What is "ideology" and what rights to parents have? and what is "sex education"?

so true Spartacus

Thus if you believe that gender reassignment is nonsense, and the belief is grounded in nonreligious intellectual system like science or radical feminism, your belief is not protected.

I wonder if quoting the Bible would come in handy - that people were created male and female?

The HT said "X is a girl who [and here the red mist was descending so I wasn't listening properly] just happens to have a boy's body/was born in a boy's body/was born as a boy" or similar guff

The host becomes the actual body and blood.

We've always been at war with Eastasia.

"It’s chilling to think that children are being indoctrinated with such a damaging ideology."

Indeed. Terrible situation for OP. "Always a girl". Really? Really?

Does anyone have a link to some information about the current situation re sex and relationships education? I'm going to email my DC's school, but I'd like an understanding of the current situation before I do.

I said that they should, partly because I don't trust the government / school to get this right

We must have used pretty much the same caveat wherever necessary!

Yes @arranfan, I think the Transgender Trend guidance suggested that parents shouldn't have the right to withdraw their child, but I said that they should, partly because I don't trust the government / school to get this right 😬.

Not helpful but in the recently closed consultation on RSE I wrote repeatedly that parents must have the right to withdraw children from RSE that is ideology-based rather than grounded in science, biology, and evidence.

Yes, "religion and belief" are the same protected characteristic - presumably so that those whose "beliefs" are humanist, political, or atheist cannot be discriminated against even though it's not "religion".

Unfortunately this is not quite right. Equality Act 2010 protects religion unconditionally. But philosophical belief is protected ONLY if it does not conflict with the Act's principles.

So a homophobic religion is protected, but a homophobic philosophy is not.

Thus if you believe that gender reassignment is nonsense, and the belief is grounded in nonreligious intellectual system like science or radical feminism, your belief is not protected.

(At least that's my impression, I have no legal training, so take with heapings of salt!)

Have you asked for clarification on the MN the teaching boards (staffroom, I think)? There are probably a few HTs knocking around who might have insight.

There was a government consultation on sex and relationships education that closed last night.

It’s chilling to think that children are being indoctrinated with such a damaging ideology. I wonder what schools would do if large numbers of parents demanded that their children not be subjected to this theory. I know someone who asked for her children not to take part in faith based school assemblies. Naturally the school obliged so they now sit and read with a TA instead of attending collective worship. Perhaps pupils whose parents hold ‘GC’ beliefs should also be entitled to alternative arrangements when aspects of the ‘curriculum’ are at odds with scientific facts.

I always thought sex ed was a dodgy thing. It is necessary, however, children get exposed to age inappropriate things and get encouraged to experiment while they are not ready. Question is WHO DO WE TRUST WITH THE CURRICULUM?

It shouldnt be about what the HT believes, no. But you can bet that anything the HT really objected to wouldn’t be allowed in like this if it wasn’t a compulsory teaching.

Good luck. I think I said on your other thread but phrasing like ‘if there was a serious case review then it would be noted that you’ve been informed of concerns over blah and blah’ could be useful.

Ask the HT outright if they think humans can change sex.

They’ll waffle. Insist on cutting through that. No not gender, I mean sex. Biological sex.

They’ve always been a girl? How can humans change sex?

Born in the wrong body? That’s a belief in souls. That’s a religious belief.

Always been a girl? Then what are they transitioning FROM?

Don’t be scared to push back on waffle. Don’t be scared to clarify a question.

That's really interesting worst. School should of course be factual and neutral. It is scary how easily unscientific content has infiltrated teaching material.

There has to be a way of being genuinely inclusive and tolerant of all students whilst remaining unbiased.

All kids should be allowed to wear any of the uniform and have their hair long or short and be called by whatever name they wish. And all kids should be kind and respectful to each other. I think a newly trans child should be introduced with the minimum of fuss and explanation. They really will not be the only child in the class who has something going on in their life.

I'd say pronouns are at the discretion of the child's friends. No child should be told that their own happiness rests upon what word is used by others to describe them when they are not there. That's very unhealthy. But if they ask their genuine friends to refer to them as the opposite sex there's every chance they'll comply out of courtesy sometimes.

If I were a teacher in a school with a trans child I would want to really look at the environment I was creating for the children and the examples that were being set. I would make a conscious effort to make things less pink and blue if that makes sense! The staff should lead by example unless they really do believe in the innateness of gender stereotypes.

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