Something potentially very important regarding sex Ed in schools

[Ekphrasis]

I had no idea guidelines hadn't been updated since 2000. I am quite shocked. Mobiles then were the Nokia 3310s which held about 10 texts and were black and white. And teens wouldn't have had. I still wrote on a black board in School and had occasional access to an ohp. Now screens are everywhere. And the internet, social media etc...

I'm obviously concerned that this is something that is 'got right.' I believe it should also include clear guidelines for primary schools also.

I actually can't believe I recently advised an acquaintance that her developing daughter should absolutely be getting changed for pe in a separate room to the boys in year 5. But I'm not sure there are actual art in stone guidelines on this, hence the School didn't do this as policy ( small rural School).

Anyway, something I thought some would appreciate being aware of.

Sexting to online porn: What should sex education lessons cover?www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-42398911

Would also add, sex and relationships with regards to those with learning disabilities needs addressing, especially around consent.

Actually, please tell children that they can't change sex. Small children believe their teachers. Even some teenagers genuinely think you can become the other sex (not gender).
Shit. I am a teacher and I'm dreading this. The problem is we will be told what we have to teach. It depends who's advising on this - most likely if will be a transactivist group.
Materials I have seen on this forum have been awful. Full of pink and blue brains and being born into the wrong body. We will be expected to teach things that are made up as if it is scientific fact.
That's me looking on the black side hopefully.

Another one here who thinks Prickly's post is bloody brilliant.

There was a tv show a few years ago which had some good ideas like making the boys shave their pubes to make them question what girls are expected to do.
I think information on abusive relationships should be included too.

Nuffaluff, would it be possible to try something along the lines my chemistry teacher used (in a much more legitimate context, in regard of the oversimplification of atomic theory necessary at GCSE)? "I'm teaching you this really over-simplified version because you're little, but the real world is much more complicated, and in real life people of both sexes have a mixture of interests rather than blue and pink brains... in fact some people don't even think there are blue and pink brains." Or would that get you into trouble in our Brave New Orwellian World?

YY to including information on abusive relationships - and red flags (coercive control, won't let you see your friends, limits the time you spend with your family). There's a terrifyingly high percentage of girls in secondary school already experiencing intimate partner violence.

Also stuff on sexual harrassment. "Would you say this (nice arse, show us your tits love, etc) to a boy? If not, don't say it to girls either."

And stuff on avoiding victim blaming.

Sex Ed teacher here - many high schools are doing a lot of this already.
We cover consent massively (the cup of tea video is often as a starter), healthy and unhealthy relationships, dangers of pornography, different types of relationships- had a Stonewall speaker in school for instance, sexting, grooming, peer pressure, body image, effects on mental health etc..
The biggest issue is time - 1 hour slot every 2 weeks is simply not enough to cover everything that we need to.

Very good to hear ana. Have you developed your own guidelines? What exists? (SEAL for eg??) what do you think might be the implications of this?

nuffaluff

What do you think aimed at the class is probably a good one.

My children's secondary school appear to be getting around this one by just allowing other children to express their viewpoints. Children are always going to be quicker to spot the emperor with his clothes off.

My kids say the child who I would class as 'disruptive little shit' is never shut up for loudly stating his right to biological facts and his human right to freedom of speech to do say. On all other occasions he's justifying his disruptive behaviour on the grounds of freedom of speech/human rights BMT are called to collect him.

My daughter at 6th form has been set the task over the holidays of 'studying linguistics on mumsnet' I've just realised the teacher is probably trying to peak trans a few so 👋 to her and well played, very well played!

I want to see trans issues being taught as part of a sex Ed curriculum. But whilst I'm dreaming, I'd like a manticore.

Laudanum what trans issues would you like to see taught in Sex Ed.

Where do you stand on knowing the biological sex of a partner before consenting to sexual activity with them? How would you like to see this taught?

We follow guidelines from our local authority and are part of a working group of several schools. As I said I'm secondary and my school is single sex so our lessons look at some aspects more than others. We've also had inset with the police, sexual and mental health services and other groups to highlight new issues we may need to cover. An example was looking at new apps that the kids may be using that we may not be familiar with (the location finder on snapchat for instance). FGM has to be covered, as does CSE.

