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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Parents try to stop children being taught about trans relationships

275 replies

julie333 · 26/02/2019 13:18

As far as I know, parents will no longer be allowed to take their children out of Sex Education from 2020.

The subject was debated in the Halls of Westminster yesterday (25 February).

Whatever parents' opinions may be about trangenderism, I do think ultimately it´s the parents who decide what their children should be taught about this matter and not the State.

"The UK Conservative government is set to announce plans for the introduction of lessons on homosexuality and transgenderism for primary school students, despite an official petition against the move, signed by over 100,000.

The Sunday Times reports that the new curriculum has been finalized after a six-month consultation with the Department of Education, and will be rolled out across UK schools starting from the 2020-21 educational year.

It will be taught to pupils from the age of five, and it will be illegal for parents to take their children out of the classroom for the lessons in secondary school, meaning that at least a term’s worth of sex education classes – and likely far more – will be attended by each student."

If you wis to sign the petition against compulsory Sex Education,then here is the link:

Give parents the right to opt their child out of Relationship and Sex Education

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/235053

OP posts:
Muddysnowdrop · 26/02/2019 19:54

Any threads that are actually transphobic are deleted.

RaffertyFair · 26/02/2019 19:55

For people throwing suicide statistics about, they might want to consider these, which are from a Swedish research study:

People with ASD were 7.55 times more likely to die by suicide. People with high-functioning ASD were at greater risk of suicide than low-functioning groups, and – unusually – women were more at risk than men. In the general population, rates of suicide are 3.5 times higher in men compared with women.

From www.nhs.uk/news/neurology/people-with-autism-are-dying-younger-warns-study/

I think this backs up my experience that girls with ASD are being woefully let down and their mental health is massively impacted as a result.

It is widely acknowledged that there is a disproportionate number of girls with ASD who identify as trans. I'd hazard a guess that there will yet more girls on the spectrum in the group who are not diagnosed.

I don't believe that their mental health is being compromised because they have gender dysphoria - I believe they are autistic girls struggling to fit in a NT world.

My autisic teen DD is not able to go to school because of her anxiety, and I am so thankful. I can completely see how she might be seduced by the false notion that her devastating feeling of not "fitting in" could be that she is somehow "in the wrong body".

This is an area completely lacking in research and understanding, but with the potential to seriously damage young people physically and mentally.

Biology matters. Sex matters. I'm terrified of the way that gender stereoypes are being forced back into the lives of young people and that some people "beliefs" are taken as fact.

HandsOffMyRights · 26/02/2019 20:08

My child's school is a Stonewall Champion School and let me tell you, the source material makes my hair stand on end.

Any ideology is harmful to children, but this programme presents major safeguarding issues, especially for girls.

Would I be happy for somebody to come in and tell children that Jesus exists, that children can also walk on water? That if they don't believe then they are bigots? That if they don't believe then they are excluding followers and doing them harm?

But it's so much more than that, because there's safeguarding, child protection and erasure of women's and girls' rights.

RaffertyFair · 26/02/2019 20:12

Pupils should be taught the facts and the law about sex, sexuality, sexual health and gender identity in an age-appropriate and inclusive way

That may sound all fine and non-threatening MrsBertBibby, but look at what has been slipped in without any qualification ... gender identity

What is gender identification?

How is a teacher going to deal with that? How is the teacher going to manage the paradox of teaching children not to stereotype by sex at the same time as discussing "gender identification".

What definition of gender are they using? And how do they square that with biology?

JRMisOdious · 26/02/2019 20:16

Please forgive if repeating, no time to read whole threads

I’m ignorant of LGBT issues. Not deliberate, just don’t know anyone who isn’t heterosexual (to my knowledge), astonishing though that sounds.
I would far, far prefer to have diverse relationships and sexualities explained to my children by teachers with up to date training than attempt to answer their questions myself from a position of more or less complete ignorance. And they will ask questions.
I’m sure it’s all completely age appropriate. If no one with authoratitive knowledge talks to kids, they’ll talk amongst themselves or worse go online, which is how misunderstandings arise (as they did about sex pre any sex education in Schools at all, which is how poor young girls in places like rural Ireland fell pregnant and ended up in those shameful institutions).

CallMeSirShotsFired · 26/02/2019 20:24

JRM I would suggest you at least take the time to read this thread.

You are woefully overestimating the content, appropriateness and style of information children are being given.

JRMisOdious · 26/02/2019 20:28

Will do. Do you mean underestimating?

But whatever information is given above, I guess it’s a very subjective thing, depending on our personal opinions.

cupofteaandcake · 26/02/2019 20:34

I am all for sex education in schools for everyone as long as parents are informed when it is going to be done and what the content will be so that they can go through it themselves beforehand if they wish and also so that they are ready for any questions from their children.

