My 5yo's teacher is insufferably woke

[Ladyday1995]

Apologies if this is not in the right category.

My DS started year 1 in September. His new teacher has been somewhat of a thorn in my side for a few weeks. Nothing serious though and I've never had much need to speak much to her.
DS came home last week waxing lyrically about COP26, how we are wrecking the planet and destroying animals habitats. He quite rightly doesn't understand what he can do about it, we live a fairly "green" lifestyle etc. We talked about it at length so I could make sure he understood.
Anyway, I'm not all too happy that this is what he's being taught in his valuable schooling hours. I've had a little peep on teachers Twitter and she jumps on many trendy societal issues of today, even supporting insulate Britain FFS.
I realise this is a slippery slope. I'm in Wales and I know the gov has recently slipped past a controversial new "diversity and equality" plan for the curriculum. I can't say I agree with much of what I've read being taught to children, particularly regarding sex education, and gender identity.
It's a bit of a minefield. The climate change lessons aren't ideal, but I digress. My worry starts when the PSE lessons start. Ideally I'd not have my son attend these lessons at all. I am more than capable of explaining these matters to him myself when I think he is mature enough to understand. Is it unreasonable to ask for a more detailed report of what they will be studying? I don't want to look like some Pearl clutching bigot. I am concerned about how much of his teacher's political stances could seep into her teaching practice. Does anyone else have any experience or ideas of what little uns are being taught in school these days?

@foxgoosefinch

In Year 1 for example one of my DD’s term topics was polar regions - they learned about geography, ice caps, animal habitats, the differences between the north and south poles, things like food chains and which animals were apex predators, tides and currents, animal life cycles, they read bits from accounts of polar explorations. And as part of that they were also learning about climate change, it’s effects on currents and land masses, weather and animal food chains.

It is proper learning, not some kind of soapbox topic that they do!

This seems ideal! I'm glad it's being delivered in such an informative way to your littles. I wasn't sure if I was right to be concerned about this, there was a knee jerk reaction to my DS being upset. I feel like little children have been exposed to such an ugly world already with this pandemic. I just want to protect him from all of these horrors for as long as possible. He is so innocent.

For clarity teachers opinions were not presented to the class AFAIK. It appears I've built a picture up from what I've seen on social media. I admit I might well be wrong here, and I'll give it some thought. We are all still learning

5 year olds will be the ones changing the world one day. That's why you teach important issues like climate change throughout their schooling. They'll be learning the other subjects too. Stop stalking teacher's twitter. They are entitled to private lives and personal opinions. Of course you're not going to agree with every teacher's political views.

I taught my year 2 class about climate change. They all had to consider a small change they could do to help. These included turning the light off when leaving a room, walking to school, planting seeds, recycling. The children were all hugely receptive. I don't consider that to be woke. It's reality. Teaching children that they can make an impact in a small way is valuable.

Unfortunately, this is the way all schools are going: both state and private. The latter even more so. And it is done at the expense of giving children a proper education. I dread to think about the hours spent on indoctrinating them with age-inappropriate, one-sided arguments just because the causes are dear to their teachers' hearts.

Op I think you have possibly over though the school subjects.

Some children quite literally take a topic and think of the extremes. It doesn't meccesarily mean your child hasn't been taught at an age relvant level.

My daughter once was obsessed over fair trade products because they had a fair trade day and would only eat fairtrade. Now that wasn't what was taught, it was just my daughter obsessing, it lasted a day and a half, and she forgot iver the obsession.

It is really important that all these important topics are taught from a young age, they are topics about the time we live in. Times change and education meed to change to reflect it. I feel shielding tour son from such topics will only put him at a disadvantage. Especially if he the gets thrown in to more derailed and deeper lessons without understanding the basics.

Same goes for sex Ed, as a parent we possibly take a much more personal biased nd emotional view and think our children are not ready. In school it's going to be far more factual and age appropriate.
And as much as we hate it as parents, children do tend to respond better to a teacher than thier parents and belive what they say over the parent. Again not always. But generally it tends to be the case.

@Ladyday1995

For clarity teachers opinions were not presented to the class AFAIK. It appears I've built a picture up from what I've seen on social media. I admit I might well be wrong here, and I'll give it some thought. We are all still learning

Have you stalked the Head Teachers SM? The TAs? You're basically your assumptions of her being a bad teacher on her having a life and opinions outside of school. They are permitted.