I think SRE should also cover asexuality ie reminding young people that it's perfectly OK not to want sex (this is completely and utterly different to abstinence-based SRE) - especially when the discussion is about not shaming or bullying others who want to do things differently.

(I saw a very sneery tweet a few days back along the lines of teens who say they are asexual/aromantic just need to get out and socialise - I thought that was unhelpful as well as unkind.)

prickly and wtaf
I teach primary, so I wonder if it'll come in to our sex ed at some point. I'm hoping not. I expect the most likely thing is that we'll get a trans child coming to our school and then we'll have some training on it.
I talk to the children all the time about gender stereotypes, whenever it comes up.
The way things are going I am worried about an Orwellian 'brave new world ' trans ideology being pushed in schools. When I first started, we still had section 28. I couldn't believe that we basically weren't allowed to talk about being gay.
That went soon after I started thankfully. The way all political parties are largely supportive of the pink brain, blue brain nonsense - I wouldn't be surprised at all if we were expected to teach it in the future and face the consequences if we don't.
I know I sound pessimistic!

Ten years ago I used to teach a girl aged 5 who insisted she was a boy, played football and Doctor Who, said she hated 'girls' things', as she called them. She liked having her hair short, wearing trousers, etc.
I would talk to her about how I was similar to her as a child in that I liked running about, wearing trousers, etc, but that you could be a girl and still like these things, of course.
She was well known in the school for insisting that she was a boy. I wonder what would happen to her if she was at school now and saying these things?

I've read several articles on this now, they all say there's a consultation on this, but don't give a link? How do I contribute to this?

And I stil think primary age trans (not GNC) children are like vegan cats; being used to virtue signal. Lots of safeguarding issues to consider.

Just to note that the Telegraph article about including transgender issues in primary sex ed has a poll attached. It's currently running at 76% against (although I think we would expect it to be higher than a similar poll run by the Guardian).

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/19/children-taught-transgender-issues-sex-education-lessons/

Me too, Nuffaluff. The one I knew (tiny, delightful, dainty as a china doll) was forever in combat shorts, grey socks and 'boy' shoes and jumper at primary, and similarly insistent that she was a boy. She must be 17 or 18 now and appears to be just fine with being a girl.

Oooh think I found a link:

www.stonewall.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/relationships-and-sex-education-have-your-say

Did Justine Greening pronounce 'vagina' incorrectly in her interview?

It would be nice if for once the onus for consent was directed at the one with a penis. Just once.

No man I know ever had someone actually say, DO NOT FUCKING RAPE OK. RAPE IS BAD. NO!

I was told from a young age not to allow myself into the position where I would be raped, constantly reminded throughout childhood and adolescence and teenagerdom.

None of my male peers got told not to do it.

About to post the telegraph link.

What bothers me is the main point of sex Ed, certainly at primary level, it to demystify the changes to children's bodies and very much forms a part of child protection, children's awareness of what is and isn't allowed, consent etc.

This is why it's important to have an element of learning about breaking down gender stereotypes underlying this also. So that the trans stuff doesn't start to be an issue - boys can like stereotypical girl things AND be a boy.

Yes, definitely teaching teachers about victim blaming and how to stop it as well as directly teaching it to children/ teens.

Here's the link to the government site for the consultation.
It's an online document but you can save answers and return later.
I think it's really important to word answers carefully. It's open until February so maybe there's no rush to respond.

consult.education.gov.uk/life-skills/pshe-rse-call-for-evidence/

This is the consultation guidance which lays out the specific areas they are asking about - essential reading before answering the survey. And interestingly, Mumsnet is quoted in a number of places!

consult.education.gov.uk/life-skills/pshe-rse-call-for-evidence/supporting_documents/Sex%20and%20Relationships%20Education%20%20A%20call%20for%20evidence.pdf

guardian I have started filling it out and am going to take my time.
It's a great opportunity to say what you think should be on the SRE syllabus. For example, I'm going to suggest lessons about consent and pornography for teenagers.
It also asks for relevant evidence, so I'm going to reference that awful 'young vanity fair' article about anal sex.