Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU use of the word 'lesbian'

103 replies

Claireabella1 · 14/07/2016 23:23

Hi all, my DD is 10 and in year 5. She started a new school 2 weeks ago as we moved area. I had a phone call from the head on Tuesday (one week after she started) saying she'd been 'brought to his attention' for her language, I was a bit gobsmacked as I immediately thought 'swearing' which I've never heard from her. The head then goes on to tell me that a group of girls were discussing a particular TV show which DD doesn't watch but she knows I do, if that makes sense. So she knows some character names and plot lines. She was over heard by a teacher saying (in response to another comment from one of her friends) 'oh is that the lesbian couple?' (Referring to a gay couple on the show). The head told me all of this and said she shouldn't be using the word 'lesbian' in school, I asked why he felt that way and he said it's inappropriate, I probably sound like a harridan now, but I asked why he felt it was inappropriate and he said some other children in her class may not know what it means or had any discussion about this sort of thing. I said I appreciate that and will talk to her. He then suggested I ask 'where she had heard that word' this got my back up a bit, I feel like my daughter is being accused of using 'bad language' and she must have 'heard' it somewhere. I told him she knows what a lesbian is because she's asked me before. Fwiw when my children have asked questions like this in the past, I've always tried to tell the truth appropriate to their age. I've gone away worrying that I've got it totally wrong this approach and also concerned by the heads comment that 'some children may not know what a lesbian is' I know they were talking about a TV show, but if there were a child in their class who had gay parents, would they be discouraged from talking about this because some children may not know that some people are gay? I'm probably overreacting, but interesting to see what others think.

OP posts:
VioletBam · 15/07/2016 01:15

I can't believe it...she's ten! My DD is 11 and her friends and she were discussing transgender issues the other day!

emilybohemia · 15/07/2016 01:16

Complain to the LEA. He's talking rubbish.

branofthemist · 15/07/2016 06:13

How odd. Firstly I would surprised that any 10 year doesn't know what a lesbian is.

My 5 year old does. One of his friends has two mums. He he was totally Un Phased by it. He knows one of my best friends is a gay male and married to a man and he didn't bat an eyelid to that either.

Because we don't make a big deal out of it. It is just what it is.

Besides which, so what if kids don't know. What he means is 'I am uncomfortable with my staff having to explain what a lesbian is', which is horrendous.

Your Dd did nothing wrong.

VioletBam · 15/07/2016 06:33

So what I think is that a child has said something to their parent and that parent has complained. Otherwise one of the kids has "told on her" for saying Lesbian and it iis utterly disgusting that it's actually been followed up!

In your position I would HAVE to take this further.

OrangeSquashTallGlass · 15/07/2016 06:41

Wow.... just wow.

I'm really glad you're going to pursue it. Are you going to call or write a letter?

If it were me I would put it in writing and send it to the head and chair of Govs and explain that you're concerned about the head and the teacher who reported your dd. I would also bring up the points PP have made about the fact there are very probably gay and lesbian parents and staff at the school and I would provide a link to Stonewall (who coincidentally run training for schools/teachers).

VashtaNerada · 15/07/2016 07:00

I would be writing an official complaint and copying in the local authority, Ofsted etc. I don't normally do things like that but the idea that children should be 'sheltered' from lesbianism is so incredibly destructive and cruel. So many children have a lesbian family member or may be lesbian themselves. Fuuuuuuuuck.

timelytess · 15/07/2016 07:01

Its a normal word about a situation you might meet any day - your dd might have classmates whose parents are lesbian couples. So you are right and the headteacher is wrong.

I can understand that he wants to provide a 'safe' place where children's innocence is protected. Some parents might object if their children unexpectedly come home from school talking about lesbianism. But there's a difference between your dd's use of a technical term in context, and the [in this case imaginary, an example] boy in her class who takes in his dad's pornographic magazines for the other children to share.

I'm not sure if going over his head is the right way to approach it. Why not ask for another meeting to discuss your concerns? Is there someone you could take with you? A friend who is a local councillor would be ideal.

Jubaloo442 · 15/07/2016 07:03

Please take this further. It's so important. Any kids in that school who have an idea that they might be gay, or have gay siblings or parents, would feel pretty scared if his approach is happening on a wider level.

ChunkyHare · 15/07/2016 07:06

What if you had said "I'm a lesbian" what would he have said then? Grin

My sister has a wife and it was so normal to my children we never gave it a name, just Aunty X and Aunty Y. Ds1 was around 8 or 9 when he said why is everyone else is our family Aunty and Uncle?

He totally understood that you love someone regardless of gender but we had never said oooh they are lesbians just like I didn't say oooh they are heterosexual.

He asked, I explained they were gay, it was termed lesbian for girls.

I specifically asked this question for the sex education stuff in our primary school. They address relationships but do not specifically address gay couples and I believe they defer the child's questioning back to a parent if it falls outside their remit on what they are talking about. Sad

I would ask for clarification in an email then you have it in writing.

