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?

I think you are over reacting in some ways. It's best these children are aware of all these issues. They will be the generations living with the consequences. Clearly home education hasn't improved much, other wise we wouldn't be in this situation. As with sex education, it needs to be done. There's so much kids are exposed to. Just because you will be teaching your child your ideals, they will be exposed to others and there believes. Kids talks. It's better there prepared.

[quote Megalameg]@UnsuitableHat

Saying “wokeism” only offends people who are super woke but in denial about it.[/quote]
No it doesn't. Using the term makes you look really silly. As I said, when I see people using it I just don't take them and their utterances seriously.

I remember learning about saving the planet over 30 years ago, in primary school. We were sent home with a sheet of things to do, e.g. save water, walk more, don't litter etc. This is nothing new.

@Ladyday1995 @Moreandmoreandmore if you’re so concerned about sex education then you can ask the school for the resources they share with the pupils. Primary schools tend to start “sex education” in year 5 or year 6 because pupils need to know about puberty and understand how their bodies are changing. Especially girls because you need to explain why they have periods!

Earing Nonsense. It's been explained multiple times. Respecting someone else's privacy is not wrong.
Do you not teach your DC to do this?

I don’t expect anyone to tell my three year old that they should keep a secret from me. How can a three year old possibly understand? How can a three year old know that they should keep secret e.g something their friend Kayla told them about their mums underwear (respecting people’s privacy , just as an example) but shouldn’t keep secret the fact that Uncle Jim asked if she wanted to see his underwear? How could a three year old know that, if they tell you that Kayla touches Uncle Jim’s underwear, there might be a funny and slightly embarrassing family story behind that (and you will tell them off for not respecting privacy), or it might give you the chance to report it to school and potentially protect Kayla from abuse?

CBeebies is pretty good at teaching about climate change and other issues, in age appropriate ways. If your kids watch that (or similar children’s entertainment) I doubt anything they are being taught will be hugely surprising to them.

PinkMochi if you’re so concerned about sex education then you can ask the school for the resources they share with the pupils. Primary schools tend to start “sex education” in year 5 or year 6 because pupils need to know about puberty and understand how their bodies are changing. Especially girls because you need to explain why they have periods

Yes I have done this and I would recommend all parents ask their schools to find out what exactly is being taught, when, and how. Lots of schools will gladly share this info with parents and won’t teach anything dubious. But some don’t, and if parents don’t ask, they won’t know.It’s not just the sex education bit parents need to ask about , it’s the PSHE programme in general.

If your concerned about what and how stuff is being taught in schools see if you can get more involved..

As a governor maybe?? ...i did it for a while and it really opened my eyes to lots of things that are involved in areas such as curriculum and planning etc ....and I felt much more connected with the school
Would highly recommend it ...

@Nuffaluff

Wonder if you’d say the same if the teacher had a right wing twitter.

As a primary school governor and someone who works in schools, I can assure you that the PSHE curriculum will be entirely age appropriate and will have been scrutinised at several levels, not least by your school governors. You’ll also be allowed to see the curriculum map if you ask- and they’ve almost certainly offered it at some point, although maybe only remotely because of Covid- it will be totally transparent.

As for the teacher being “insufferably woke”.... sounds like she’s passionate. Many a time have I explained my political stance to the kids I teach (11-18) because teaching isn’t just about the subject you’re teaching. I have never tried to make students believe what I believe, but I believe it’s important to discuss it. That applies whether they’re 16 or 6.

Give the poor woman a break. Sounds like she’s a very good teacher.

Oh dear, your child is being influenced by other who have opposing opinions to your own.

Woke means different things to different people. Some people see feminism as woke, the feminism board seems to see gender identity rights as woke, I have no doubt what we read on certain minority groups boards would be considered woke to the locals at the pub. Some people think the BBC is woke others think Mumsnet. So it's probably best to accept everyone has different opinions and just inform the child there are a range of opinions outside of school.

@TrampolineForMrKite

So you are an example of a teacher proudly pushing their own “passionate” political views on students even if they’re 6 - in fact you see it as important that you do this.
Yet according to all these other commentators this never happens.
But here it is, straight from the horses mouth.

