Please or to access all these features

Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Sex not gender, No Outsiders changing the Equality Act, DepHead/DSL captured

736 replies

Vebrithien · 01/02/2023 12:51

Well, here we are, with a whole new thread!

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4713725-please-help-gender-not-sex-on-a-school-protected-characteristics-poster-just-spoken-to-the-head?page=10&reply=123546552

Thank you all, so so much for the support you have given me.

I am currently working on the draft of the message I want to send.

Long story short, DD's primary school displays posters by No Outsiders, showing the 9 protected characteristics of the Equality Act. Sex as been replaced with gender.

I have raised this with the Head, the assistant Head, and the Deputy Head (DepHead, as DH just doesn't work here). I have been reassured that sex is synonymous with gender in law, and, through an email stream, No Outsiders have reassured the school that it is deliberate, gender is easier to teach children than sex, especially as some will snigger at sex.

Oh, and teaching that gender is the difference between boys and girls, it makes it easier to then explain gender reassignment later on.

I'll put the message from the DepHead and No Outsiders here, and also my reply, in its current state.

Thank you all again!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
25
HagoftheNorth · 20/06/2023 10:41

Once you’ve seen it you can’t unsee it. Well done Veb, you’re shining the light and, hopefully, once the SLT has seen the arguments, they will logically make the right choices
Rabbit, also really well done. You say the PHSE lead asked ‘where this stuff comes from” what did they mean? Where does the inconsistent alphabet come from, or where does your very logical position come from? (Given that they had presumably not taken the logical GC position before?)

Vebrithien · 20/06/2023 09:49

Just had another little victory.

Email home from the school, relating to the classes moving up, and how the children will be rearranged into the two classes.

One of the factors they take into account when deciding the classes (so they are not too unbalanced) is the "sex and age" of the children in the class.

Last year, it was "gender and age"

OP posts:
SinnerBoy · 20/05/2023 04:56

Well done, Veb. You were so worried early in the thread and not convinced that you could achieve anything, but you've done a bloody marvellous job!

I hope that, despite the stress and worry that this has caused you, that your confidence has been increased.

Really, in the face of this situation and the powerful people who push and support, you've shown great tenacity.

rabbitwoman · 20/05/2023 00:18

Sorry, I meant to say, yaaasss, @Vebrithien ,that's an amazing result!!!

I too was asked to sit down with the deputy head with responsibility for PHSE and 'advise' them on their transgender lesson. Our yr8 resource now explicity states human beings cannot change sex; you cannot get into trouble for not using correct pronouns; what you wear and what hobbies you like does NOT make you a girl or a boy, and the PSHE lead was, frankly, amazed at all this stuff. She asked me, where does it all come from!?

And they are looking into training for ALL staff - we are an awesome force xxxx

rabbitwoman · 20/05/2023 00:13

Yaaasss, @Vebrithien !@Vebrithien

Faffertea · 19/05/2023 21:48

This is brilliant news @Vebrithien and I’m so pleased that not only did they listen they want you to consult with them. Your hard work and calm persistence has paid off. Proper Shero!

Vebrithien · 19/05/2023 21:02

Thank you for your messages.

Don't mind admitting that I had a little cry, reading through them. This afternoon, I said to my best friend, who was there as the meeting, it felt like there was a huge weight taken off of my shoulders. Hadn't realised just how much it has been weighing me down.

Am sat down, with the DC in bed, TV on and a glass of Aperol spritz!

OP posts:
GailBlancheViola · 19/05/2023 16:13

Another one adding congratulations to you @Vebrithien your persistence in the face of all that was thrown at you has been incredible. A sincere well done for what you have achieved, and it was you that achieved it and fantastic outcome on your new role, that school is very lucky to have you.

artant · 19/05/2023 15:50

Wow! Well done @Vebrithien - that all sounds so positive. It seems like there’s been a real shift in culture not just in terms of trans ideology but also in terms of seeing parents as a valuable resource and big part of the school rather than the enemy.

