Adults are wrong to criticise ‘woke’ children, says Benenden head

Reminiscent of the ultra woke Goldsmith students who thought they would go and lecture Southall Black Sisters.

The discussions in the comments are far more informed and interesting than the article imo.

I think my main issue with this is that we are being told not to dismiss or mock teens, for their 'woke' opinions, while having our opinions routinely dismissed and mocked.

Many issues are obviously nuanced and merit discussion, and the double standard is infuriating

@ScrollingLeaves the girls school I am talking about has a biological female pupil who identifies as a boy. They do not as far as I am aware, have separate facilities.

So does that mean noone who has had privilege in any form can't be woke? So no white people, Oxbridge or grammar educated, middle class people, anyone who hasn't struggled?

But if the staff and students really were woke, they would immediately give up this priviledge and offer it out to those who are currently in lesser jobs and/or schools, and if they don't, then they are not woke.

Therefore by existing in their current state, they cannot possibly be woke.

Shedmistress a private school is the natural home of the 'woke' because it dictates to others from a point of privilege which is what 'wokeness' does.

I disagree. We criticise woke-ness exactly because it supports and fails to consider or address exactly this sort of contradiction. Being woke is a mess of illogical thinking, thought-ending mantras, lack of critical thinking, and embedded privileges.

Yes I agree. That is why private schools cannot be woke. Ever. I don't see what it is that you disagree with exactly.

Capped at 18 in deprived schools. At 33 elsewhere. PEF is extra so if staff wages then they are extra staff.

Capped at 18? I'm surprised by that. It has been some years since I was in Glasgow schools, admittedly. But our local school (Scotland, rural) has classes in the high 20s sometimes 30, although there is notionally a cap it isn't adhered to. And the PEF is spent on staff wages, for the most part.

Ideologies are there to be criticized

Argument is part of education

Nothing should be exempted from it

“Terfasaurus
Money won’t necessarily buy you an gender ideology free education or keep confused teenagers safe but it will keep biological males out of women’s spaces.“

In the case of the girl’s school you know about where there is a trans identified pupil, that would be a male body in the school at large at least. Do you mean that at this school the trans identified child has their own changing room and bedroom?

B private schools are not irrelevant. They are the very tip of the iceberg in the type of society that exists in the UK. They are the breeding grounds for government and many agencies that hold huge impact on the country. But they are not and can never be 'woke'. If they were work, they'd have to immediately cancel themselves.

I disagree. We criticise woke-ness exactly because it supports and fails to consider or address exactly this sort of contradiction. Being woke is a mess of illogical thinking, thought-ending mantras, lack of critical thinking, and embedded privileges.

@ArabellaScott I suspect its the standing on street corners in school uniform without permission while not availing of the benefits their parents are paying for that is the problem.

Read their policies, the school has rules about not being where the girl is scheduled to be.
The search policy is if a girl is missing, from say leaving school grounds to protest, they should have a female and male search party not gender woman and gender man. We all know that is aout the sex of the staff.

The school is for daughters and has a strict unique uniform and all clothing must general meet a minimum standard. School has a right of veto and they can insist appropriate clothing (formal) to be worn off school grounds.
And yep hair dye is regulated plus hair bands etc.
I like the "if you flash while bending over..." 🤣

She talks about "woke" and "be kind" using the old meaning of social justice rather than demand for unquestioning obedience to the current social trend.

Children can't change the world as they don't have the economic power needed to make changes.
Her recommending that the daughters speak to their parents who will be in higher soceconomic groups and these parents need to listen is really the subtext which she and her contemporaries need to explore.

She speaks about gender while only having a tailored skirt as a uniform dress code option.

About sexual harassment while not listing sex as a protected characteristic.

I suspect that if there was a male employed by the school and transitioned, that that male would still be expected to partner up with a female member of staff for search parties.

Money won’t necessarily buy you an gender ideology free education or keep confused teenagers safe but it will keep biological males out of women’s spaces.

“Igneococcus
Well, my 17 year old thinks that the phrase "being kind" has become another cudgel for bullies to beat their victims with“

Well done to her. Being Kind is women’s undoing on many occasions. For example trying to say no politely and in such a way as not to hurt a man’s feelings - then they get raped.

If I were the headmistress of a girl’s school and say, “Watch out for being kind.”

You don't have to listen to her. It's a speech to the Private girls school association. If private schools are so irrelevant then just ignore her

A it it in a national newspaper so I am allowed to comment.

B private schools are not irrelevant. They are the very tip of the iceberg in the type of society that exists in the UK. They are the breeding grounds for government and many agencies that hold huge impact on the country. But they are not and can never be 'woke'. If they were work, they'd have to immediately cancel themselves.

The fact that social class and related inequalities disappeared almost completely from political and public debate is a travesty. I am foreigner but it is pretty obvious for anyone with two working brain cells that the private system of education is one of the most potent, systemic factors that work to reproduce systemic inequalities. An inclusion committee in a school where half of the students have live in servants is just ridiculous.

This.

Once upon a time having money and a family name was what gave you status.

Now making sure you show off your progressive beliefs and/or consider yourself an activist for such is what seems to confer status - super handy for the rich as they get to look righteous and all the while issues of class and wealth go unexamined.

Handy that....

I once saw that an all girl’s college in the USA accepted trans women (natal men) but not trans men (natal girls). It is an odd thought.

I wonder if any self identified trans girls are at any of the girls only schools ( either private or non-fee paying)?

Igneocuccus I think your teen is very wise and should be listened to

I'd say some of the posts on here are pretty Orwellian tbh

Like what? People are allowed to disagree that single sex private schools that most people can't afford are some sort of panacea for girls.

And then those same girls end up in the charity/public sector having an influence on other women with, as mentioned, their privileged, ivory castle view of what it's like for those other women and are magnanimously giving other women's and girls' rights away. You bet I'm not going to take #bekind lectures from the privileged.