Totally shocked!!! Need help please!

[danceswithdeath]

Okay so. My son goes to a private school; they do pray etc but we are not religious at home. There are obviously other parents who do not follow a religion too.

I am on a group WhatsApp with the fellow parents of my sons class (just gone into year three). Someone has just put a link for us to sign, and it is regarding not teaching our children about LGBTQ in class....

Now, I get it. Everyone has their own personal opinions. But I find this really shocking!! No one has replied expect myself, where I have asked if it was a mistake or not. They said no and to read it.

Well I really want to put something, but I'm not sure if I should... it's pissed me right off though!! I am so open with my son! He knows about a lot.

Has anyone any advice on what I could say that is calm and to the point?

Well yes, if they're not being given that perspective at home due to their parents'/guardians' beliefs.

Is it a school's job to be doing that though?

Where else will children get different view points?
Although, I'm sure that at this point what's important is that pupils are familiar different ways of life and to ensure pupils respect each other, each other's families and the teachers (who might be in single sex relationships or not conform to gender stereotypes themselves), regardless of sexual orientation or gender options/identifications. Which, let's be honest, is not always taught by their parents...

School should leave moral or religious considerations out of the class. That's for the parents, or religious leaders to convey.

Why do they need to be taught that perspective in school?

Because if they grow up to be gay and all that they hear at home is that it's wrong, that can be damaging.

Or go on to mistreat gay people...

What are the points of your last couple of questions, Fuma? What viewpoints on gender/sex/etc do you feel should be taught? Who by? Why?

I was wondering what the justification was and whether in light of that I would consider this a necessary step. On balance, I don't think it is. Sure, a child might grow up to be gay, they might grow up to be prejudiced, they might grow up to be lots of things. And I get that part of the function of a school is, ideally, to introduce ideas that are dominant in the society in which it is placed. I think this happens in lots of ways though, and I don't know that timetabling lessons in order to do so is a good use of curriculum time.

Apart from anything else, just because an idea is socially mainstream or dominant doesn't make it inherently "right" or, crucially, applicable to everyone in that society. As members of society we, including children, can absorb the messages we see around us and create our own value system in response to them. This seems to me a more organic and less problematic process than explicitly telling children what to think about any issue really.

So to answer your question, I don't think that any views on sexuality or gender should be taught. I think we should present children with age appropriate factual information. So for five year olds that would be a very basic overview of reproductive functions and also safety and privacy information. For 12 and upwards it would be more about how to safely negotiate sexual activity including contraception, consent, barrier methods including those applicable to homosexual acts, general sexual and reproductive organ health including symptoms to watch out for, where to access advice and information and so on. That's what I see as useful and practical information.

This seems to me a more organic and less problematic process than explicitly telling children what to think about any issue really.
In theory yes, but how do you think that has been working out?

What kind of views do you think the children will be taught?
I'd assume they would be presented with the diversity of behaviours and taught that all people should be respected regardless.

how do you think that has been working out?

Pretty well on the whole I'd say. Rights related to sexuality and gender identity have legal recognition, there are pride parades in every town, plus social and cultural outlets and opportunities for expression, support and information freely available and often state funded for people who who exhibit minority sexuality and gender choices.

Not everyone agrees with all of this of course. I don't really know if that's an issue that requires explicit action in primary schools. There are many many 'mainstream' ideas that I don't quite agree with and there are many aspects of society that I would like to be different. That doesn't mean that my wrong-think should be corrected. Same for everyone else.

Lweji

"I'd assume they would be presented with the diversity of behaviours and taught that all people should be respected regardless."

This is key, respectful behaviour from everyone towards everyone. Actually, I think learning about how to 'think'critically, to evaluate information, to weigh up evidence etc, that is crucial. Slso to be a friend, to build bridges, to get along even when you do not agree together or at least to work together in society even when we do disagree.

Those are all valuable skills schools should be teaching (and sometimes do)

Fuma, you seem to be carefully and deliberately making a distinction between ‘useful and practical information’ and talking more broadly to children about how some men love men, some children have two mummies etc. I’m not at all convinced that teachers could give purely factual info without going into the broader context (and I’m not sure why one would feel the need to).

Conversely, though, it could be argued that the things I’ve just said are purely factual (it is just the case that some men love men and some children have two mummies).

Either way, your distinction seems to me to be false and not really possible to achieve.

Your use of the word ‘choices’ about sexuality is odd.

I am not religious and have 3 grown up children. Not once would I have allowed my children to be taught these things in their Primary School and sex education was done in a Science Class in Secondary School.

I sent my kids to school to learn English, Math, Biology, Art, History, Home Economics. The Parents can teach their own children about Gay Marriage or Cross Dressing etc it should not be on the School Agenda. It has nothing to do with the School and should be kept out of Education.

Did your kids really not get any sex ed in primary school? Stuff about puberty etc.?

Gay Marriage or Cross Dressing etc

Good lord.

No they didn't and I'm glad. I sent them to school to learn to read and write only. They didn't need to know about sex in any way. I answered their questions and they have grown up to be amazing adults. Only question I was asked when my daughter was at primary school was about periods. She started young.

So they stopped school once they could read and write? About 8?

@nicky7654 sex education was done in a Science Class in Secondary School

Most girls start their periods in primary school. Both girls and boys almost overwhelmingly start puberty in primary school. High school is far, far too late for sex education. Seems like the school/s where you are, are grossly negligent and inept at even teaching basics, let alone history, etc etc.

Perfectly good schools actually. Probably far better than you get today. I'm my kids parent and I don't leave it up to their school teachers to teach things that are private and totally irrelevant in their education.

Obviously you feel the need to argue and be immature!

Good for you. Not every parent does though.

"I'm my kids parent and I don't leave it up to their school teachers to teach things that are private"

That's great for your kids but what about the parents who don't bother, like mine?

Since when do Primary Schools teach girls about their period!! Rediculous! It's a parents job not a school lesson in Primary. Think you Parents need to stop using the Schools to do your job as a Parent!

Since when do Primary Schools teach girls about their period!!

Since at least the 1970s

Rediculous

Ridiculous.

Since when do Primary Schools teach girls about their period!!
Since the 80s, at least. It is what schools are supposed to do. Are you really being serious? I really hope you're trolling? Tbh, you sound like you are from a different planet. I don't know any parent, even back from the 80s, that has a problem with this. Were you homeschooled? Because you sound so naive and like you have arrived from a different planet and don't understand basic moral protocols after the 1950s from planet earth. All primary schools have basic puberty education. It would be negligent not to. I don't understand......I truly hope you are trolling/joking with us? ..... ?