In Yr2 kids same sex relationships lessons

[yasminluv]

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

What I am trying to say is, we did not have specific classes where we were taught what relationships were, what marriage, different types of families.

ScaryMary, thanks for the lesson there but if you read back, I said OP.

Apologies Itsthattimeagain

I suspect the desire to be open about things may have made this day seem a bigger deal than it really is. Could easily just mean on that day their story will have a character with two dads. Or an assembly themed around tolerance. Or a topic about families that touches on different types of family they may encounter. They won't sit them down and say right now it's time for your homosexuality lesson!

I get what you're saying Aero, I left Primary school 20 years ago (just worked that out, quite depressing really!!) and don't recall any specific lessons about relationships like there are now. Obviously we had books and subtle things like that but they were based on assumed knowledge although I must have been somewhat aware as I remember playing Mummies and Daddies in the home corner which basically meant we said I love you very much and tucked our children up in bed. This despite the fact that I was from a single parent household with no contact with my Dad 😂

I think it's great that children are being taught the basics of a healthy relationship from a young age, times are changing and so is how we see/form relationships (I'm thinking internet here) so I think it's important that they're given the tools to understand what is and is not appropriate or "normal" as well as to help reassure them about their own feelings as they grow.

I think you are grossly over estimating how much your child will give a shit, they really won't care.
My dt's have known about same sex relationships since they knew that some people were boys and some were girls. Mainly because they have a much older sister who is dating a girl. They could not have cared less.

Do you object to your child learning science by the way, ban books with dinosaurs? How about them learning about different religions?

I have no issue with same sex relationships at all. I would however be wondering two things:

a) Is it really necessary to have a whole day devoted to this, and is this the most effective way to do things? Is this literally a one-off, or is the school in the habit of devoting whole days to this issue or that issue? There is no end to the number of social issues (young carers, pet welfare, refugees, rainforests) that schools might potentially want to spend time on. If schools start packing out the curriculum with very large periods of time spent on this kind of thing, there is a danger that insufficient time will be spent on the various subjects that children are supposed to be studying.

I would have thought that at Y2 level, a better approach might be to just slot this kind of information in in a low-key way--why not share some books with children which have a same-sex couple in there, within the normal curriculum or story time etc., and then just deal with questions as they come up, making it clear that this is just a normal part of life and not a big deal?

b) At the risk of turning this into Yet Another Trans Thread, my experience is that discussing "same sex relationships" in isolation seems to be exception rather than the norm these days, and this kind of issue is usually discussed in the context of the whole LGBTXYZetcetc package. ESPECIALLY if an entire day is going to spent on this area. In which case I'd want to find out exactly what my child is going to be taught and told. If this is going to include the trans stuff, I'd be concerned. I don't want my daughter being fed stories about how "little Steve liked dolls and skipping, so it became obvious "he" is actually a "she" because only girls ever like those things."

The last thing I would want is for my gay son to miss out on having a family because everyone was so busy telling him how normal and healthy his relationship is (why should his natural feelings be anything else ffs) that they forget to tell him that as a gay man he is going to find it extremely difficult to start a family. Seven is too young to say anything constructive.

But if your son is gay, it’s not exactly going to make life easier if he decides to hide it and start a heterosexual relationship because it’s an easier way to have children, is it? Sadly there are a lot of gay people, male and female, who conceal their true selves and are very unhappy. It’s potentially extremely damaging.

Furthermore I sincerely hope that by the next generation things have moved on anyway.

I agree kokeshi, a day for yr2 is a lot. When they shoukd be learning their reading, writing and Maths, wi would not be happy with that! Fair enough it's slotted into a lesson, and done informally. But I guess you will be shouted down by some for thinking like that.

@mcphee , thistlebell.

Just to clarify. The intent of statement would be clearer if the word ‘clear concept’ is replaced with ‘clear distinctions or differences’

Answering your questions. Of course I ‘ve seen 7 yo play kiss chase, and met quite a few. And of course they know instinctiively what love is (asking/ stating the obvious)

But have you heard a 7 yr old say something along the lines of....I love X she’s my best friend, and I love Y as well but she is the one I will marry because I love her in a different way, I love my cat but can’t marry my cat though etc..

But I’ve defo heard 7 yr olds say they want to marry their parents when they grow up.