I was listening to a phone in on this last week and a man from Sex and Relationships Islamic was on. He was saying how parents should have the right to withdraw etc. The presenter informed him that gay relationships are legal and children are being taught was is legal not what different religions may agree with. At the time I agreed with this however have since realised that I probably won't because this depends on what they teach about trans. I have already had discussions with my children about sex and gender and they know that you cannot change sex. However I don't think many parents are aware of what's going on.

cupofteaandcake · 26/02/2019 20:36

In fact if they are going to talk about 'gender' it needs to be in the context of it being a social construct.

anniehm · 26/02/2019 20:42

Why shouldn't it be - it's al going to be age appropriate and will ensure bigots can't remove their kids. We had a girl start her period at school (aged 12) and was screaming she was dying, she had no idea because her catholic (not mainstream a weird cult) father pulled her from lessons.

Whether you like it or not, there's kids coming out as trans at primary, also gay.

HandsOffMyRights · 26/02/2019 21:01

But the facts are wrong! The statistics used for suicide have been debunked by the NHS for goodness sake.

It describes homosexuality as a medical condition, it says transsexual is 'old fashioned' and that humans can change sex. That girls need to share spaces with males who ID as female and
That non trans people are called c**

Teaching material should not be written/advised by male, non professionals without qualifications.

If we are bigots for wanting evidence based teaching, centred on biology that protects girls, then that says more about those slinging the word bigot about.

To conflate gender identity with sexuality is irresponsible.

HandsOffMyRights · 26/02/2019 21:02

it refers to the teaching material, which I have.

CallMeSirShotsFired · 26/02/2019 21:05

Will do. Do you mean underestimating?

No, I meant overestimating - where you said you were sure it'd be age appropriate and well-informed etc.

There is training happening schools right now where (for example) boys are being told that because he likes dolls, he's a transgender girl and can and should change sex (there is a diagram which tells children they are either boys or girls based simply on what the like to do/wear etc - fixing insidious stereotypes).

As a pp said very early on, we should be teaching kids that gender stereotypes like that are the damaging thing, and they can wear, do and achieve anything and it's all ok!

(And thinking that does not make you a bigot, whatever other posters like to try and state)

OscarIsaacsEyes · 26/02/2019 21:15

There is training happening schools right now where (for example) boys are being told that because he likes dolls, he's a transgender girl and can and should change sex (there is a diagram which tells children they are either boys or girls based simply on what the like to do/wear etc - fixing insidious stereotypes).

I will bet my house that this will not be taught in schools under the new sex and relationships curriculum. It's just not going to happen.

HandsOffMyRights · 26/02/2019 21:16

This is also sent to kids. It's full of incorrect statistics and inaccuracies, not to mention the rest.

The Q&A section basically tells young lesbians that anyone with a penis can also be lesbian. That's just one gem.

www.stonewall.org.uk/truth-about-trans

HandsOffMyRights · 26/02/2019 21:18

*I will bet my house that this will not be taught in schools under the new sex and relationships curriculum. It's just not going to happen.

My child is already being taught this at school.

OscarIsaacsEyes · 26/02/2019 21:23

My child is already being taught this at school.

Sorry but I don't believe you.

DonaldTwain · 26/02/2019 21:24

Before you teach my kids about “gender identity”, I want to know what you mean by that. It’s not a phrase that means anything to me. I don’t have a gender identity, nor do I need one. I am female and beyond that I am me. My way of being female will not be the same as anyone else’s. That’s because we are all individuals.
If by gender identity to mean pink brain blue brain born in the wrong body horseshit, no I am not letting you teach my kids that, anymore than I would let you teach them the earth is flat.
#no debate, to steal a phrase

HandsOffMyRights · 26/02/2019 21:27

My child is already being taught this at school.

Sorry but I don't believe you.

There's not much I can do about that. I've previously shared the material on here as screenshots and some material is widely available anyway.

Oliversmumsarmy · 26/02/2019 21:29

it will be taught to pupils from the age of five, and it will be illegal for parents to take their children out of the classroom for the lessons in secondary school

Nothing to stop you from removing your child altogether. HE I think is on the increase.

I sometimes think they want to get rid of pupils from schools so come up with more and more ridiculous hoops so people will pull their children out and then there are enough school places to go round.

itsbritneybiatches · 26/02/2019 21:31

When will the gender stuff be being taught legally?

Can I ask for a pack of what's being taught?

OscarIsaacsEyes · 26/02/2019 21:32

HandsOffMyRights

Screenshots of what? I'd love for you to pm me the name of the school.

HandsOffMyRights · 26/02/2019 21:39

Screenshots of the teaching material.

For my child's anonymity I'm not going to name the school.

dutysuite · 26/02/2019 21:40

I am all for sex ed but I want the choice to decide if my children are ready for certain topics. I don't want to rush into subjects if I feel my children can't actually understand and digest the information presented to them. I know my children more then anyone else and I should have the right to opt out should I feel necessary.

OscarIsaacsEyes · 26/02/2019 21:43

For my child's anonymity I'm not going to name the school

Thought not. If this was my child's school, I would want to name and shame if a boy is being told they are a girl because they are playing with a doll. I certainly wouldn't leave my child at the school. As I said before, I don't believe you.