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Original poster

FGM on year 5 school curriculum

571 replies

MermaidMummy · 07/06/2019 10:27

I'm really not sure if I'm being unreasonable, so I'm interested in everyone's thoughts.
My 9-year-old's class has just started learning about puberty. We have been told that the next lesson will cover terminology such as erection, sperm and female genital mutilation.
I just don't get why they need to learn about FGM at 9 years old. Some of these kids are very "young" for their age, and mine is very sensitive (won't watch the news in case an "adult topic" crops up).
What is the rationale for teaching this in year 5? There is nobody in the class from a cultural background likely to carry out FGM, but even if there was, would a 9 year-old know that it might happen to them and inform a teacher (if that is the rationale for teaching it)? From what I have read they aren't told anything about it in advance. If it has already happened to them, what is the benefit of bringing it up in class? Couldn't it be damaging and stigmatising?

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 07/06/2019 16:00

“but primary school children are too young.”

Not too young to have it done to them.

jgjgjgjgjg · 07/06/2019 16:35

Why on earth is your child only being introduced to puberty and associated terminology at this stage?? You should have taught her this stuff a long time ago, so school lessons are just revision and an opportunity for the school to ensure a shared understanding filling in any gaps. If this is truly all new to her then yes I can imagine that going straight into a discussion on FGM would be quite overwhelming.

Fibbke · 07/06/2019 16:37

And another odd OP bashing post. I'm intrigued to know what the OP is supposed to have taught her 8 year old so that FGM doesn't come as a shock.

GreytExpectations · 07/06/2019 16:42

They’re not young for very long. They have don’t need to know all the cruelty and misery that goes on in the world at that age - why the rush?
Because FGM is happening to girls that age if not younger and they should all be made aware incase any of their friends divulge a 'secret' to them. Or incase its happening in their own families, they should know the signs

GreytExpectations · 07/06/2019 16:43

Don't be daft. My dd1 wouldnt watch a scary movie at 12, 13, 14. She hated sleepovers and wouldn't go to one until she was 16. She was scared by the news.

Well, thats good for your DD, not all kids are the same you know. Also, no need for insults

LakieLady · 07/06/2019 16:53

But it won’t happen to everyone, or even most girls!

But it may happen to their friends, their friends' sisters, their classmates - they need to know it happens and that it's wrong, so they can act appropriately if they think one of their friends' holidays may be taken with this in mind.

LolaSmiles · 07/06/2019 17:00

But it won’t happen to everyone, or even most girls!
Neither will rape.
Neither will child sexual exploitation.
Neither will child abuse.

But we still educate children about appropriate, safe relationships and unsafe, inappropriate relationships so they can tell a trusted adult.

MenuPlant · 07/06/2019 17:17

How do they avoid letting all the girls in the class worry that they are at risk?

It's been asked a few times but no answer.

I think 9 is young for this as well tbh. Children mature at different rates. What do 9yo boys make of it, how do they answer questions which draw a parallel with circumcision which is of course legal.

I explained to dd1 about fgm after we saw a poster on the train, she was about 8. It's a really hard topic to talk about age appropriately tbh and she of course asked why do they do it which is another whole can of worms but I am always honest, that was tough to answer.

For girls and boys to find out that girls are essentially tortured when they're little, because they are female, and because it's believed to be beneficial for men, is just a massive thing for 9 year olds.

SerenaOverjoyed · 07/06/2019 17:19
  • It could prompt an older sister who was cut to report it and protect her younger sister
  • It could help someone who has been a victim to speak up and receive important treatment to prevent a lifetime of pain, recurrent UTIs and difficulty in childbirth. Not to mention psychological therapy
  • It could help in some communities spread the message of how harmful FGM is and prevent the daughters of the girls in that class being cut.
Original poster
MermaidMummy · 07/06/2019 17:19

Eisley

The lesson about naming body parts happened when your daughter was in year 1

They most definitely did not learn penis, scrotum, semen, erection, vagina, vulva etc in year 1! The message from school is that they are traching the above terms and female genital mutilation next week in their second class relating to puberty, the first being last week.

