I'm a bit uncomfortable with what I'm supposed to be teaching in PSHE...

[TheFallenMadonna]

I'm doing personal safety with year 9. This week, according to the scheme of work, I'm supposed to adress the issues of underage sex and underage drinking. Which is all fine. But I'm also supposed to cover the issue of how girls, and it is girls, dress. The resources have a picutre of a girl dressed in 'suggestive' clothing and I'm supposed to ask if this is an appropriate way for her to dress. What signals might she be sending out?

Perhaps it's the thread on the 'how to avoid sexual assault' email, but I'm feeling all cross about this.

I know it's about reducing risk for our students. I think that is a good thing. But I'm doubting the delivery suggested. I'm not sure I want to be talking about the signals a girl sends out in relation to sexual assault. I'm not sure that is sending out the right messages.

Aaaargh. Am I overthinking?

well said hobgoblin

I could spend lessons talking about all this stuff, believe me. The trouble is, this is one in a sequence of lessons with a practical slant. What can the students do to keep themselves safe and confident in potentially dangerous situations. It isn't about addressing the wider issues directly, although of course they are there, and also of course, every time we talk about it we are adding to that bigger picture. Aaargh again!

aargh, facebook chat is messing up my posts which are rather dire in nay case

fallen madonna I am with you.
I wouldnt link it to assault at ALL, but do about first impressions, personal body image etv

But it's the personal safety topic. I can't digress too much!

oh if you get onto crime there is a GREAT thing on the court service website
yjyw.teachernet.gov.uk/students.php

Thanks!

but impulses, or conditioned reaction, or whatever you want to call it, are also a risk to men, either via male rape or just via attack.

TBH at 14 I think these kids are old enough for a bit of metateaching. How about showing them the picture and saying 'This is one of the materials I was given for this lesson about keeping yourself safe. What do you think the message I have been asked to give you, using this as an illustration, is?' Might the reaction tell you more about where the class is on this and how many layers into the debate they have got?

oh well look at that then
what abotu a series of scenarios that they can readin groups

then they can do a short role play on one of them
then at a pivotal point(youll haev to write them carefully) the audience say FREEZE adn that is the point where someone made the wrong decision

link it to things like going in a car that might be stolen, erm and stuff

and leaving a drink unattended

or going off with a mates mates etc

god i heart phse

my idea then
i can give you real life situations

choosyfloosy - you haven't met my SLT one of who who would of course come through the door at that moment...

We have already talked about some of these scenarios. The sequence as a whole is a good one. It's just this particular issue.

I also heart PSHE. I need to have a chat with the coordinator I think.

After you have done the lesson, is there someone you can contact in order to address the stereotype clearly being churned out as part of the syllabus - probably in many schools, sadly - ? Is this in-house stuff? Where did it come from?

Obviously you are a teacher so no offense but it worries me how many educators are unlike you in that they are smart enough but they really don't think too deeply about things.

I'm an over-thinker but I'd rather be that when it comes to educating children than an unquestioning individual, continuing stereotypes, perpetuating myths and fears. You'd think schools would be a place where inspiration and change occurs more often...

waffle, waffle, wish, wish...........

I really miss teaching PSHE.

I would feel very uneasy teaching this. Perhaps with a class I did know well, with a few strong girls and who spoke to each other in a respectful manner I may debate this topic.

I think there are lots of personal safety issues you could discuss as rubys said.

after doing a mat contract teachign ONLY phse for a term i was HORRIFIED at the received wisdom staff ( untrained) passed on tbh.

you are good to overthink
i talked pre cum to 15 year olds

I was discussing with a class today animals that we had shot and eaten ( don't ask) and a child said to me
"have you ever killed and eaten sperm Miss" I was shocked for a moment ( he was year 9 but not the brightest tool in the box but not rude or naughty) His friend saw my face and said
"He means squirrels Miss he muddles his words"

PSHE is such an add-on in most schools. I teach 20 hours of science a week and one of PSHE. It's the last thing on a long list for many teachers. And no, I don't think most of them do think about things. They just get the stuff and 'do' it. And staff are also quite timid about things. At a year group meeting we were discussing the sex and contraception topic, and a number of staff thought it would inappropriate to use the word 'vulva'. WTF?

I shall certianly have a chat with the coordinator. I don't hold out much hope though

LOL at sperm and squirrels

Fallen - agree with Hob, think you should contact whichever organisation churned this stuff out and suggest they have a bloody good think about it. Telling a bunch of teenage boys and girls that a girl dressed for a night out is 'asking for it' is barking!

An in-school scheme of work as far as I'm aware. It's certainly dressed up as one. Shall enquire.

If you're meant to be talking about "personal safety" with a mixed class, then I think you'd be well within the topic to cover the general "first impressions" stuff and add other images of boys and girls which might give certain impressions and make them more vulnerable to crime. Hoodies, goths etc as well as the girl in a short skirt.

Then you can cover the point they want you to make - some men will react a certain way to provocative clothing - but also cover how people might react to other styles of dress. And a general discussion of why we think people jump to conclusions, and how they are often wrong.

Whilst I agree with your principle, that how a female dresses shouldn't have any bearing on how men particulary see her, the reality is that a minority will. So saying it's not on to deliver that message isn't really helpful.

I think you should be able to say that if a girl chooses to dress provocatively and is subsequently attacked it most certainly isn't her fault, but also point out that in reality a very small minority of men will interpret the way someone dresses as 'asking for it' or whatever, therefore to lessen the risk of something happening perhaps consider what they're wearing, as well as other methods others have suggested like walking confidently etc. You could have quite a good discussion actually!

FGS YANBU

Could you also make clear that in countries where women do traditionally cover up, they are no less immune to sexual assault (in some cases more so).

There is a study done in Cairo (I think) which concluded that women who wore the hijab and more were no less likely to sexually abused and harrassed in the street than those who wore non-islamic dress.

(FWIW I will let my daughter wear what she likes, although I don't know whether DP will think the same. It helps, perhaps, that she will probably be 6 feet tall by then.)

so do you prepare for how the world 'ought to be' or how it really is? The reality is that whatever we might wish, girls are more in danger when dressed like hookers.