Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to know exactly what LGBT teaching in schools will entail?

560 replies

Toorahtoorahaye · 27/08/2019 22:59

There has been lots of attention around the push to teach LGBT issues in schools - Birmingham being the flash point with many parents protesting. AIBU to have doubts about what is going to be taught and to want to know which orgs will be providing the material and exactly what this material teaches?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
24
FamilyOfAliens · 31/08/2019 10:03

But they won’t give you a list of every book that will be read to the class because it’s a moveable feast and impossible to forecast

In my school, a small community primary, all books on SRE and PSHE are bought by our PSHE coordinator or me (family support worker) and all purchases are approved by the head teacher. It has to be this way. We have to be accountable to parents and governors and we have to check carefully that all material we use in school is factual and doesn’t contain opinions from lobbying groups with a single agenda.

AriadneCrete · 31/08/2019 10:05

Some of you sound unhinged. “Mumsnetters will find them.” 🙄 as if teachers are all part of some secretive plot to indoctrinate your children.

A lot of you left out the part of my post that said materials (including books) slides and resources are shown to parents BEFORE teaching the unit and the part where I also said to ask your child’s school/ teacher. You may not be happy with the materials my school uses- that’s fine, your child doesn’t have to attend my school. As I said, all schools have different approaches and if you are concerned, take it up with your child’s school in a polite manner and they will be more than happy to share the materials with you.

Frothing at the mouth on here solves nothing.

HandsOffMyRights · 31/08/2019 10:08

Not sure if this has already been posted, but this looks at some of the texts and resources (like The Princess Boy and 10,000 Dresses) offered in some schools:

www.transgendertrend.com/no-outsiders-queering-primary-classroom/

Moo5ele55 · 31/08/2019 10:09

So only books used in PSHE( which is s big subject) is a concern? Not history, geog, RE, English, science, books brought in for show and tell or the library....

I get it.Hmm

Would never work in a massive primary with 2 form entry and 7 year groups + nursery.It would be a full time job and deeply worrying anyway.

CassianAndor · 31/08/2019 10:14

Ariadne so, again, how do you use the text I am Jazz in your lessons? Jazz who is sterile and has no sexual feelings. Thanks do the medications Jazz has been on. Or Jazz’s pronouncements about girl and boy brain?

Beamur · 31/08/2019 10:14

I think there are some very questionable slants on transgenderism being taught as facts to young children that I would be uncomfortable with.
I wouldn't call being curious and interested in my kids education frothing at the mouth.
If the school has decided and approved texts I have an issue with I guess I have two choices, either withdraw my child or (this is what I would do) talk to my child and present a wider range of views/understanding and let them make up their own mind.

FamilyOfAliens · 31/08/2019 10:14

So only books used in PSHE( which is s big subject) is a concern? Not history, geog, RE, English, science, books brought in for show and tell or the library....

Of ourselves not (but you know that).

As I’ve posted twice now on this thread when people have made the accusation that no-one is concerned about the content of material for other subjects, we follow the National Curriculum for other subjects, so we do not need to check whether the material is suitable.

When lobbying organisations produce material aimed at schools and offer to come and offer to deliver training to our staff based on those materials, we check carefully that those materials are suitable and if they aren’t, we don’t use them, for reasons which I would hope are obvious.

FamilyOfAliens · 31/08/2019 10:15

Sorry, should say “of course not”.

OldCrone · 31/08/2019 10:15

As the parent of an LGBT child

What is a LGBT child? One who is attracted to people of the same sex or one who believes themself to be the opposite sex? These are two very different groups of people and it's not helpful to them to lump them all together.

Beamur · 31/08/2019 10:16

Would never work in a massive primary with 2 form entry and 7 year groups + nursery.It would be a full time job and deeply worrying anyway

Why would it be deeply worrying?

AriadneCrete · 31/08/2019 10:17

@CassianAndor you’ll notice I responded to people who questioned in a polite, genuinely inquisitive manner. I’m not responding to rudeness or those who I deem have an agenda.

Original poster
Toorahtoorahaye · 31/08/2019 10:17

@AriadneCrete can you really not see why parents might have an issue with I am Jazz being used as an approved teaching resource? What did you think of the book yourself. Do you think girls (and their brains) can accidentally be born in a boys body?

