To think this wasn't managed well

[Sallywebsterneedsyourvote]

Name changed.

I am part of a group, and we all have children via donor conception. Some opted for this due to health concerns but of course a few are single women or same sex couples.

A good friend's son (age 14) was in an RE lesson where the teacher decided to have a debate on the ethics of this practice. This meant the poor boy had to sit for an hour listening to his classmates state what awful,
selfish people would do this

AIBU to think this was really poorly handled?

[Scarydinosaurs]

Maybe it's the area I'm in, but I have found teens incredibly right wing- so much more so than my own school friends at the same age! Maybe this is a geography thing though.

I can well believe a class taking a side, and then it almost snowballing. When I have had civics/PSHE style classes, it can be incredibly difficult to guide a more balanced argument if you have 2/3 strong characters who wield influence over the others.

I'm sad he experienced this, BUT it is part of the curriculum and you won't ever be able to shield donor children from this. I really hope as he gets older the taboo disappears.

[PlaymobilPirate]

The young people I teach often have much more broad life experiences than I'd expect - son of a trans parent/ lots of children of alcoholic parents, daughter of a rapist, children from countries where being gay is still punishable, trans students... we have lots who are 'different' but very few who judge them for it.

[MidniteScribbler]

Topics such as this should be discussed in schools, but so should how to hold a proper debate. Sides should be assigned, students research the actual issues around the topic and be taught to debate that side of the debate without personal feelings coming into it. Teaching how to debate is more important than the content of the debates.

Teachers need to be aware of potential triggering conversations in their classroom and pick their language appropriately. There could be a donor conceived child, child of same sex parents, homosexual child, a girl that has had an abortion, a child that has been adopted. Those children deserve to have any issues discussed delicately and appropriately.

I do have a donor conceived child (as a single parent) and I'm actually very open about his method of conception. I don't want him feeling that it is something that he should be embarrassed about. I've actually had a good response from anyone I've said anything to and everyone around me has been very supportive of it (at least to my face!).

[Trifleorbust]

discussed delicately and appropriately.

Sensitively, yes. Delicately, no.