OP posts:
MenuPlant · 07/06/2019 17:20

I'm assuming the boys are taught about this as well btw

I bloody well hope they are, if the girls are

Original poster
MermaidMummy · 07/06/2019 17:27

jgjgjgjgjg

Why on earth is your child only being introduced to puberty and associated terminology at this stage?? You should have taught her this stuff a long time ago, so school lessons are just revision and an opportunity for the school to ensure a shared understanding filling in any gaps. If this is truly all new to her then yes I can imagine that going straight into a discussion on FGM would be quite overwhelming.

Read the thread before commenting, maybe?

OP posts:
2stepsonthewater · 07/06/2019 17:27

Why is your DD's primary school covering FGM when it's not on the national curriculum? It seems odd to me unless you're in an area where this is prevalent. I have a DD in Y6 and they definitely didn't do this in Y5 or so far this year.

CassianAndor · 07/06/2019 17:28

But it may happen to their friends, their friends' sisters, their classmates - they need to know it happens and that it's wrong, so they can act appropriately if they think one of their friends' holidays may be taken with this in mind.

Am I the only person who think that is a massive responsibility to put on the shoulders of a 9 year old?

MenuPlant · 07/06/2019 17:29

Dd2 is year 5 I'll ask her as well although may not get an answer as she hates any attempts to talk about anything related to puberty or sex which is a different issue (and a problem for me!)

Original poster
MermaidMummy · 07/06/2019 17:31

2stepsonthewater

Why is your DD's primary school covering FGM when it's not on the national curriculum? It seems odd to me unless you're in an area where this is prevalent. I have a DD in Y6 and they definitely didn't do this in Y5 or so far this year.

It's a free school...so guided but not governed by the national curriculum.

OP posts:
2stepsonthewater · 07/06/2019 17:31

I'm expecting all the PPs who disagree with you will be campaigning for it to immediately be introduced nationwide in Y5 instead of in secondary which is the current proposal. Hmm

BertrandRussell · 07/06/2019 17:33

“Am I the only person who think that is a massive responsibility to put on the shoulders of a 9 year old?”

You think not telling a child that what happened to her is wrong so she might be able to tell her teacher about it is better? It’s absolutely crap that they have to know about this stuff, but even crapper that it happens.

stucknoue · 07/06/2019 17:35

Because "cutting" is often carried out around 10 prior to secondary school starting. It varies from culture to culture but there's been a big campaign here in primary schools aimed at kids and parents, particularly mothers who contrary to what I would have thought are usually the ones who want it for their daughters

IsabellaLinton · 07/06/2019 17:36

so they can act appropriately if they think one of their friends' holidays may be taken with this in mind

This is too much to ask of young children. Seriously. They’re not responsible for policing the activities and movements of their friends, not should they be. If the girl in question is told she’ll be going on a pleasant holiday, why put the onus onto nine year old friends to divine the real meaning? It’s ludicrous.

Original poster
MermaidMummy · 07/06/2019 17:36

UPDATE

Response from school is that due to high levels of parental concern they are no longer going to teach this next week. They will review their policy and consult with parents as to whether to teach it in year 6 instead.

OP posts:
HippyChickMama · 07/06/2019 17:38

The problem with that is that the average age for FGM is 10. By year 6 it may be too late.

aPengTing · 07/06/2019 17:38

Why could this problem not be approached in other ways on a community level, aimed at the adults in question, potential perpetrators, not the potential victims?

Things are being done at community level.
In my city we have community workers who go into these communities and try to educate them about FGM. They teach them the medical implications, the law and talk with them about the religious and cultural side.
(The workers are from those communities which I think probably helps get the message through).

IsabellaLinton · 07/06/2019 17:39

@aPengTing

I think that’s a sensible way to go about it.

stucknoue · 07/06/2019 17:40

As for what can they do - several girls have been saved from being mutilated by alerting border force agents at the airport because they had been taught about fgm at school. By teaching the whole class it doesn't allow parents to withdraw their children who ARE at risk of fgm

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