Thats why I originally said the distinctions between different types of relationships are probably fuzzy for many 7 yr old. Actually, even for some adults I think. Just my opinion.

Ok I don’t appreciate the attack I’m getting. I’m fine with all your saying but I’m my religion same sex relationships are forbidden and we do follow it at home and I just want it to continue like that

FFS you cannot insulate your child from other beliefs. Walk down the street in most cities you will see people wearing turbans, veils, no head covering, cross around the neck, prayer hats, kipurs, people holding hands, people kissing, people arguing etc etc

Your child is not in a bubble.

And have you considered the thought your child might BE gay?

@Kokeshi, it won't be a full day.

It will be as part of a standard lesson that takes place every week, ours are called Wellness hour. Covering the basics of everything that can reduce/improve wellbeing. We even have parents come in during pregnancy at the beginning of term and continue throughout the year to give the kids to see first hand how people grow, learn and thrive. Relationships factor into this naturally.

These usually take place without notice but when "sensitive" subjects come up they have to let people know and unfortunately for some, 2 men/women being in love is a bit of a sore point even now.

Although that said, I'm in Scotland so I think our curriculums may differ.

Health and wellbeing is part of our curriculum from the age of 3 so these lessons are scheduled in and just as important as reading, maths, p.e etc. It doesn't take time away from anything else.

Is this not the case in the rest of the UK?

I'm getting the impression that op thinks being gay is a 'choice'. I've heard it before from evangelical Christians. They believe that it isn't anything genetic and you can choose not to be gay. Total nonsense of course.

'Ginn books. Nothing with relationships in'.

Honey, they have relationships in.

I suspect it’s already been covered simply as part of relationships education in reception or year 1, YerAunt. Not necessarily as an individual lesson, but the topic of families usually covers the idea of there being different kinds of families.

Sorry if it's off topic but does everyone have a child with two mums or two dads in their school? Or that they know of IRL? There's been loads of debate about LGBT issue but neither DD (who always puts me in my place) nor DS actually know of anyone in their primary nor secondary schools in this situation.

I hate this. Why have lessons in same sex relationships as if they're a "thing". They're not a "thing" it's just normal life in 2010s so surely Relationship Lessons should be all encompassing and focus more on what a healthy, loving relationship is.

DDs have 2 uncles and their friend has 2 mums. From the age of 3 they can understand the concept of acceptance and non-judgemental love. 7 is very late imo. Don't use religion as an excuse to judge and put down others. I'm Christian and my God teaches love to all. Not sure which religion encourages people to look down on others, most focus on love but written in the context of the time do not accept gay relationships. Luckily the context of the time it was written is no longer relevant so we can just focus on what Jesus said - all about love and acceptance of others. People over complicate this way to much.

Sorry if it's off topic but does everyone have a child with two mums or two dads in their school? Or that they know of IRL? There's been loads of debate about LGBT issue but neither DD (who always puts me in my place) nor DS actually know of anyone in their primary nor secondary schools in this situation.

Yes - from pre-school onwards. We live in a large urban area. Actually from first year in daycare now that I think of it (he was called Genesis and had 2 moms. wonder what he is doing now - must be nearly 22)

I think it's fair enough for you to want to withdraw him.

I hate this. Why have lessons in same sex relationships as if they're a "thing". They're not a "thing" it's just normal life in 2010s so surely Relationship Lessons should be all encompassing and focus more on what a healthy, loving relationship is.

Because some children do not know that families consist of groups other than the traditional, nuclear family. And I think it's important that non traditional families are represented in school life, in the same way that non-white/disabled/older people should be represented too.

There is room to focus on that and relationship issues. It's not an either/or scenario.

Why, @woodhill?

‘Represented in school life’ is fine and absolutely normal. Fully condoned. Stories should feature all sorts of people with all sorts of lives.

Announcing that you are going to spend a day teaching about same sex relationships is full on weird. It’s a bit like ‘oh these people are unusual and we should learn about them’.

I’m another one who would put money on there being leaflets about gender from Mermaids, and lots of gender stereotyping in the name of progression. Homosexuality is a good bandwagon to jump for TRAs, and having seen some of the primary school leaflets on teaching gender, produced by these organizations, I would remove my children from those classes too. (If I failed to get the school to see how regressive they were)