School pupil 'health survey'

[horseymum]

Does anyone have a link to the actual survey questions, I've just seen a couple of disturbing screen shots on Twitter and a daily mail article? There also appears to be a Perth council letter saying the data is linked to the pupil through their candidate number so can easily be traced back to them, however secure they say it is.

Have you ever heard teenage children in the playground? I assume not.

Hiding this thread as the callousness and stupidity is too much

Feel free. It's neither callous nor stupid to suggest that young people s4 and up will discuss sexual matters.

@WouldBeGood

Hiding this thread as the callousness and stupidity is too much

It's amazing that someone with so little self awareness or compassion is apparently teaching. If I was the OP I'd be asking for it to be deleted.

Or you could report any offensive posts rather than have a perfectly valid thread removed?

The most offensive post on here isn't mine so that wouldn't suit you of course.

Anyone worried enough about this to contact their local authority.to query what their response will be to this? I gather some LAs have said they won't be taking part.

Personally I will be advising my DC not to complete it. I hate the idea of them feeling like they have to give such personal information that could then be linked to them - and in a classroom setting where it's possible other kids may look at each others' answers. Adults wouldn't stand for this - why should kids?

Link to today's article in the Herald:

www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/19762197.scottish-governments-sex-census-kids-rejected-eight-councils/

A few years ago I overheard a third year boy referring to having been given a 'blowie' by a second year girl at the weekend. (It was in my class - I certainly wasn't asking!). To suggest that no children of that ago are engaging in sexual activity is pretty disingenuous.

I am not suggesting that Haud. I am suggesting a countrywide survey, done in class (with the attendant privacy concerns), one that may be linked to individual participants, and with questions some participants may find disturbing is not the way forward.

@alicesfavouritepen

There you go. Problem solved.

These are such intrusive questions.

If the survey is taken at school, usually it's presented as "pupils will do this survey" and peer pressure or not wanting to stand out makes it very difficult for young people to opt out. It's not really in the gist of informed consent.

@alicesfavouritepen

Feel free. It's neither callous nor stupid to suggest that young people s4 and up will discuss sexual matters.

Oh yes, indeed.

And so they should right?

But it is 100% fucked up to ask young kids to SHARE this information in an online survey with some faceless bureaucrat. WTAF? These young people are just figuring out their life and relationships. The government's questionable focus on gathering data on sexual behaviour with surveys that have very questionable ethics is inappropriate.

Grown up should take the nosy beaks out of what is essentially a private matter.

@Mara246

That sort of information is none of the Scottish Government's business. I can imagine some of the boys in particular having a right laugh filling in such a survey.

Absolutely.

Perfect way to start coercing girls into (anal) sex if it is oh so common and so acceptable and normal that you tick a frequency box while sitting with your classmates in class. There are so many ethical issues with this. By phrasing the questions as indicated you normalise what you are asking across a huge cohort. It's how the mind works, basic nudge psychology.

Similar surveys are being conducted at schools in England.
Ours did one where they asked 11 year olds to state whether they are gay or straight as well as asking to enter their full post code and name of school, bye bye anonymity . Some 11 year olds might know very well whether they like boys or girls or both or neither but why should they be asked at school to tick a box and make a declaration about their personal preference to some faceless bureaucrat and let the council know about their intimate lives? It's so intrusive.

They also asked 11 year olds if they have ever tried any of the following drugs and listed magic mushrooms, cue, dc coming home asking what are magic mushrooms? It's an inappropriate question to ask without any context or PSHE support. The survey I saw being used at English schools provides a mobile phone number at the beginning of the survey, which pupils can cal if they feel worried after completing the survey. There is no name or organisation associated with the mobile number, no opening hours or terms of service. Just a random number that children are supposed to call to discuss their worries. Bonkers!

I showed my S4 DC the BBC article and asked how they felt about completing the survey. They looked really uncomfortable and said “I don’t want to do that!”. I asked if they wanted me to inform the school they were opting out and they said yes. We live in Edinburgh and I was not at all surprised to see that we’re the only “Lothian” LA who not questioning the survey.

I was going to have another chat with my DC to see if they would want to just select “prefer to to say” options rather than opting out. I also want to check with the school that those options are definitely in the survey and also how they deal with kids opting out as I don’t want my DC to feel uncomfortable about that either.

Thanks Scot Gov 🙄

If that questionnaire was circulated around where I work with the expectation we would all fill it in I’d be wondering WTF was going on

How can we actually ever expect to improve sexual health and relationships if this is a reaction to a health questionnaire. When should teenagers be taught about sex? Should it wait till they are16 ? They could get married before they know about anal sex if that's the case.

This is nothing to do with what children are taught. You don't need to know any of this information in order to give decent sexual information and support to DC who need it.

Once again, why do the government want this information, what is it for and how does it benefit those who are being asked to provide it?

It's not about whether children talk amongst themselves about sex or whether they are or aren't sexually active. It's about unnecessary intrusion into the private lives of citizens for no benefit and potential harm instead.

Oh blah @ElephantOfRisk they want it so they can target support at the correct groups.

Why does no one ask these questions when Tesco collects their data on the club card ?

I've never been asked by Tesco how many times I've taken it up the arse, have I missed something?

Would Tesco be trying to work out how many cucumbers it needs or how much lube it needs to order? At least that is a more legitimate reason to ask....

Perhaps not but it certainly monitors how many cucumbers and how much lube you're buying.

I’ve told DS about the survey and that the government might be asking him if he had anal sex. Response : “Wtf? Why they asking that? Pervy. I’ll tell them I’m having anal sex with dogs whilst doing crack”.