Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

In Yr2 kids same sex relationships lessons

329 replies

yasminluv · 25/01/2018 21:50

Hi
In Year 2 they have a day where kids learn about samesex relationships
It’s after Easter apperantly is that nationally and is every school different

If this to happen How can I as a parent address this with the teacher the fact that I don’t want him to participate

OP posts:
blackdoggotmytongue · 26/01/2018 17:21

you want y2s to have a full day learning about disabled people too, raven?
Nope. Representation in ordinary school life. Inclusion in stories. Mentions as you go along.
What the actual fuck would disabled dd2 do during this period? She has enough trouble bonding with her peers as it is, without being introduced as something they have to sit in a classroom and learn about.
All this shite is actually doing is othering people in the name of progression. If the education system were getting it right, there would be no need for homosexuality day. Because by yr 2 the kids would all know same sex relations exist because it wouldn’t have been hidden by the school in the preceding years. If all aspects of the human condition were a familiar part of everyday learning, people would be up in arms about days devoted to this stuff.
I am sure the intent is to be all fluffy and inclusive, but just by having a set day they have fucked that up totally.

MongerTruffle · 26/01/2018 17:25

I guess everyone here is an atheist
Nope, I'm Christian.
Matthew 22:39 - "And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'"

RavenWings · 26/01/2018 17:28

We have Grandparents Day in school where I am. You can also include older people in texts throughout the year, too.

As I don't teach your dd what she would do isn't my concern - if I knew her, I could best weigh up what would suit the situation. A day on disability could include learning basics on Braille, Lamh (adapted Irish sign) or studying famous people with disabilities. A day on homosexuality...well, I don't do it and I wouldn't, but I'm sure schools that do can adapt it to suit their cohort.

BarbieBrightSide · 26/01/2018 17:42

When this topic came up in conversation at home with my eldest (11) and my youngest was 6 (I think, possibly younger) I very matter of factly said 'People fall in love with people. And although mostly that is girls and boys falling in love with each other, sometimes men fall in love with men and women fall in love with women'

No drama, explanation given and accepted. I would imagine that is pretty much what will be told to Yr2s at schools.

BrendansDanceShoes · 26/01/2018 17:59

CBBC have the show ' marrying mum and dad's, but there have been episodes of marrying mum and mum, and marrying dad and dad. When Strictly was on before Christmas, every episode with Susan Calman on it ( who my kids knew already from CBBC) mentioned and spoke to Susan's wife. Did my kids recoil in horror at either of these programmes - no. Did my kids ask questions - no. They've seen and accepted without question that that's how the world works. It's the parents generation who grew up seeing different prejudices that worry. Please don't worry unduly. Even if you've not had the conversation directly with your child, they probably know more than you think.

WellThisIsShit · 26/01/2018 19:18

Instead of withdrawing your child in fear and without knowledge... why don’t you ask exactly how and what will be being taught.

I suspect this will allay your fears. I will eat my hat if it’s a full day poking and prodding at the concept of The Gay. I guess it could be a school whose weak leadership has been overrun with trans activists pushing their own agenda, as I’ve heard about such things (on here).

But mainly, I’m betting it’s a lesson on social studies in general, mentioning different types of families in passing.

My DS’s school has a ‘Life Bus’ that comes each year and the classes have an hour class time each on it.

It’s fun, there’s a talking giraffe and a basic message of social positivity, kindness and diversity. Age appropriate and very sensitivity done. DS mainly remembers the giraffe though!

No worries and definitely no religious offensiveness generated.

In fact, it’s a CofE school, so it really doesn’t have to be a case of opposition and fear of knowledge.

Remember, children are young and things are taught in age appropriate ways. That doesn’t mean pushing them to the limits of their capabilities, in my experience it means seeding very simple and basic ideas that over the years they expand upon and reinforce (yes, years, not minutes!). Concepts such as tolerance and diversity in everyone’s different ways to live and love. And what is not acceptable in our society, like hatred, and inequality, and rejecting everybody’s right to live a peaceful life as they choose. So, no big scary concepts in there that Christians should have an issue with.