Princessglittery · 19/05/2023 14:43

@Vebrithien what a fantastic outcome. Well done your polite but dogged persistence has achieved a positive result for all parties.

dimorphism · 19/05/2023 14:39

Wow well done @Vebrithien you have probably saved some children from lifelong medicalisation here, and ensured many more will be a hell of a lot less confused and psychologically damaged.

Excellent, excellent work.

ScrollingLeaves · 19/05/2023 14:31

Wonderful Veb. All your work on this couldn’t have been more salient to the moment.

Thanks to you and the other parents, this school will be rather a leader, and a beacon. I bet they realise this and are grateful. They’ve most likely moved way ahead of many others on this.

SelfPortraitWithHagstone · 19/05/2023 13:39

Brilliant, well done! 💐

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 19/05/2023 13:31

Well done @Vebrithien. Fab news and thanks for the update.

Vebrithien · 19/05/2023 13:10

Thank you, everyone.

I honestly don't know if I could have persisted, if it wasn't for the support I've received here.

Particularly after being dismissed so many times. The threats from the school were a particular low point, but we made clear point today that we're the COVID generation of parents, we don't have a deep relationship with the school, simply because we have been locked out!

I live in hope of more open discussion in future.

OP posts:
AlisonDonut · 19/05/2023 13:00

Well done, but how has it ever, ever got to this?

Emotionalsupportviper · 19/05/2023 12:45

Well done - not just in getting the school to moderate their teaching, but (even more importantly IMO) getting them to be more transparent about what they are dong and teaching and what materials are being used in the classroom.

Absolutely astounding - and very heartening - @Vebrithien . Thank you so much!

MrsOvertonsWindow · 19/05/2023 12:44

Congratulations @Vebrithien That's actually made me feel quite emotional as I view the carnage caused by proponents of this ideology to our children.

This is what respectful dialogue looks like between parents and schools - a partnership. Flowers Flowers

Boiledbeetle · 19/05/2023 12:42

@Vebrithien wow! All that hard work has paid off. Bloody well done! Think how many children you've saved from being taught rubbish.

💐

dunBle · 19/05/2023 12:38

Fabulous news @Vebrithien . You've done amazingly there.

RavingStone · 19/05/2023 12:38

Amazing update OP.

Datun · 19/05/2023 12:37

Wow Vebrithien, that is absolutely amazing.

What a feat you have achieved. And all documented on here, step-by-step. Brilliant stuff.

Vebrithien · 19/05/2023 12:31

Hi all, thought I'd just post an update.

A group of parents had a meeting with the school today, including the DepHead, RSE lead and PHSE lead, as well as the assistant Head.

We looked all through the resources, and discussed our concerns, up to and including who the school communicates with parents.

The school have revised their RSE teaching, in the light of the issues we've raised, as well as the national sunlight.

We have had it confirmed that;

Gender identify is NOT taught explicitly, and if a child asks, it is discussed as a belief, NOT fact

Gender critical/people may not have a gender identity is also included in these discussions.

Children are NOT taught that they can change sex.

We, as parents, also voiced our concerns that the children need to understand the language being used, especially around biological sex.

I gave some testimony about how I have students coming up to secondary, totally confused about being able to change sex.

The end results;

The school were very respectful, and listens to and discussed our concerns with us.

Next week, the RSE curriculum is going to be shared parents, for consultation

From September, there is going to be a parent Portal, where we can discuss concerns, but also where they can host all the resources, so they can be securely viewed.

And lastly.

The school has asked me to be a science/secondary school consultant, and help to provide biology training!

OP posts:
nov1ce · 29/04/2023 07:15

Congrats to the person promoting the petition! 👏🏼👏🏼. I heard of it in this thread, and was chuffed to get the email to say it will be debated in parliament 12th June,

Parliament is going to debate the petition you signed – “Update the Equality Act to make clear the characteristic “sex” is biological sex”.

Swipe left for the next trending thread