FGM on year 5 school curriculum

[MermaidMummy]

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?

“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?“
This is being done. But you are assuming that after a chat from a police officer or a social worker, people will say “Oh, I understand now! I won’t do it after all!”

Of course young children should not have to be taught about such things, because fgm should not be happening. But the reality is, it does happen. In the area I teach, it is a fact that many girls have had it done and many women grow up thinking it is normal to do this to their own children. If educating 9 yr olds on the subject means even one child is saved from this horror, I would be delighted for my child to be told about it.

“the girls in our area were most at risk during the summer holidays between years 5 & 6, and 6 & 7. Judging by that, year 5 is the ideal time to start talking about it.”

Exactly the same where I am too. The Y5 to Y6 break especially.

We are told to listen out to children talking about going on holidays around this age to visit aunties and grandmothers in their home countries. I have sadly already had to put in a incident report recently about a risk for this summer based on a conversation one of our much younger children was having with her Y4 sister about their upcoming holiday.

As for "its only relevant to some girls fro some communities' - so what do you propose? Schools just highlight those children and only tell them - but also tell them they can't talk about it to the other children, who will all be curious at why these girls were going out for a special lesson of their own?

Remove your child from the lesson if you are not happy. You are her parent so you have the final say

You would be delighted for your child to learn this? Peculiar choice of words!

Apparently it's going to be on curriculum for secondary schools, and as PPs have said in areas with at risk communities action is taken.

For those who want it to be taught across UK at 9, I think the thing to do is a petition and post it on here probably.

But you are assuming that after a chat from a police officer or a social worker, people will say “Oh, I understand now! I won’t do it after all!”

If people don’t listen to the police, then there’s no telling them, is there? They’ll know full well it’s illegal and do it anyway.

By teaching the whole class it doesn't allow parents to withdraw their children who ARE at risk of fgm

Of course they can withraw their children from the class if they know they'll be taught about FGM.

I’d also like to add that when girls/ women who have suffered FGM have give birth it’s noted and the info passed on to health visitors and community workers.
I’m not sure if anything is noted/ triggered when a girl/ woman ends up in hospital after her wedding night though.

Of course they can withraw their children from the class if they know they'll be taught about FGM

Which defeats the whole purpose. What a ridiculous situation to be in.

Education for girls is vital. As Malala Yosefai said (sort of) “Extremists have shown that what they fear most is a girl with a book”

Bertrand I agree that the girls who are at risk (and that seems fairly identifiable to me) should know about this. What I don’t understand really is how telling girls who aren’t at risk and burdening them with this responsibility is a good thing. I am struggling to articulate my concern, I know. But frankly, until words are backed up with action (ie prosecutions and jail sentences) then this will happen. Burdening girls with the responsibility to somehow stop this feels very wrong. Almost victim blaming. I don’t know.

And do you know what? So much will be caused by pussyfooting around and cultural sensitiveity and such bullshit. It’s a fucking barbaric practice and the communities and cultures that practice are awful and I don’t care what people think that makes me.

Lovely result for you Op. Here's hoping none of the girls in your daughter's school are at risk this year. As long as your child doesn't get a bit teary at the thought.

Where we are children are taught all of their body parts in p1 aged 5. This is an arm, this is a leg, this is a penis.... Etc. Why on earth would you wait for children to be 9 before you taught them how to correctly identify parts of themselves. Why are people so determined to make children ashamed of themselves?

And honestly.... 9/10 year olds playing with soft toys and crying about periods. Maybe you need to think about building her resilience.

Aragog how is it handled so that girls who are not at risk understand that,

Or should it be presented as something that any girl is at risk of, to avoid singling out?

Also I'm interested to know if the boys are taught / should be taught in Yr 5 about fgm as well, and how it is handled that it's illegal for girls but legal for boys to be circumcised, as I imagine they would wonder that!

'And honestly.... 9/10 year olds playing with soft toys'

My 9yo plays with soft toys, what on earth is wrong with that?

I agree with some PP that I think some posters on here are a bit, um, intetesting 😁

It may prevent it happening to a child if they over hear something and are aware of what is being discussed

It may bring about a conviction of someone carrying out the abuse meaning it might deter others

It might educate children at a very young age that is not acceptable so when their turn comes to have children they may chose a different path for them.

“Burdening girls with the responsibility to somehow stop this feels very wrong. Almost victim blaming. I don’t know.”

If your child’s friend told her that her uncle was saying inappropriate things to her, would you want your child to know what to do with that information? Yes? Why is that any different?

The idea that 9yo playing with soft toys showing that they lack resilience is bizarre.

++the idea of periods, the changes at puberty for girls shouldn't worry or upset them is weird.

Lots of kids are not hard as nails at 9. They do play with toys. The idea of periods can be scary.

My DD1 took it all in her stride. She is 11 now but still sleeps with her bear. Lacking resilience obv...

@CassianAndor

Totally agree.

Herland

Lovely result for you Op. Here's hoping none of the girls in your daughter's school are at risk this year. As long as your child doesn't get a bit teary at the thought.

And they teach about fgm in your children's school? At age 9? If not, are you petitioning to have them taught it?
It isn't my fault or my daughter's fault that FGM is carried out, yet your tine is blaming us! How utterly ridiculous. There are NO children in my child's class who are at risk of FGM unless for some reason other than cultural that I am yet to be made aware of.

won't watch the news in case an "adult topic" crops up).

Wow😱

My 14yo has a mountain of cuddly toys. Yes, she's not as 'worldly' as many 14yos, but she has been through a lot in her life and is pretty resilient.
The suitability of this topic for y5s is all in the approach of the school.

Herland that's quite a leap to suggest that because the school doesn't teach about puberty until year 5 that I haven't already discussed it with my child! I am not the school!

And honestly.... 9/10 year olds playing with soft toys and crying about periods. Maybe you need to think about building her resilience.

Nothing wrong with playing with cuddly toys as a young child. I get the feeling some people can’t wait for their children to grow up quickly and confront all the brutish, nasty realities they’re not mentally or emotionally equipped to face.