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.

I’m pleased to see lots of councils are opting not to take part in this, as well as the huge data protection and right to privacy concerns that are now spreading.

I’ve told my son’s school he won’t be taking part and told him on no account to engage.

It’s fundamentally flawed as a method of gathering data apart from anything else.

@NasaTheFunny interesting posts. I agree

Wtf? Why they asking that?

He's got it in one. Clever lad.

The best thing you can do for your DC is to equip them with an enquiring mind. Obviously not to the point that they are dicks about it. But the ability to question what you are being asked and consider the motivation behind it is invaluable.

But then again, it might contribute to a frustrating life where lying down and just doing what you are told by anyone in authority might be easier.

Presumably some young gay men might be having anal sex? I can see why it would be included for those reasons.

I think it's hugely entertaining that so many pearl clutchers can't possibly conceive that it might be helpful to know a bit more about the sexual habits of the young but can and do believe that the information is being gathered by a bunch of nosey perverts with a sexual agenda. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Okay, I'll bite. How would it be helpful?

Of course young gay men might be having sex but as long as they are educated in how to protect themselves and where to go for support if they need it, I'm struggling to see why that's the business of anyone, including scotgov.

It’s not that they don’t know about sex 🙄

It’s that they shouldn’t have to fill in a questionnaire about it

It’s bizarre extrapolation that thinking the survey is wrong is to be prudish or blind to sexual activity in teens.

Ok.

I’m conducting a survey into the habits of Scotsnet users. It’s anonymous

Tell me about your sex lives and drug use,

Here’s a mobile number to ring in case you’re concerned

Ah we are maybe not enlightened enough @WouldBeGood. There are lots of things I might find interesting about all sorts of communities/age groups etc. Being nosy doesn't give me the right to start collecting data though.

There's no biting or not biting. I'm not fishing. It's a conversation. People are entitled to different views without the implication being that they are trying to get a rise.

Public health gather all sorts of information all the time. Would it be useful to understand the sexual activity of young people? Probably. Especially when ones sense of self esteem and mental health is often so tied up in sexual identity.

It's optional. Every question is also optional. I just can't get worked up about it.

Then they could ask questions about self esteem and mental health? Not go round the houses asking about sexual activity.

Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion, I'm just trying to understand the actual purpose of this and what they would do with it.

Just because you don't have a problem with it, that doesn't make the thousands of people who do and the vast majority of people on this thread "Pearl Clutchers".

This is an anonymous forum, would you be happy to answer the questions on here?

The questions aren't only to do with sex. There are many questions across health and well-being from what I understand. The more information the better surely. Maybe they find a correlation between low self esteem and numerous sexual partners or whatever. I'm not an educational psychologist or a public health employee but what's the point of doing a mental health and well-being survey if you aren't going to consider all the things that could impact mental health and well-being.

Of course disagreeing with a survey doesn't automatically make you a pearl clutcher but some of the chat on here is a bit ridiculous.

I do agree about the ridiculousness of the chat

Also, how many times are you going to make a big deal of refusing to engage with me and then engaging with me? I really thought you meant it this time 🤣

If Boris and co had come up with this the Nats would be slagging it off.

It's just really not an appropriate format to collect that type of data. It might be easier for them to collect it in that format but it doesn't make it right.

Have a more open questions about wellbeing where they can provide supplementary information if they wish to. Provide education and support for children to boost their self esteem and control over their bodies and lives. The questions are just intrusive and of questionable value.

I'm presuming you aren't happy to provide that information on an anonymous forum and I wouldn't either. We shouldn't hold our children to lesser standards of privacy than we afford ourselves, however much it might be interesting.

@alicesfavouritepen

Also, how many times are you going to make a big deal of refusing to engage with me and then engaging with me? I really thought you meant it this time 🤣

Well, you seem to like commenting on things I post so not sure why you are raising that I responded. What was the point of your post then?

I clearly have poor impulse control, what's your excuse?

@WouldBeGood

If Boris and co had come up with this the Nats would be slagging it off.

You can think that if you like but you've already directly asked me if I would support it if it was from the U.K. government and I've said yes. That might be how you operate but it doesn't mean everyone does.

@ElephantOfRisk

I clearly have poor impulse control, what's your excuse?

I wasn't the one saying I was never engaging with you again. I'm still happy to post to whoever on whatever thread I find interesting.

Of course I find it amusing that you lasted ... eh... until the next time I posted.

@ElephantOfRisk

It's just really not an appropriate format to collect that type of data. It might be easier for them to collect it in that format but it doesn't make it right.

Have a more open questions about wellbeing where they can provide supplementary information if they wish to. Provide education and support for children to boost their self esteem and control over their bodies and lives. The questions are just intrusive and of questionable value.

I'm presuming you aren't happy to provide that information on an anonymous forum and I wouldn't either. We shouldn't hold our children to lesser standards of privacy than we afford ourselves, however much it might be interesting.

I would be happy to fill in the questionnaire as I've said countless times.

Nobody is forcing anyone to do anything. Can an optional question be intrusive?

Ok, I'll leave the floor to you - good night.

I'm noticing a pattern here.

Yes, an optional question can be intrusive.

It can be upsetting, triggering, or pressurising

Sadly if a young person is triggered by a question asking if they have had sex then they are likely to be triggered often in a school environment.

In s4-s6 the topic of sex can come up relatively frequently across PSHE, RE, English and biology. Probably more and that's not even counting some of the chat they engage in amongst themselves. It would be impossible to avoid every triggering situation for young people.

Pressurising? Making something optional surely helps combat that? Nobody is sitting over them forcing them to complete it. The whole thing is optional. Each question is optional. How can that be pressurising?