OP posts:
FamilyOfAliens · 31/08/2019 10:18

Cassian

I’d be really interested to know the answer to that question too.

I can’t imagine that text being appropriate for school children, but maybe the school wouldn’t include any of the information about how devastating transition has been on Jazz’s physical and mental health

CassianAndor · 31/08/2019 10:22

Ariadne I have no idea if you have an agenda or not, I know nothing about you. All I know is that you said you use a text in class than I and many othe posters have very real concerns about. So I, and others, have asked how you use this particular text. I’m not being rude, I am being upfront in expressing concerns.

As far as I can see, you haven’t answered a single poster who has asked how you use this book.

Are you aware that the medications Jazz was put on have rendered Jazz sterile and unable to have, for example, an orgasm? Is that something you discuss with your class (sorry, I don’t know if you said the age group). Do you pick apart asesertions such as girl brain for the regressive nonsense that they are?

Moo5ele55 · 31/08/2019 10:23

Book censorship is always worrying.

Schools read books for all sorts of reasons other than following curriculum plans. You simply can’t list every single book read in a school.

OldCrone · 31/08/2019 10:25

Ariadne The OP posted a description of 'I am Jazz' earlier this morning. You have said you use this book in your lessons. I would like to know more about this, as the book seems to be full of outdated stereotypes about how boys and girls should dress and behave, and even talks about girls' and boys' brains being a part of this.

Moo5ele55 · 31/08/2019 10:26

Pretty shocked you’re so vigilant re PSHE but couldn’t give a shit over books brought in and read by staff, parents or kids for any other subject with a tenuous NC link.

That speaks volumes.

FamilyOfAliens · 31/08/2019 10:27

Pretty shocked you’re so vigilant re PSHE but couldn’t give a shit over books brought in and read by staff, parents or kids for any other subject with a tenuous NC link.

Yes, that’s exactly what I said.

rededucator · 31/08/2019 10:33

They're teaching everyone to become A GAY! And they're going to push even harder to turn the kids TRANS too. So using their magical powers they'll turn all our straight, heterosexual, non questioning children into BIG GAY TRANS PEOPLE! Or what they might do is encourage love and acceptance to others regardless of their differences. But more likely they'll use their magic powers and do the big gay thing.

AriadneCrete · 31/08/2019 10:36

@Toorahtoorahaye it’s an approved teaching resource in the school I teach at, and the parents of actual children I teach don’t have a problem with it, so I don’t particularly care about what unknown parents of unknown children on the internet think.

But as you asked politely, I can see the problem with the “girl brain” aspect of it and that is part of the book that I don’t agree with. In my class it’s used as part of a wider discussion about trans and there is a lot of “Some people think...” and “some people believe...” and I tell my pupils that I don’t believe in ‘girl’ brains and ‘boy’ brains. I do think it’s important that there are books written by actual trans people about their real, lived experiences though.

OldCrone · 31/08/2019 10:38

Book censorship is always worrying.

In general I agree, and I think this is an important point. But this isn't about what books we, as adults, should be allowed to read. This is about what books very young children should be reading to teach them about an important part of their life. Some books are totally unsuited to this purpose.

Original poster
Toorahtoorahaye · 31/08/2019 10:44

@Toorahtoorahaye

Thanks, I’m glad if the school uses that text that you teach it in that way with some critical thought and room for discussion.

OP posts:
Original poster
Toorahtoorahaye · 31/08/2019 10:45

@AriadneCrete - sorry - my above post was to you - not myself

OP posts:
Beamur · 31/08/2019 10:46

Talk of censorship is over the top. Schools are already very selective about what books they provide. But that doesn't mean they are going to get it right 100% of the time and I'd hope would listen to any concerned parent over any aspect of the curriculum and explain how the lesson is taught.

FamilyOfAliens · 31/08/2019 10:46

OldCrone

You’re wasting your breath. Moo knows perfectly well that it isn’t censorship, but is too blinded by their own agenda to acknowledge that checking materials are suitable for children is normal practice in schools.