Homosexuality in the Classroom.

[Darcey1]

My daughter is nine. Yesterday she came home from school and said that her teacher had told the class that she was a lesbian. The teacher is about to have one of these civil partnerships and according to my daughter told the class that girls could marry girls and boys could marry boys if they wanted to.It was according to her entirely natural. This seems like corruption to me. I don't want my daughter exposed to this kind of lifestyle.

I am very upset about this and don't know what to do. Am I over reacting? Should the school have warned us that the teacher was going to do this? Do you think I should make a complaint to the school?

its not terribly good form to announce yourself as a homophobic 1950's throwback either

hmmm
Here's a theory.
The OP is not the mother in question, but the teacher.
She is considering announcing her forthcoming CP to her class of 9 yr olds but conscious she may meet some prejudice from ignorant bigots/less thoughtful parents. So she posts on a well known parents forum (other forums are available, but may be less enlightened) to see how it might go down.

In which case, may I offer congratulations and say I would have no problem whatsoever with you sharing your good news with any of my dcs, whatever age they are.

OMG!!Your daughter knows there are lesbians in the world??

Wow, well now that shes aware of them, she'll definatly become one, thats how it spreads. Get her some of that sterile handwash incase she has to go near her teacher.

And watch out for her making 2 Barbies kiss, thats the first sign.

Daftpunk- Did I mention you directly?

But okay I'll feel like biting:
Ignorance- ie. lack of knowledge on an issue.

You state "this is a teacher talking to 9 yr olds about homosexuality without parental consent...

..if this is for real..i would deffo complain."

So in terms of your lack of knowledge- ie. "ignorance" I think I need to clarify something:

You DO NOT need parental consent to mention your relationship to students. There is much legislation protecting teachers about what they can or cannot say in the classroom. That teacher has not broken ANY legislation or guidance relating to schools. In fact she has made a very positive step in talking to the class about her relationship meeting section 4 of her requirements in the Teacher code of conduct as the gender equality duty, equal opps etc etc. Schools have a legal responsibility to combat all forms of bullying including homophobia.

Sexuality Education can fall into Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) for which parents do have a right of withdrawal (from 2011 not if child is over 15)- however this WASN'T an SRE lesson and therefore right of withdrawal probably would not apply especially as she was not talking about her sex life she was talking about her relationship.

So although you would have a right to complain (as any parent does about anything and boy do they like to use that right!) perhaps knowing more about the legislation may help consider whether you would want a "complaint" to be your first port of call in this instance, perhaps a discussion with the school may be a better start (but obviously I realise you were not OP and we are talking hypothethically). Just trying to support increasing your knowledge levels dear daftpunk

Eh? If a thread is about education, then talking about your experiences as a teacher is acceptable I would think.

And you're wrong BTW about it just being a delaying tactic. Although it is that too...

i wouldn't have a problem with a teacher talking about her pregnancy or her hetro relationships....my son is being brought up by hetrosexuals..it's what he's used to...

homosexuality is different..

i don't want him shocked..

Ithangyou

See, now you're teasing daftpunk. This is where according to form you go all wide-eyed and ask to be educated. Or accuse people of anti-catholic prejudice. Or anything rather than actually engage in a reasoned manner with the debate. Yawn.

yes teh whole 'daftpunk v's teh evil liberal empire of the middle classes' thing is rather old now

Sometimes I think Daftpunk is Nick Griffin. Or married to him.

At 15, my son's RE teacher had a 'discussion' that homosexuality was unnatural and abhorrent (all boys' school). I complained about this - I can't believe that a teacher could be so oblivious to the boys' possible sexual confusion at this age, and to the possiblity that there were homosexual boys in the class, who may have been going through a very difficult time.

I think it's great that a teacher can tell a child that they're marrying another woman. Now that's progress..... 50 years ago, being gay was ILLEGAL!

Quite a few of the teachers at my DDs' school have got married recently and a couple have had babies. Cards have been lovingly wrought, names have been changed, babies have been brought in to admire.. .
I am trying to imagine the sort of school envisaged by Mathanxiety where none of this could happen because it it is the teacher's private life and the children shouldn't know about it.
Nope, can't do it.
Mathanxiety, surely you realise you are being completely unrealistic? Children, teachers and parents are all part of a community. We don't all need to know what everyone else had for breakfast, but the major events of another person's life shouldn't have to be hidden from view.
I honestly don't believe that you really think a heterosexual teacher shouldn't mention their forthcoming marriage to his or her pupils.

"So you don't want him to meet anyone in his little life other than people Just Like You."

I think this applies to lots of people here. Heaven forbid that you should come across anyone with a different opinion.

By that argument Daftpunk, has he been shocked to learn that people live in igloos or houseboats (not what he's used to), to learn that some people eat cats, dogs and snakes (not what he's use to), and that some people choose to go into nunneries and consider themselves brides Of christ! Quelle Horreur 9as they say in france)

or is it JUST two woman choosing to live together and love each other that would shock him and for which he would need preparation?

and apologies to mathaanxiety if you feel I broke some MN ettiquette code by mentioning an RL job. Thing is this is something I am soooo passionate about and I was actually trying to justify my feeding the troll but can see how you took it that way.

Oh and teachers know when kids are trying to delay the lesson, take the lesson off track and most won't rise to it- I actually meant discussing weekends more in your general human interactions with students, breaktime, formtime, corridoors etc. We are human and by developing these good relationships with the kids we are rewarded in lessons by kids who are engaged with what we are trying to teach them. That is what being a teacher is all about.

my son is very innocent..

quite happy for him to learn about homosexuality when he's older...

Scarletlillybug: I am very happy fo others to have an opinion, but I am interested to know why they hold that opinion, and especially because there is such a hgigh level of homophoboia, and discrimination of all kinds, remianing in our society, I thnk it;s fair enough to ask people about thier opinions, and to be forthright. What is your opinion on the OP?

DP it is a shame you are not educating yor kids in the ways of the world because if you really do believe the things you post and advocate them as the final word on how to live your life then your children are going to be terrified to approach you if they need to talk about anything not fitting your brief

my daughter is very innocent too and she is quite aware of same sex relationship