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Original poster

Woman's hour on RSE teaching

57 replies

WarriorN · 24/03/2023 10:33

Monday's programme is on RSE in schools - they want to hear listeners thoughts about this I'm schools.

What should be covered, experiences.

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Original poster
WarriorN · 27/03/2023 16:37

It is a very concerning phrase and I don't understand why they can't see that.

Of course sex Ed is important and of course being relevant and accessible is vital and no one is suggesting that shame should be 'brought back.'

No one is suggesting that we shame teens. Quite the opposite. But we do say that there is a level of healthy basic understanding here that can be embedded in schools which emphasises respect, consent and confidence to communicate clearly about RSE.

Some of the more random and controversial stuff is actually very distracting from key basic messages that have to be repeated to all children in order to be effective and successful.

Children will remember some of those more shocking or weird and colourful elements (100 gendered flags, hetero is plain grey...) but forget the more mundane but most important messages.

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2fallsfromSSA · 27/03/2023 14:46

Here is our response to Sophie's thread which talks about the "perceived innocence of children". https://twitter.com/SafeSchools_UK/status/1640345385196478471?s=20

https://twitter.com/SafeSchools_UK/status/1640345385196478471?s=20

QuietlyLurkingintheCorner · 27/03/2023 13:15

Yes. Absolutely there are ways of teaching this stuff very early on without having to go anywhere near sex ed. Consensual play, PANTS, correct anatomical language for body parts etc. Surely if it's done well in EYFS you won't generally need to talk to year 6 children about sexting. When the parent on with Claire was talking about that incident I thought, but that's a consent issue! You can cover it with a lesson on consent & boundaries.

Anyway I was a bit cross because I was expecting my email to be read out & I was hoping it would be put to the head teacher and the woman from Sex Education Forum. I guess Nuala had other ideas!

Original poster
WarriorN · 27/03/2023 12:41

What they mean is that these children are being exposed anyway and want to know more.

However there are ways of engaging, being current and relevant that doesn't mean "being led by children" at all.
A good well rounded safe curriculum means communicating respect, boundaries and safety without having to teach "choking safely" ffs.

It also does start in the early years without being explicit. Simply teaching basic consent and respect through normal play. "Does he look like he wants to play this game?" "Is slam down wrestling a safe game to play on the yard?" "Did you ask if you could play with his toy? Did you respect his answer?"

An awful lot of nursery, reception and year one children do not understand basic appropriate social interaction, which is why teaching healthy relationships, including saying no, is so important. But what that looks like appears to be very different for many educators.

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Birdsweepsin · 27/03/2023 11:45

Well that's Woman's Hour going backwards again. And I thought progress was being made....

Zeugma · 27/03/2023 11:42

Yeah, why do we bother with anything really? At all? I mean, people are so uptight.

J. F. C.

2fallsfromSSA · 27/03/2023 11:34

I think these debates are just highlighting the severity of the problem - not just the inappropriate resources but the unwillingness of people to actually engage with the issues and put safeguarding first.

QuietlyLurkingintheCorner · 27/03/2023 11:13

The child-led stuff infuriates me. It's just so asinine. In the words of Hadley Freeman in The Times yesterday, how about adults start behaving like adults?

nauticant · 27/03/2023 11:13

many men

nauticant · 27/03/2023 11:10

Had a look at responses on Twitter. There are a fair few many who seem to hate women and safeguarding equally.

ResisterRex · 27/03/2023 11:10

QuietlyLurkingintheCorner · 27/03/2023 11:04

Did that academic really just say that the Miriam Cates report was a safeguarding risk??

Yes. I hope Cates responds.

ResisterRex · 27/03/2023 11:09

Being led by children? OK. Let's have them lead:

  • drugs policies
  • alcohol policies
  • the sale of knives
  • how to run the NHS
  • council tax
  • motorway design

No? Just in this area. Where some adults want children to lead? Did I get that right?

Original poster
WarriorN · 27/03/2023 11:06

QuietlyLurkingintheCorner · 27/03/2023 11:04

Did that academic really just say that the Miriam Cates report was a safeguarding risk??

Yes

Ffs

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ResisterRex · 27/03/2023 11:06

Behind. The Birmingham Uni woman who asked fifteen whole children, thinks children should lead what's in RSE? And that we view children and sex as "mutually exclusive"? Well yes. Most decent, sane people DO view children and sex as separate things that shouldn't be mixed!!

QuietlyLurkingintheCorner · 27/03/2023 11:04

Did that academic really just say that the Miriam Cates report was a safeguarding risk??

WinterTrees · 27/03/2023 11:01

Saints Alive.

I thought I had misunderstood.

That's one of the most depressing and disheartening things I've heard in a long time. So because the misogynist rot has gone so deep, we need to focus on getting kids to accept it now?

nauticant · 27/03/2023 11:01

That was a very don't-scare-the-horses episode.

2fallsfromSSA · 27/03/2023 11:00

@WinterTrees yes, she wants to be lead by kids and wants to give them a sex positive message. She things the Cates report is naive and goes against safeguarding.

Original poster
WarriorN · 27/03/2023 10:59

In response to

I'm not listening as closely as I should - did that speaker just say that telling children that porn is exploitative is 'scaremongering'?

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nauticant · 27/03/2023 10:59

Nuala McGovern asking the academic (Dr Sophie King-Hill) whether a criticism of porn can be presented to children and she wouldn't engage. Talked about scaremongering and that it's not worth it to go up against an industry with vast financial resources.

Tanya's segment now over. Very brief.

Original poster
WarriorN · 27/03/2023 10:59

It doesn't fit the 'sex positive' narrative...

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WinterTrees · 27/03/2023 10:58

I'm not listening as closely as I should - did that speaker just say that telling children that porn is exploitative is 'scaremongering'?

2fallsfromSSA · 27/03/2023 10:54

SSA have commented several times and complained to TES

2fallsfromSSA · 27/03/2023 10:54

TES resources are a horror show. The Times covered it last week I think.

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