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?

@Moreandmoreandmore

All the posters saying there is nothing inappropriate taught in PSHE are very lucky if this is not happening in their school. There are lots of PSHE programmes teaching all sorts of questionable things. EG the very popular Jigsaw programme tells children from aged 5 to keep the lessons secret from their parents. I think the situation is worse in Wales due to their new curriculum. Parents are being prevented from seeing what is taught to their children; and when they are allowed to see it, they might find that all sorts of rubbish and harmful things are being taught.

This is the sort of thing that was being said about the Scottish curriculum too. People up in arms and taking to Twitter etc. I can assure you it's not the case. Making it a secret would be hugely contradictory. We sent letters home before our block of learning detailing what we'd be teaching. Not compulsory, just our choice so parents weren't shocked when dc came home with their new vocabulary.

I know you say this is about the curriculum, but it's really hard to know how to comment when the thread title is about the teacher being "insufferably woke" and that you have looked her up on social media.

I don't know which you are actually upset about.

You're overthinking this OP, could it be that you are just in sufferably narrow minded?

How is that not telling children to keep the contents secret from their parents? And that’s for 3-4 year olds.

It's not talking a lot what the teacher is teaching it's talking about what other dc disclose about their personal thoughts etc so dc feel they have a safe space to open up. Are you deliberately misunderstanding?

Calling discussions about climate change woke is the worst use of the word I ever seen. CC is going to be the single biggest threat to your son's wellbeing and yet you don't want him understanding about it?

If she's supporting insulate Britain on social media you could bring that to the attention of the head. Teachers are told to make their social media private or entirely non-political because it may influence their students if they see a teacher supporting a specific viewpoint. It could be argued that publicly supporting such radical and dangerous action as gluing one's hands to the M25 could be inappropriate.

Stop stalking your child’s teacher on social media.
Jesus Christ.
She’s allowed to have thoughts about the world, the same way you are. Teachers are human beings too.

You'd love me op, I'm the Green Schools Coordinator for our school. Yes 4 year olds are taught about damage to the environment. If we don't educate the next generation what hope do we have.
Fortunately I have no social media for you to stalk.

Sounds like she's teaching the curriculum and you sound like you are 'that' parent.

@ThirdElephant

If she's supporting insulate Britain on social media you could bring that to the attention of the head. Teachers are told to make their social media private or entirely non-political because it may influence their students if they see a teacher supporting a specific viewpoint. It could be argued that publicly supporting such radical and dangerous action as gluing one's hands to the M25 could be inappropriate.

Is this a problem for 5 year olds though? I don't know many browsing Twitter and reading the contents. Surely that's more applies to secondary school?

It's not talking a lot what the teacher is teaching it's talking about what other dc disclose about their personal thoughts etc so dc feel they have a safe space to open up. Are you deliberately misunderstanding?

Do you think three year olds should be told that they mustn’t tell mum or dad something another child said in school? You must have had a very clever three year old who can understand that they shouldn’t keep secrets from their parents, apart from when their teacher tells them to keep secrets. And who will somehow be able to know which secrets are ok to keep and which aren’t. It is very dangerous to tell any child to keep a secret from their parent.

Teachers are told to make their social media private or entirely non-political because it may influence their students if they see a teacher supporting a specific viewpoint.

No, teachers are advised to consider making their profiles private in order to avoid slightly unhinged parents stalking them online and building some kind of vendetta against them. They don't have to keep it private nor do they have to avoid posting anything political: they have the same rights to free expression on these platforms as anyone else does.

What teachers cannot do is use their time in the classroom to influence the children on anything political. It's only alright for parents to politically influence their children.

There’s nothing wrong with teaching about Climate Change
I hate the term woke.

@liveforsummer

Is this a problem for 5 year olds though? I don't know many browsing Twitter and reading the contents. Surely that's more applies to secondary school?

Kids remain interested in their teachers even after they've moved from their class. My Year 6s still love their old foundation stage teacher. We've had issues with 8 year olds printing off photos of their teachers they have found on the internet- it's a strange old world!

