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Original poster

If a child asks in KS3 science class "is it possible to change sex?"...

33 replies

musicalfrog · 06/09/2024 14:10

What answer would they be given by the teacher?

OP posts:
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BobbyBiscuits · 06/09/2024 23:42

@Chersfrozenface yeah. I know. I'm kind of saying what I believe the teacher should say. As in I don't want to encourage the idea of men in dress is female/ man not even bothering with dress is also female etc.

RainWithSunnySpells · 06/09/2024 21:48

As soon as you look into why we know that Clownfish can change sex, you essentially have to explain how sex is defined by gamete type and that this applies to plants and animals. Once you have done that it is easy to explain how we know that mammals cannot change sex. For example, castrating a male dog does not turn the dog into a female dog beacuse a catrated male dog does not produce ova. We even have specific words for some male animals that have been castrated (eg gelding, bullock, capon etc) and neutering a female animal does not make them male as a neutered female does not produce sperm (and it is worth noting that female horses, cows and chickens are not usually neutered). Then it is simple to add the humans are mammals and refer back to the earler statement RE mammals.

SinnerBoy · 06/09/2024 19:58

Thanks, Arabella - I sought, but was unable to find!

FrippEnos · 06/09/2024 19:10

musicalfrog · 06/09/2024 14:25

So there is no official guidance then.

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There is guidance, but as its "guidance" that makes it voluntary, schools don't have to follow it.
So it comes down to the head and what they want to do.

Howdoesitworkagain · 06/09/2024 19:06

I’m not a teacher. But surely this is just like asking if eye colour can be changed. The answer is no. You can do things that make it look like you have a different eye colour, but that doesn’t mean you’ve changed your eye colour as determined by genetics.

0BonneMaman0 · 06/09/2024 18:58

Jesus

Chersfrozenface · 06/09/2024 18:47

BobbyBiscuits · 06/09/2024 18:38

Of course they should say 'No. (Then if more detail required) But some adults can choose to have surgery to look like the opposite sex. Those people are called transgender.'

Except that no-one has to have surgery or any kind of treatment to identify as transgender or to get official ID or a GRC as the opposite sex.

BobbyBiscuits · 06/09/2024 18:38

Of course they should say 'No. (Then if more detail required) But some adults can choose to have surgery to look like the opposite sex. Those people are called transgender.'

Oblomov24 · 06/09/2024 18:34

No.
Changing sex is not possible.

AShortName · 06/09/2024 18:30

Honestly, honestly? Internally, the answer would be no, but I imagine many teachers would be scared of repercussions of not following the party line. Those that shout loudest are often the most aggressive.

AvocadoDevil · 06/09/2024 18:20

No, but some people like to pretend they have

Livinginaclock · 06/09/2024 18:14

I'd hope they'd say no.
Perhaps a, "vagina", can be made, but it's not an actual vagina.
You can no more make a functional vagina that you can a functional kidney.

AnnaFrith · 06/09/2024 18:09

For humans, no.
Any teacher answering 'yes' is teaching dangerous ideology, not science, and should be sacked.

puffyisgood · 06/09/2024 18:07

no. in mammals at least you can neuter/castrate/otherwise remove some of the obvious visual indicators of sex, and if you really sink resources into it you can do things to add visual indicators that are suggestive of the other sex, but this isn't 'changing' sex by any sensible definition.

MarieDeGournay · 06/09/2024 18:01

How about 'Like, no - duh!!'Grin
Seriously, the idea that a teacher teaching science has to mull over whether or not to give a factually-correct answer to a genuine enquiry from a student is horrifying.
I'd like to think that the background music is changing somewhat, and more teachers would be willing to just say no, knowing that there's more support out there these days.

Original poster
musicalfrog · 06/09/2024 17:42

The discussion in the other thread (in Education) is both fascinating and enlightening.

OP posts:
MrsOvertonsWindow · 06/09/2024 14:38

This is where we are - where some teachers feel obligated to lie to children about the possibility of changing sex - even science teachers!

Hopefully as the wheels continue to fall off and the trans extremists are (oh so slowly) being removed from being able to influence schooling and child healthcare, teaching facts and science will be restored everywhere.

WarriorN · 06/09/2024 14:30

If animals were mentioned it would have to be made explicitly clear that we are not clown fish. 🤡 🐟

Original poster
musicalfrog · 06/09/2024 14:25

FrippEnos · 06/09/2024 14:23

I know of one science teacher that would says yes.
And several that would refuse to answer,
But the school has been bought and the head leads the way.

So there is no official guidance then.

OP posts:
FrippEnos · 06/09/2024 14:23

I know of one science teacher that would says yes.
And several that would refuse to answer,
But the school has been bought and the head leads the way.

Original poster
musicalfrog · 06/09/2024 14:21

senua · 06/09/2024 14:20

The question needs to be more specific. Are we talking any / all creatures or more specifically mammals / humans?

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Surely the answer has to be specific. These are kids we're talking about!

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Newbutoldfather · 06/09/2024 14:20

@musicalfrog ,

Absolutely not and teachers could get in trouble for giving it, sadly.

When I was teaching and got asked this, I definitely didn’t dwell on it. I did, however, say that scientifically sex was determined chromosomally and, therefore, couldn’t be changed.

But I sure as hell, in a science lesson, wouldn’t have started talking about gender and hair!

senua · 06/09/2024 14:20

musicalfrog · 06/09/2024 14:10

What answer would they be given by the teacher?

The question needs to be more specific. Are we talking any / all creatures or more specifically mammals / humans?

WarriorN · 06/09/2024 14:19

I'm a teacher but not ks3

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