PSHE and gender talk

[BlooDeBloop]

Is this right? Y7 PSHE class. Teacher engaged class with gender stereotype talk. Fine. Then asks the boys to put up their hands if they would never wear an item of girl's clothing. Cue: zero hands bar my son and his friend. So I'm upset that the boys were, out of a sense of shame, being asked to lie. Most boys and men I know really wouldn't wear women's clothing ever.

It feels to me like this is (another) example of group think being imposed on the next generation. I'm particularly upset with the lying. When I spoke with a friend however about bribing it up with the school she said this is a bad idea. It's how the majority of people now think and the teachers would perceive me as a bigot for holding the views I do.

Any thoughts? AI really BU?

Using clothes to drive the point home is a bit 🤔
I’d imagine using professions would have been more appropriate and educational (nurse vs doctor, man vs woman jobs etc)

But to answer your question - YANBU. In your shoes I’d request access to the materials they are using, and wouldn’t be holding back if I had concerns.

I have no issues being “that parent” when it comes to safeguarding.

I have today emailed for the details of what they are teaching. I used to teach...I thought there would be a set countrywide curriculum on this topic?? I'm glad I'm not in the minority of one on this 😆. To be honest, being labelled a bigot had shaken me up. I nearly didn't email my request. When I (hopefully) receive it, I hope (if I need to) muster up the courage to be 'that' patent. I find it hard as I'm generally conflict avoidant and my y7 has anxiety issues so I worry he might get caught in the cross fire 🙄. I also used to teach and know the pressures they are under. I'll be the ex teacher 'telling them how to teach' etc etc

This is your child and it’s perfectly acceptable to get more details about what your DC is being taught.
what if DC came home and told you that they had a Math lesson and learnt that 5+2 = 12. You would want to know what was going on.
If a member of staff thinks you are a bigot - well that is on them not you.
My DC has a person coming into school
to teach the students. Openly talks about kinks and gender in their website. I have asked to see the materials they plan to teach and barring some miracle I will probably withdraw DC from the class. I don’t want someone with those views teaching my DC what I consider a load of rubbish. And that’s Ok. I’m his parent, the one ultimately responsible for my child.

Yes I agree. But if the school is agreeing to let such 3rd parties in then I would be thinking wtf are they teaching the rest of the time, what values are seeping in??!! Tbh I'm thinking of home schooling - not because of this incident in isolation but there is a bunch of other stuff about the school including mixed sex toilets and also stuff specific to my child.

Yes I do worry about all these things.
Im not in the Uk and home schooling isn’t allowed. Fortunately DC is very science minded and gender critical. He knows it’s nonsense. But is selective about discussing these views because of possible reaction from others.
Maybe homeschooling is a good option.

Seems a very odd exercise to do in class.

More generally OP, do come over to the Sex and Gender board, loads of knowledgeable women there - eg see this thread : www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4754035-break-it-down-for-me-contacting-you-childs-school-edition

Also, while I'm here, please do sign this petition, and get your friends and family too as well! www.mumsnet.com/talk/petitions_noticeboard/4722618-petition-to-update-the-equality-act-thread-2?page=1

Thank you for the link leafstamp. I do keep an eye on the FWR board but though Education was better to see initially what is being taught in PSHE. As I said, I was under the impression there was a countrywide curriculum as there is for eg science. Perhaps not. I haven't heard back from the school btw. Next step, I'll contact the lead in KS3 curriculum. I don't think there is a head of PSHE per se.

Not sure why my reply has been hidden, but I was basically talking about the article here www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4756149-government-considering-urgent-review-into-inappropriate-sex-education