Promotion of homosexuality in schools

[tectime]

Hi

I have children in junior school, and one is due to undertake a sex education class (too young in my opinion), but I am concerned if the subject of homosexualty is broached. Is this broached in senior schools, or does it happen in junior schools too.

'I am concerned if the subject of homosexualty is broached' (my itals)
'it is not something to be channeled in school'

That's not homophobia?

Incidentally, I've said before on MN that I personally think children should be taught as many joyous and alternative forms of sexual expression that do not incur the risk of pregnancy as possible.

My DS and DD are 5 and 3 and I've already discussed plenty on the topic of sex education. My DD has expressed a preference to hook up with a girl, her nursery friend and I told her that when she is grown up if she wants to and her friend wants to too then that's fine.

Surely it makes sense to normalise it all?

I think that's a brilliantly straight-forward way to talk about gay relationships Starlight - I've had similar discussions with my DD. Basically that when you're grown-up you can choose who you want to live with. I think getting across the idea of choice for how you want to live at an early age is very positive.

Sorry, but I agree with the OP. junior school children do not need to know about homosexuality and sometimes an extreme over zealousness to be politically correct manifests itself in an unwarranted protracted discussion on the issue (even if it was only meant to be referred to in passing...) It is not homophobic, as I would also not think it appropriate to discuss the various types of relationships heterosexuals have as well. At such a young age, children just need to know the basics. When they are in Senior school, and a little more mature, children can digest such details - when they're younger, it is just extraneous and maybe bewildering information overload. Have you all forgotten how young and unsexualised you were at 10 years old - would you really want to hear such unnecessary details?

What unecessary details do you think that the children are going to be exposed to?

Many children have been 'exposed' to the idea of homosexuality by knowing people who are in same sex relationships. Do you think that parents should instead try and shield their children from this until they are older?

Which particular details are unnecessary?

Innocence and ignorance are not the same things.

Starlight - you've discussed sex ed with your 3 year old - I can't imagine why or in what context. Yes, maybe where babies come from -but in the most simplistic of explanations, surely?

I learnt French at school, it didn't make me French.

I learnt French at school. It didnt even make me able to speak french

"Sometimes men love women
and sometimes men love men
and then there are bi-sexuals
though some say they're just kidding themselves..."

Seeker, we musn't be ignorant to the fact that a child's concern does not extend beyond a certain limited curiosity as to where and how babies come about. Why dump all that other stuff when clearly they are not mature and ready to fully comprehend the complexities of relationships. What's the rush to dump this "adult" info on junior school kids-wait until they are at least in Senoir school!

"Seeker, we musn't be ignorant to the fact that a child's concern does not extend beyond a certain limited curiosity as to where and how babies come about. Why dump all that other stuff when clearly they are not mature and ready to fully comprehend the complexities of relationships. What's the rush to dump this "adult" info on junior school kids-wait until they are at least in Senoir school!"

Well, my children must have hqd very unhealthy curiosities then because they wanted much more information than that well before Senior school! And what about gay friends- what do you say about them? a girl in my ds's class has two mums- what do I say about them? What possible harm can come from providing good, accurate factual information?

Why should a class of kids 10 years or younger be having a discussion on relationships? Surely that is an adult projecting their adult priorities on children; at 10 or younger, life is not about such concerns. Teenagers, yes-Senior school is where a relevant relationship talk will be of great use. It's all about adults assuming that young children have the same mindset as they do. Let kids be taught these things when they have the maturity to comprehend - senior school is the ideal place - not junior school.

Yes I've discussed sex ed with my 3 yr old. I'm pregnant and my DS (5) asks a lot of questions in front of her and talks a lot about it. She knows how the baby is to come out, has watched births and we have explained how the baby got in in the first place, as well as the types of things that make up a family including less conventional set-ups.

If I wasn't pregnant and she didn't ask questions I might not have, but she asked and we told her the truth.

Mum ie- hhow old ae your children?

Seeker-if a child asks a question -fine, answer it honestly and simply. But let's not assume that an entire class of ten year olds wants a discussion in the same vein.

"Why should a class of kids 10 years or younger be having a discussion on relationships?"

Good grief!

What are you imagining this class of 10 year olds is going to be told?

Mummle - I disagree about what children know at a young age. I was told in quite a lot of details about where babies come from at around 4 years old as I got a younger brother and was fascinated as to how it had happened. I asked a billion questions so ended up extremely well informed. (My poor mum )

By the time I was in primary school, kids were playing kiss chase and while they did not have complex understanding of sexuality, they became aware of couples and so on. We talked a lot about relationships and who was "boyfriend and girlfriend" although there was no sexual element.

By the time I was in high school, boys or girls who were clearly gay were bullied and made to feel abnormal. By secondary school age, opinions had been formed long before and prejudices were on display.

I do think that informing kids in primary school about all types of relationship at an age when they are forming opinions and beliefs is important.

When there is so much bullying of young gay people, this is a problem about our society, not just sexuality. So I think treating it early on as a normal part of life would help.

Lots of girls start their periods at 8 or 9. They are also entering the years of their life when they are most vulnerable to rare inappropriate relationships. Ignorance can make them more vulnerable.

What a bizarre thread this is. How is talking about homosexual relationships going to sexualise children? Homosexual relationships are no more sexualised than heterosexual ones. Do you think children who are brought up by gay couples live in some kind of gay version of the Benny Hill show?

Well, Starlight, in that context, it makes sense. That is a natural conversation stemming from an individual child's curiosity. I have no problem with answering a child's inquisitiveness -but, I also think that we shouldn't fall into the trap of believing that they are more mature than they are and that they are able to digest too much in the realms of relationships. Kids give a good impression of being mature, but we must try and remember how we were when we ourselves were kids. I think talks on puberty and reproduction are fine in junior school and that relationship and sex are for senior school, eg, when kids are in year 7.

I think it might be the old "they will catch gay" issue.