AIBU to object to these sex education sessions?

[balletgirlmum]

Had a letter from school informing me that the as part of phase children will be getting a some relationships & sex education sessions. Standard type of letter I've had them before.

Except this time the sessions will be delivered by the area Schools Christian worker. Further googling informs me he/she is employed by Scripture Union.

At the very least I feel I should ask the content & viewpoint that will be presented.

AIBU to object to this?

[Baconyum]

Not just Christian I'd be against a representative of any religion doing this. It should be someone who properly understands the reality of sex and teenagers in this country. Ime its youngsters who've had 'you will not have sex' and/or 'sex is dirty and evil and only should be done to make babies in marriage' etc that not only have sex younger but have more problems as a result. Numerous studies back up that good quality non judgemental sex education leads to later loss of virginity, fewer sti's and unplanned pregnancies.

[Mmmmcake123]

Is there any evidence that the leader would present sex as dirty tho? Op needs to speak with school.

[StarkyTheDirewolf]

YANBU - I'm a practising Christian and I'd want to know the content in detail before consenting to that

this.

Sex education should be taught in a way that promotes safety, knowledge and understanding with a side of promoting self-esteem. Not with a religious agenda.

[BlueSmarties76]

YANBU!!! I would be furious about this! I'd hope as well that if enough parents complain the school will drop these plans, being a private school. I'm very confused about why they chose a religious organisation as a non religious school!

AndNowItsSeven I don't understand your attitude? You appear to be implying that anyone who does not adopt the Christian view will be encouraging teenage sex?! Surely you must realise there's an awful lot of ground between telling DC that sex before marriage and contraception are wrong and telling them to go and shag!

[RickRoll]

Is it this?

cscwuk.wix.com/cscw#!wellbeing/c380

it doesn't mention any Christian element to the teaching.

The sex educator appears to be a mumsnet blogger
srestuff.blogspot.co.uk/

and you can dissect his views in quite forensic detail on said blog.

I looked through the first couple of pages, no mention of God, nor Jesus, and the only usage of 'Christian' was in the context of Christian Grey....

[RickRoll]

Actual lesson plans: srestuff.blogspot.co.uk/p/resources-lesson-plans-i-coordinate-sex.html

[Mistigri]

I wouldnt be happy either.

Regardless of the official content, there WILL be an agenda.

What ever happened to children being taught by qualified teachers - or is that heresy in the UK these days?

[timelytess]

What ever happened to children being taught by qualified teachers - or is that heresy in the UK these days?
Shed, to save money, that's what happened to the qualified teachers. Which made me think, who is funding the Oasis visit? I'm not a gambling woman but I'd take a punt on it being free to schools.

[Lovelydiscusfish]

How old are the children?

[3littlebadgers]

I'd definately be asking some questions. I had to teach a PSHE lesson as a student teacher. It was normally a one week, me one week the normal teacher type arrangement but the normal teacher was off and I had to cover the lesson, hence not having time to check the material. The topic was animal testing. All of the information she had assembled was from the national vivisection society and very biased and emotive. The video was quickly turned off after it showed a scientist crushing a moused head with his thumb. I had kids in tears. I spent the rest of the lesson explaining how these people (and others throughout their lives) were showing the most horrific parts to sell an idea, and that it was up to them to decide for them selves where their opinions lay. Poor kids!
Anyone with an agenda should stay away from something that could be so emotive, unless it is in a debate situation where it is well balanced.
If, as a family you have certain beliefs or views they can be taught separately from the bare facts.

[ShipwreckedAndComatose]

There's a teaching crisis, timely, so I wouldn't make that assumption any more.

[ShipwreckedAndComatose]

(Sorry, just realised you were replying to someone else, timely)

[manicinsomniac]

I don't know, I'm kind of on the fence.

I'm a Christian and a teacher. Should somebody else come in and teach my form when we do sex education?

I 've done camps with SU, use their Sunday School material regularly and know people who work for them. Yes, they're overtly Christian but they're in no way fanatical and evangelism isn't the only type of work they do. The links posted look 'normal' for want of a better word.

On the other hand I would worry about they're agenda as they specifically go in to do this which I'd different from the person whose job it already is being a Christian.

[manicinsomniac]

their agenda.

Why do I always do that on the same posts where I announce that I'm a teacher!

[VulcanWoman]

Doesn't sound good does it. I would have faith in my son not to fall for the BS but it's the principle, why should they be allowed to spue onto young minds.

[Savagebeauty]

echt laughing at 'imaginary friend ".
Love it.

[meditrina]

I do not know the religion of any of my DC's teachers (except for one who happens to be a friend).

I would not expect any of them to be one jot less professional because of their faith, their race or cultural background, their sexual orientation or other characteristic (whether protected by law or not).


I expect teachers to be teach well and to behave professionally and I have found that nearly all of them do.

If you have concerns that this is a weak teacher, then yes talk to the school based on evidence of their failings. If you go in complaining because of a (protected) personal characteristic of the teacher, you will be That Parent.

If you simply want more information on the wider SRE/PSHE curriculum, you can ask for that without showing religious intolerance.

[dementedpixie]

It's not a teacher giving the lesson though, but someone else not employed by the school

[NCISaddict]

I would look into the content before rushing in to object. My DD went to a Catholic Independent school and I was pleasantly surprised by the breadth and content of their sex education.

It covered, amongst other things, same sex relationships, contraception, domestic violence and even asexuality with the message that differences were fine in the context of a loving, consensual relationship. They really emphasised consent and how important it was and that no one has the right to pressure their partner into doing anything. I was seriously impressed.

[meditrina]

My trust in the professional standards of teachers extends to who they choose to invite in to run sessions in the classroom.

Now, it is possible that this school has got it dreadfully wrong, has not looked at what is being provided, has not planned it's curriculum etc. But I don't think it's likely.

But if OP is concerned that her school is making inappropriate choices, then yes of course she should, raise this. I would still caution against going in from a POV of religious intolerance, though. Fact-finding first. Including who in the school is responsible for this aspect of the curriculum.

[TheBestChocolateIsFree]

I think you need to find out the specific course content. I'd be most concerned about what they're going to say about homosexuality.

[prh47bridge]

I agree with meditrina.

I would expect the school to be confident that the material was appropriate and that this person was not going to use lessons to evangelise. I would certainly not expect this person to start teaching that sex outside marriage was a sin that would result in people being condemned to hell. I would expect it to be similar to the outline given by NCISaddict.

[Mistigri]

I am prepared to trust teachers to deliver lessons on sensitive subjects because they are professionals and therefore accountable (this trust may sometimes be misplaced of course, but there is at least some accountability).

The situation is quite different where an outside organisation is brought in as it is much more difficult for parents to be confident (a) that the person is suitably trained and (b) is accountable.

This is particularly the case where the outside organisation may be used on purely financial grounds ie because the lessons are cheap, or free.

If an organisation, which is not a charity, is supplying services for free, you have to ask - what's in it for them?

[londonrach]

Yanbu. Should be neutral, factual and none judgemental. How old are the children? Id write to the school and let them know you not happy with this.

[merrymouse]

At the very least I feel I should ask the content & viewpoint that will be presented.

No YANBU. The school should be able to tell you exactly what will be in these lessons, if for no other reason than that they must have established this before outsourcing them.