Primary school Equaliteach

It is intended to be confusing. Asking questions is an indication of wrong think and the children will learn this very quickly when they are asked if they are transphobic.

Uncompromising thanks. That’s good that parents would normally get notice of the discussion coming up- to decide what to do on the day, and what to talk about with their kids.

That's interesting (and ironic) well behaved - I wonder how much £ they got from the Gov Equalities Office, and how much they charge for the training?

This is a more recent blog post, by a staff member who is still there.

www.equaliteach.co.uk/free-to-be-importance-lgbt-inclusive-primary-schools/

They talk about challenging gender stereotypes, which is great. But they make that statement a hyperlink which leads to this:

www.equalitiesaward.co.uk/ideas-hub/creating-a-trans-inclusive-environment-in-primary-schools

The school actually said that they want to challenge LGBT bullying and have better equality in the school.

Is there really a significant amount of bullying in this primary school specifically related to pupils, staff, parents &/or carers being lesbians, bisexual, gay & transgender?

What other focuses of bullying within the school have been identified as requiring discrete lesson planning separate from a whole school approach to bullying?
What is the rationale & evidence-base behind it?

ChattyLion
The new SRE guidelines state that parents must be consulted with. But the practice varies from school to school with some merely sending a letter of information and others doing the full on consultation meetings, sharing resources and discussions about content. The latter is the ideal as it ensures a genuine partnership with parents. And it allows parents to highlight the dodgy 'grooming' approach of some of the lobby groups currently selling their programmes to schools.

Do schools contact parents with a bit of info about lesson content in advance of SRE ( like they used to when it wasn’t) now it’s been made compulsory? or do parents just have to be lucky/very on the ball to know in advance when specific elements are coming up?

I recommend making sure as many parents as possible are informed about this. I'm sure lots would be very interested.

on the other hand their post abut IWD is fine with no nonsense about redefining women
www.equaliteach.co.uk/a-meaningful-international-womens-day-more-than-marketing/

What if we eradicate all sense of questioning at an early age and leave these young minds without any chance of making their own way?

Back to Winifred Holtby and Sarah Burton's wise words to her students in South Riding:

"Question everything-even what I’m saying now. Especially, perhaps, what I say. Question every one in authority; and see that you get sensible answers to your questions. Then, if the answers are sensible, obey the orders without protest."

"Question your government’s policy, question the arms race, question the Kingsport slums, and the economies over feeding school children, and the rule that makes women have to renounce their jobs on marriage, and why the derelict areas still are derelict."

"This is a great country, and we are proud of it, and it means much that is most lovable. But questioning does not mean the end of loving, and loving does not mean the abnegation of intelligence. Vow as much love to your country as you like; serve to the death if that is necessary… .But, I implore you, do not forget to question. Lead on, girls.”

hmm, alledgedly by someone called Laura but what the hell does that tell us

I've just read that blog post, they surely can not have intended it to be read by parents
I think you could very easily promote dissent just by using class whatsapp groups (I hear they're a thing) to say- have you seen that link they sent us? did you read it? what do you think?
....and then just sit back
I don't know who in this country would refer to 'UK commercial districts'- we would just say 'on the high street' so my guess is this has been C&P'd from elsewhere.
Hilarious that the writer berates himself for saying 'chatty girls at the back' ....because it's transexclusionary. Check your bloody privilege, bro.

I don't see how it can fail to be confusing for children

And how can it not also scare the bejesus out of primary school children.

I adored my teachers at primary school, I practically worshipped one in particular. I would believe what they told me to be true without question. I saw things as black and white, it was only when I was mid/late teens that I started really thinking for myself and feeling confident to voice a dissenting opinion. I toed the line at school, worked hard and I didn't rebel until my late 20s (and I was bullied and body dysmorphic like most teenagers).

What if we eradicate all sense of questioning at an early age and leave these young minds without any chance of making their own way?

Mermaids trainer: "don't think, stop thinking".

Vs

Teacher/parent: "there are no bad questions, what do you think?"

Gender is a social construct, but gender identity is inate.

And the definition of biological sex is pure bollocks.

I don't see how it can fail to be confusing for children when they're being taught something which isn't grounded in material reality. It's all about feelings and they're hard enough to navigate as an adult, how on earth can children be expected to understand?

So looking quickly at the lesson plans on the website and the Out of the Box section, that looks ok- about not having boys/ girls toys, challenging gender stereotypes, awareness that some kids will have same sex couple parents. All good.

But the usual descriptions of what is meant by all the gender terms is confusing and contradictory.

Gender - A social construct in that children learn how to behave in a manner typically associated with their sex. This can include roles, clothes, emotional behaviours, and interests.

Gender Non-Conforming - A term used by people whose gender expression is different from stereotypical expectations of masculinity and femininity

Gender Conformity - The belief that people’s gender should conform to their sex (i.e. that males should behave in a masculine way, females in a feminine way) which reinforces gender stereotypes and negative attitudes toward people who do not conform.

All those seem quite clear and reasonable definitions. But now we get to transgender and gender identity.

Trans/Transgender - An umbrella term for people whose gender identity or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with their biological sex.

Isn't that effectively the same definition as gender non-conforming? So if you are gender non-conforming you are actually transgender? And doesn't this just reinforce gender stereotypes by saying that if you don't conform you need a label of 'trans', so you can't just be your gender non-conforming self?

Gender Identity - Someone’s innate psychological understanding of themselves as either a man, woman or another identity beyond the manwoman binary. A person’s gender identity may or may not align with their biological sex.

How are you going to explain to a child what a gender identity is? I've read lots of descriptions like that and I still don't understand what it is, and I am quite sure I don't have a 'gender identity'. What about the children who feel they don't?

All in all I think this sort of 'education' programme just causes confusion amongst children.

www.equaliteach.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/OUTSIDE-THE-BOX-FINAL.pdf

I encourage anyone with a child in school to ask questions and get content and lesson plans.

I'd ever there was a time to stop trusting and start asking questions it's now. At least then we can make informed decisions.

This ^^
Parents, carers & governors really do need to start asking questions.
Asking questions is how we help Safeguard children & vulnerable adults

Shelley Charlesworth's articles are really worth reading & saving. Her reearch & analysis will help back up questions parents, carers & governors may have about the organisations providing schools with resources & training exploring sex/gender etc

www.transgendertrend.com/no-outsiders-queering-primary-classroom/

www.transgendertrend.com/stonewall-lgbt-inclusive-teaching-primary-schools/

www.transgendertrend.com/diversity-role-models-conformity-new-ideology/

Oh yes them too Hands

In fact if anyone has any other suggestions please DM me (to avoid derailing any further), thanks.

Don't forget Gendered Intelligence/Allsorts

Look, GI are looking for BAME volunteers to work with young people. No experience required, but...

To volunteer for the BAME youth group, you should identify as BAME/a person of colour.

genderedintelligence.co.uk/support-us/youthgroupvolunteer

Organisations who deliver similar training who I am aware of, beyond Stonewall, Barnardos, Mermaids are:

Educate and Celebrate
The Proud Trust (check Genderjam)
Metro City
Jigsaw
NSPCC Speak Out
Diversity Role Models
Bish

Respect yourself we know about and also Equaliteach.

The only one which is remotely acceptable in my view is Lifting Limits but this is not a recommendation, I encourage anyone with a child in school to ask questions and get content and lesson plans.

I'd ever there was a time to stop trusting and start asking questions it's now. At least then we can make informed decisions.

I leave this here without comment but the source is the LGBT GEO meeting meetings from July last year.

Please note 6.0.7