Iloveowls2 · 15/07/2016 07:09

Was it some sort of life on Mars/ living and tge dead moment where there was a time slip and it was actually the Head Teacher from 1955 calling?

ShowOfHands · 15/07/2016 07:13

My dd was a bridesmaid for her aunts and not only does she use the word lesbian, aged 6 she stood up at school and corrected the homophobic vicar who claimed that God only recognised love between a man and a woman. She was praised by her head teacher, not chastised.

What a strange situation.

ApostrophesMatter · 15/07/2016 07:16

HT is being ridiculous.

Clarify that as far as you are concerned DD said nothing wrong and that lesbian is in the dictionary and not considered a swear word. Make it clear that you will not be telling her not to use the word again and that the sex education syllabus in his school needs updating if 10 year olds don't know what a lesbian is.

diddl · 15/07/2016 07:26

Presumably she used it correctly & not as an insult?

If so then then what is HT's issue?

I'm not sure if all 10yr olds would necessarily know, but it's hardly as if she was informing the whole class for the sake of it iyswim.

RamsayBoltonsConscience · 15/07/2016 07:29

Can I suggest that you write him a letter (and send a copy to the chair of governors) saying that the conversation he had with you was inappropriate as lesbian is a completely acceptable word and there was no reason for him to enquire about where your daughter may have heard the word. This is 2016 and not the dark ages (1980!). Surely it would be more relevant to speak to the parents of the children who were watching inappropriate TV?
Fwiw I think he sounds homophobic and it may be useful for the governors to have some written evidence, should they need it.

LadyLapsang · 15/07/2016 07:34

Your daughter is obviously using language appropriately and probably has a wider vocabulary than many of her peers. In a sense the headteacher appears to be doing the opposite of their role - one of the Latin roots of educate, educe, is to draw out, not shut down. What type of relationship and sex education do the pupils receive?

WellErrr · 15/07/2016 07:39

I would definitely take this further. It's homophobia fgs.

Blu · 15/07/2016 07:42

I understand your reluctance to start a fight in a new school after a hard year.

I think I would send an e mail follow up, 'thank you for your call, just wanted to clarify what action you think appropriate. From the description you gave, my dd was using the word to accurately and factually describe a normal , legal relationship between 2 characters Ina popular programme that was being watched and discussed by the group.
My Dd was describing the nature of the partnership, not a description of sexual activity. In this context I am sure you agree that I need not ask my dd to censor her language.
Of course I would not be happy to hear of any derogatory/ discriminatory language around sexuality, nor explicit talk of sexual activity.
I hope this understanding reflects what happened, thank you for welcoming dd into your school, yours....'

cuntinghomicidalcardigan · 15/07/2016 07:46

My best friend is in a lesbian marriage, my dcs know them as Auntie this and Auntie that. My cousin is in a gay marriage, uncle this and uncle that. My dcs know that you love who you love and as long as you're not hurting anyone then it's just love. My dd asked if she would have a wife or a husband, I said whatever you choose, you'll make that decision when you find someone who you love. She doesn't necessarily know the term 'lesbian' but she is still preschool, if she asks I'll tell her but fgs how difficult is it to explain to older children? It's not a dirty word.

cdtaylornats · 15/07/2016 07:46

I can sort of see the heads point. Why single out female homosexual relationships with a unique description? There is no equivalent for male homosexuals or for heterosexuals.

The very fact of a specific word enables negative connotations to be inferred.

If the head had said you can't describe someone as queer would it upset you?

onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad · 15/07/2016 07:47

As a woman married to another woman living together with our two teenage boys who have been educated through the state school system I implore you to challenge this blatant act of homophobia. We have been fortunate to have the incredible support of our boys' school, teachers and headmaster. Your daughter's headmaster has behaved unlawfully - his call to you was discriminatory and he should be reported.

Lweji · 15/07/2016 07:52

The point of the Head wasn't the word just for females. It was that some children wouldn't know it and it was bad language.

We could discuss the use of a term only for females, but that was certainly not the issue for the Head, as reported by the OP.
Unless lesbian has suddenly become a swear word.

Lweji · 15/07/2016 07:53

As in LGBT.
Lesbian
Gay
Bisexual
Transexual

Where Gay is used for male couples.

TheRealAdaLovelace · 15/07/2016 07:55

cdtaylor how exactly was that the head's point?

Lweji · 15/07/2016 07:55

Sorry, transgender. (Let's not discuss that part here, though. :) )

wavingnow · 15/07/2016 07:59

Maybe write saying thank you for your phone call but how it left you in a state of confusion etc etc and ask about topics to be covered in PSHE. My DD school covers such subjects in sex ed in year 5 /6. Is it not part of the curriculum? I assumed it was. Is the Head ver old and trying to avoid it in school, are the governors aware of this? Talk to teacher?

Swipe left for the next trending thread