syllabus. I certainly hope the teacher doesn't include views from holocaust deniers or genocidal maniacs as balance.

Loved the comment about the "misogynist loons" in RE - just about sums it up!

[LineRunner]

Is that not the same argument as the Catholic Church's, that life begins at conception?

Although the Catholic Chrch used to think the soul didn't exist until later, at the 'quickening', I think. (A view which goes back to Aristotle.)

So why not just teach a bit about evolving Catholic belief, I wonder? It has least has some historiographic interest. SPUC are just barking.

[Northey]

I think SPUC are Catholic, aren't they?

[crazymum53]

The areas of stem cell research that have had most success so far have come from adult cells.
The main issue affecting the use of embryonic stem cells for me is that of consent. If adults want to donate say a kidney for example then they need to consent that they wish to do this. However an embryo cannot consent to this process.

[LineRunner]

SPUC says it works with 'the Christian churches and the Muslim community' on its website.

[cricketballs]

"They are studying the holocaust later in the syllabus. I certainly hope the teacher doesn't include views from holocaust deniers or genocidal maniacs as balance"

just as others have stated.....students have to give a balanced argument about these issues having looked at all sides to the issue; why deny your dc of hearing what they have to say and then using their own opinion on the matter (there is more than enough evidence to not support these views) and isn't it better that your dc come to this conclusion on their own?

[LineRunner]

All depends on how it's presented.

'There are people who have denied the holocaust and here is the history of these groups and the reasons why they are discredited'

is very different from

'There may be evidence that the holocaust might not have happened'.

[kerrygrey]

For goodness sake! Holocaust, abortion, stem cells, God. Allow your teens to make up their own minds even if their conclusions differ from yours.

[BeingFluffy]

Yes, Cricketballs and why not get a representative from the flat earth society while they're about it and someone who thinks people with certain "racial" characteristics are superior/inferior.

[LauraEFC]

Hi BeingFluffy,

I work for Education For Choice, we're a project dedicated to providing young people with evidence-based information on pregnancy and abortion. Unfortunately SPUC (and other groups) do give misinformation about abortion in their school materials, and we have concerns about the kinds of images young people would find if they use their website for research.
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/23/abortion-what-children-schools

SPUC claim not to be a religious group so they will not officially be presenting a religious viewpoint on abortion (or other issues such as stem cell research).

Please do get in touch if you'd like more info or want some free resources! [email protected]