[quote Megalameg]@Nuffaluff

Wonder if you’d say the same if the teacher had a right wing twitter.[/quote]
No of course not that would cause cancel culture. Which is equally wrong as claiming they are woke in my book.

Basically you don’t like the teachers views that they have in social media and are using their teaching of climate change to young children.

BTW young children are good at thinking through problems and should learn about climate change and can do small things to help.

We look at climate change with my 3/4 year olds ( as part of the new curriculum in Wales) you would be amazed at how much the children take on board and their ideas to change small things.

[quote Megalameg]@Nuffaluff

Wonder if you’d say the same if the teacher had a right wing twitter.[/quote]
Of course not, that would be wrong.

Anyone acting like they wouldn’t look up their young child’s teachers highly political twitter to see what was being said on it are full of shit. The reality is if this thread was about a teachers very right wing twitter the same people would be giving very different comments.

@Megalameg

Anyone acting like they wouldn’t look up their young child’s teachers highly political twitter to see what was being said on it are full of shit. The reality is if this thread was about a teachers very right wing twitter the same people would be giving very different comments.

Quite right.

My kids are teenagers but if I were doing it over again, I'd homeschool.

@Megalameg

Anyone acting like they wouldn’t look up their young child’s teachers highly political twitter to see what was being said on it are full of shit. The reality is if this thread was about a teachers very right wing twitter the same people would be giving very different comments.

And you know this how?

Schools teach what the DfE tell them to teach, within a range of parameters set by the DfE.
I think that there is nothing wrong with age appropriate lessons on grammar, personal health, relationships, basic science or mathematics. My concerns are more that schools cannot relay things to pupils in ways they would want to, but must fulfil a set of pretty restrictive criteria.

I couldn't get worked up over a child leaning that the ice caps are melting/forests are being depleted beyond recovery or that some people at school might have 2 mums. Good citizenship is born from understanding, compassion and a desire to make the world better.

@Mouseonmychair

It’s probably best to accept that everyone has different opinions which adults should be able to refrain from pushing on elementary school children.

The gender identity folks and the feminism board don’t consider each other woke, they just disagree. They are both very woke to everyone else though.

Holy moly the ignorance on here from some posters is staggering.

Curriculum is decided by teachers: nope, the government sets that.

Climate change is an opinion: nope, it's fact.

Teaching consent is inappropriate for young children: actually it's vital. My reception class learn the PANTS rules. They also learn to keep their hands to themselves (you would be alarmed by some of the inappropriate touching that happens between them). They need to be able to recognise abuse.

Young children cannot process this information: oh yes they can. They are curious little firecrackers! They are also taught at age-appropriate levels. Levels judged by professionals who have researched and studied child development.

Teachers should teach 'basic skills': actually we need to instil a lifelong love of learning.

Opinion shouldn't enter the classroom: some of the best lessons hinge around debate. 'Was Guy Fawkes right or wrong?' sparked a great discussion earlier this week (4 year-olds).

I do wish some parents would recognise that they are no more qualified in education than they are in, say, car mechanics. Or that their views might be wildly ill-informed.

I worry that talking about climate change to children in the wrong way will cause them anxiety. I'm also concerned. I plan on most likely removing my children from sex education until they're older teenagers and can think for themselves. I don't want them indoctrinated in gender crap.

Cop26 is a massive talking point right now and important issue. All children at my kids school are covering it in some way. You can't shelter them from life. When do you start educating them on this? 8, 12? 18??? Most children age 6 listen, draw a picture and think about recycling a bit more. Perhaps work on building some resilience in your child.

Climate change is woke. Ffs.

@Franca123

I worry that talking about climate change to children in the wrong way will cause them anxiety. I'm also concerned. I plan on most likely removing my children from sex education until they're older teenagers and can think for themselves. I don't want them indoctrinated in gender crap.

Well, you teach your children the right way about climate change.

Larfing NOT about your children being uneducated until they can think for themselves. This is usually done in the the light of information. Or does thinking for themselves mean your version/ your information?

What makes you think schools do "gender crap" ? Actually, what do you think it is, as your naming of it could mean almost anything.