I taught three different year groups this week, in each of those year groups, year 1,2 and 3, I've discussed cop26. I discuss the climate crisis age appropriately, tell the children that it is important for them to think about what we can all do to help.

@TheyWentToSeaInASieve

Unfortunately, this is the way all schools are going: both state and private. The latter even more so. And it is done at the expense of giving children a proper education. I dread to think about the hours spent on indoctrinating them with age-inappropriate, one-sided arguments just because the causes are dear to their teachers' hearts.

What evidence do you have for this?

@SleepingStandingUp

Have you stalked the Head Teachers SM? The TAs? You're basically your assumptions of her being a bad teacher on her having a life and opinions outside of school. They are permitted.

Is there something wrong with looking at my sons teachers social media? Companies vet potential employees SM's, parents check out other parents SM's. This is 7 hours of my child's day spent with these people. You better believe I'm going to check out their social media. It's the age we live in. If this post was reversed and teacher was posting climate denialism, or gender critical content you would be singing a totally different tune. As I said in my last reply; my main concern is not the climate change lessons, I can live with that I'm sure. I am concerned about the new RSE curriculum

@SleepingStandingUp

Sorry, I also meant to say, I never insinuated she was a bad teacher. DS enjoys her. It is about the broader issue of wokeism being the new canon in primary schools.

'wokeism'

Such a lazy go-to term umbrella these days, which people use to describe any number of things that they just don't like. What's your issue exactly with the teacher having opinions on racism on her personal social media outside the classroom? You might want to ask yourself why this upsets you.

Getting in a flap over a teacher mentioning climate change to your child. Getting in a flap because they're strongly opposed to racism even though they haven't raised this in the classroom.

Totally normal.

Omg are you actually serious? You stalked her SM, and are complaining about her personal views that do not impact her job…

...I don't want to look like some Pearl clutching bigot.

You do come across that way I'm afraid.

Your child's teacher is preparing her to cope with the world she is going to live in. This includes beliefs about gender and facts about climate change that are obviously very different to yours (and mine). Your attempts to deny them is not going to help her come to terms with her peers or the difficult environmental reality she will live in.

Can I ask what the ‘race theory’ concerns relate to?

What concerns you about the new SRE curriculum in yr1? Whatever is it, take it up with the government. The teacher has no impact on the curriculum content.

Have you considered home schooling?

So she's said nothing inappropriate in class. She hasn't violated any curriculum. She is teaching kids about extinction and the environment.

That seems fine to me.

I have a very clear memory of my own schooling around that time, when we all tried to earn pocket money to help Adopt a Whale because we had learned that they were endangered. I survived.

For someone who doesn't want to clutch pearls, you're sure going out of your way to be offended by things your child isn't being taught!

Oh my Lord, this is hilarious! I talk to my 3 year old about climate change. It's kind of big deal love, especially for them. And totally over dramatising the gender stuff, very odd post. Have a cup of tea!

@lololololollll

Oh my Lord, this is hilarious! I talk to my 3 year old about climate change. It's kind of big deal love, especially for them. And totally over dramatising the gender stuff, very odd post. Have a cup of tea!

He has his entire life to comprehend that the planet is facing a crisis. He has just about gotten over the global pandemic that shook the world. I don't understand why we can't let kids be kids for a little while, considering all that they have been through.

Anyone who uses the word woke as a put down for people who don't behave like selfish twats is being unreasonable.

Be thankful the child is learning to care for the environment, his future is at stake.

If anyone uses the word 'woke' I immediately decide I can't take them seriously.

Children that age do take things so literally, and sometimes they get more worried too much about things they or their parents can have very little effect on, as they have very little perspective. Fine to learn about climate change, but it should definitely be done in a gentle and practical way, particularly when it has been such a extraordinary couple of years.

for ignorant use of the term woke.

Maybe home educate if you want to teach your child in a bubble of unreality.

[quote Ladyday1995]@SleepingStandingUp

Sorry, I also meant to say, I never insinuated she was a bad teacher. DS enjoys her. It is about the broader issue of wokeism being the new canon in primary schools. [/quote]
This is a ridiculous, ignorant, reactionary post.

'wokeism being the new canon' FFS. Give over.

@Ladyday1995 so dramatic! It's not like I sit him down and tell him the world is ending! It's every day chat, explaining what is and what isn't good for the environment in kid terms as and when it comes up. Luckily most people are like me so the planet might stand a chance instead of getting all offended by anyone talking about it they talk openly as a family