[quote Moreandmoreandmore]Arthur the jigsaw charter says “ We respect each other’s privacy (confidentiality). Although, realistically, it is unlikely that complete confidentiality will be observed, it is important that children are taught to respect the privacy of others and to do their best to keep what is said in Jigsaw Pieces (lessons) and Circles confidential. The teacher must emphasise that she cannot promise complete confidentiality as she must report any information relating to safeguarding concerns” How is that not telling children to keep the contents secret from their parents? And that’s for 3-4 year olds. www.jigsawpshe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Jigsaw-Approach-to-Early-Years.pdf[/quote]
That means if a child in class says something other students need not to treat the comments as gossip. It does not mean not talking about the lesson content at all. It means not going home saying X,y and z said this. It means going home and saying we learnt about X, y and z. If the child's comments flag a safeguarding concern the teacher will deal with it.

Its about making the classroom a space where children feel they can talk freely. They are not advocating hiding information from parents about the content of the lesson

@Moreandmoreandmore

What exactly do you think young children are being taught about sex? The new curriculum doesn't even include sexual intercourse at primary unless the school choose to add it in for the oldest years. Or do you believe that learning the correct names for body parts is sexual in nature?

It sounds like the way this teacher is talking about issues like climate change is creating fear and worry in young minds. I would have a word.

@CovidPassQuestion

We treated it rather like we treat religions: "Well DS, that's what some people believe", and repeat and repeat and repeat.

About climate change?

liveforsummer This is the sort of thing that was being said about the Scottish curriculum too. People up in arms and taking to Twitter etc. I can assure you it's not the case. Making it a secret would be hugely contradictory. We sent letters home before our block of learning detailing what we'd be teaching. Not compulsory, just our choice so parents weren't shocked when dc came home with their new vocabulary..

That’s great, that’s what schools should be doing. Lots don’t. I have friends where schools are extremely reluctant to share information with parents and make it very difficult for them to find out what’s being taught. Your experience is not the only experience.

@Moreandmoreandmore

It's not talking a lot what the teacher is teaching it's talking about what other dc disclose about their personal thoughts etc so dc feel they have a safe space to open up. Are you deliberately misunderstanding?

Do you think three year olds should be told that they mustn’t tell mum or dad something another child said in school? You must have had a very clever three year old who can understand that they shouldn’t keep secrets from their parents, apart from when their teacher tells them to keep secrets. And who will somehow be able to know which secrets are ok to keep and which aren’t. It is very dangerous to tell any child to keep a secret from their parent.

No one is telling 3 year olds that . At the moment what we are covering is respect so listening and not interrupting when another dc is sharing, respecting their privacy ie if they don't want to share their thoughts that day that's ok we thank them for answering with 'no thanks' and move on and that's 6 year olds. You are way over thinking this

That’s great, that’s what schools should be doing. Lots don’t. I have friends where schools are extremely reluctant to share information with parents and make it very difficult for them to find out what’s being taught. Your experience is not the only experience.

You can find curriculum guidance online

The school’s curriculum for all subjects and year groups should be available on the school website. I think you should do some reading before you get on your soap box about something you’re not entirely sure about. It also sounds like you haven’t read the new PSHE curriculum. They don’t teach 5yo about sex and puberty.

@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.

Teachers don't choose the curriculum.

@noblegiraffe

You stalked her on twitter, don’t like her personal opinions and are complaining that she’s talking to kids about protecting the environment?

Haha this!

Wtf. I've heard it all now. Annoyed about a teacher addressing climate change.

No wonder we are in the situation we are in. I wouldn't worry that they will think you're a Pearl clutching bigot - it'll be pretty obvious.

@Iamnotthe1

Teachers are told to make their social media private or entirely non-political because it may influence their students if they see a teacher supporting a specific viewpoint.

No, teachers are advised to consider making their profiles private in order to avoid slightly unhinged parents stalking them online and building some kind of vendetta against them. They don't have to keep it private nor do they have to avoid posting anything political: they have the same rights to free expression on these platforms as anyone else does.

What teachers cannot do is use their time in the classroom to influence the children on anything political. It's only alright for parents to politically influence their children.

I direct you to the teacher standards on personal and professional conduct.