Unless they’re the sort of people who believe they should be able to exclude and penalise people for not believing the same as them... which I’m not convinced you are :)

Please, don’t make a decision based on fear and assumptions... seek out information. Then choose. With clarity of insight, not blindness of ignorance and an assumption that others will not behave or uphold the same values of love, tolerance and respect that you do.

WellThisIsShit · 26/01/2018 19:31

PS my DS just happened to say this morning that of course he couldn’t marry me, that would be ridiculous (!). Ah, I thought, having been reading this thread, DS is 7 and is starting to understand relationships.

But no, hold your horses, apparently DS will be marrying me just as soon as when I’m not married to daddy anymore. It’s question of one at a time, not who can marry who :)

He also wants to marry his best friend. Definitely not any girls as the girls he knows don’t want to play the particularly cold and muddy game he and his male best friend are obsessed by at the moment. Not sure how that pans out with marrying me.

I may well be jilted at the altar for mud-boy Grin

ShitWit · 26/01/2018 19:34

Catching back up on thread and just got to this bit

ShitWit you just thought I was following Islam that’s why
Nope and I’ve said nothing to suggest which religion I thought you were because it doesn’t matter, homophobia is homophobja whatever religion it’s hidden behind.

. Many religions claim being gay is forbidden and wrong. It’s not uncommon for religions to think women are less too, you’ve assumed I meant Muslim which says more about you than it does me.

Fwiw, I have catholic, Christian and Muslim people in my close friends and family and none of them exclude their children from lessons that show all walks of life and different family set ups as normal and fine because they want to conuntue teaching being gay is forbidden. Which is why I said earlier plenty of people are religious without being homophobic as they leave the outdated and bigoted elements behind.

If you want your child to see being as normal and no big deal then don’t treat like a big deal by excluding him from learning about normal relationships and don’t teach him it’s forbidden.

I can’t see a way for you to teach your son it’s forbidden without being homophobic. Expressing those views out loud could prevent your child making friends, my best friend is bisexual and was ina relationship with a woman when her dd was 4 until 10 years old, mam and stepmam helped out at school and it was never an issue, if any child told her dd that their family was forbidden she wouldn’t encourage the friendship, I mean, she’d feel sorry for the child because he’s being taught to think that way, but she wouldn’t have people in her, or her child’s life who see her as wrong.

I guess I just can’t get my head around, in 2018 actively choosing to teach your child being gay it’s forbidden. I’m sorry op. You may be a lovely woman and people in your real life have no idea you home these beliefs, and in future people may not know your son holds them too, part of me hopes they don’t becuase it’s nit his fault what his parents teach him, but part of me feels he doesn’t keep his views quiet becuase homophobic attitudes need challenging.

UserSnoozer · 26/01/2018 20:02

Your son can choose to believe what he wants. Gays exist. He needs to learn this. And what if he was gay? Would u kick him out? You're teaching him to be scared of telling you if he was gay which can cause lots of problems. Get your head out your arse and realise he's his own person that needs to learn this, not some thing you can dictate to

whiteroseredrose · 26/01/2018 21:54

According to the ONS in 2016 2% of the uk population identified as lesbian gay or bi. Of these over 70% were single. Seems a bit overkill to devote a whole day of school

BIWI · 27/01/2018 08:23

Well, that's a survey. (I'm a market researcher - I know a little bit about those).

First, it depends on how the question was asked.

Second, it depends on whether the respondent wanted to answer the question honestly.

With attitudes to homosexuality still often being negative (as seen on this thread), it's no surprise that many people who are LGBT might not admit to being LBGT.

And two interesting points taken directly from ONS:

In 2016, just over 1 million (2.0%) of the UK population aged 16 and over identified themselves as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB).

1 million is more than the population of Leeds (715,404), the third biggest city in the UK.

The population aged 16 to 24 were the age group most likely to identify as LGB in 2016 (4.1%).

So amongst younger people, identifying as LGBT is statistically higher - I doubt that younger people are suddenly 'catching the gay' - but that they're happier to identify as such. Which is fantastic.

At a total population level, if this percentage was to be replicated, this means it would be 2 million people.

How many people need to be LBGT before you think it's alright for us to talk about it and teach it in schools?

insancerre · 27/01/2018 08:33

Oh dear op. If your child had attended my nursey then I would already have taught him about love and tolerance and how some children have a mummy and a daddy or 2 mummies or 2 daddies and that men can get married to men and women can marry women
Shoot me now

titsbumfannythelot · 27/01/2018 09:09

I think you are doing your son and any future friends a massive disservice op if he misses the lesson. Kids should learn things age appropriately as early as possible as far as as I'm concerned.

dannydyerismydad · 27/01/2018 09:29

DS has friends with 2 mummies.

I'm pleased that schools acknowledge that there are lots of different kids of families.

It's important to know that it doesn't matter what your family looks like but families should be loving and supportive.

At this age children don't learn the mechanics of sex. They learn how to identify a healthy relationship.

southeastlondonmum · 27/01/2018 10:12

We had this in year 1. Loads of parents kicked off claiming religion and 'it's just not right' etc etc.
It's just crap tbh. My kids have had several gay relationships in their life since birth. It's not news for them at all and not teaching about it would be odd. 1/10 people are gay, could be your child, it's time to get over it

Quickerthanavicar · 27/01/2018 10:47

How it went with friends of mine when asked.
Mommy why are Fred and Bill always together.
Well Fred and Bill love each other very much and live in the same house, like mommy and daddy do.
Oh Ok, can I have a biscuit?

Catsize · 30/01/2018 23:32

OP, I find you a bit scary.

Children accept SS relationships just fine until people like you make a big thing out of it. That is what breeds homophobia.

I really hope your child is not gay.

IDefinitelyWould · 30/01/2018 23:40

My best friend and her wife, and my cousin and his husband, have been at every milestone for my dd and she loves them all dearly.

If you withdraw him from the lesson he will most likely hear a skewed and inaccurate version from his classmates in the playground. Wouldn't it be better for him to get the information from his teacher and then you discuss how your religion impacts on these issues at home?

Quickerthanavicar · 01/02/2018 22:44

My vicar is a lesbian. Sorry if that blows your mind.

Gwenhwyfar · 01/02/2018 23:01

"For the record Christianity clearly does say women are lesser- hmmm when was the last female archbishop or pope? Oh and how come women could only become bishops in the last few years?"

I'm not going to argue with you about what Christianity says about women, but I'm quite shocked that you don't know the difference between certain churches and Christianity as a religion. There are lots of denominations and many have never had restrictions on what roles women can have.

Gwenhwyfar · 01/02/2018 23:05

"Need I point out that God is a man?"

Oh dear, oh dear.

Justanotherzombie · 01/02/2018 23:09

Which churches have never had restrictions on what roles women can have???

Gwenhwyfar · 01/02/2018 23:12

Justan - I don't have a list, but there are hundreds, maybe thousands of Protestant denominations. Do you know the rules for all of them?
Whoever I was quoting seemed to think Christianity equals Church of England (though mixed a bit of Catholic in there as well).

Dilligaf81 · 01/02/2018 23:15

Yes your being judged op because you are judging others having a loving relationship. You say you know people at work and their your friends but you don't want your son to know about it [HMM]

I also think it's sad that the school have a specific day to learn about same sex relationships but the fact that op has made this post shows why the school do and make parents aware so far in advance. Poor teachers getting small minded bigoted people asking why. How or what is acceptable to back it up or know what they have been told but that not your point is it Op. I'm actually rather sad for your son as your starting him off at a massive disadvantage.

hollowtree · 01/02/2018 23:21

Oh no! The gays! Protect the children from their gayness!!