Anyone know about the No Outsiders in Our Schools book/ pack?

[tediousnamechange]

www.equalitiesprimary.com/home.html
It's for teaching the equality act in schools.

It appears to do so through already published books, so for example, Elmer (we are all different.) My son's school is using it as a part of an LEA initiative in diversity, mainly to combat extremism and racism.

However the blurb doesn't include sex as a protected characteristic (just gender) and does mention transgender being covered.

There are additional resources / lessons on the author's website, as it seems some if the books are out of print? and I did not like the outline of these. Both books are questionable according to Amazon in that they appear to teach gender stereotypes and that you can change sex.

Ks1
equalitiesplans.blogspot.com/2016/10/transgender-awareness-ks1.html

Ks2/3
equalitiesplans.blogspot.com/2016/10/transgender-awareness-ks2-3-10000.html

I'm sure the material for everything else is fantastic, I like the idea of using stories, it's just I'd just like to know more about how the book/ pack explain gender and sex and what they're teaching about this. Other resources I know of are clearer about sex and gender being different.

It's probably sloppy research or naivety (let's face it if you read the Guardian and follow the bbc you probably produce material like this) but if anyone has had experience of it I'd love to know more before I contact the author.

I've name changed, bit worried about posting here but also rather taken aback.

Awesome thanks!

Thanks, should have thought to look there!

I am bumping this thread because I think it is wrong that the parents protesting the use of this pack in schools are being presented as homophobic bigots in the press and maybe if the actual contents of the pack was more widely discussed there would be a bit more debate.

Totally agree SpeakUpXXWomen

I am conflicted. I hate the fact that religion appears to be an excuse for homophobia.
BUT I am not surprised that so many parents are suspicious. Just look at the comments upthread - resources for children about equality that ignore sex as a protected characteristic. If the writers can't get the legal basics correct then what else do they get wrong?
Parents see primary Heads inviting drag queens in to read to children. They see schools removing female toilets, changing rooms and showers and insisting that girls undress in front of boys.

It's not surprising that they worry that their children are being proselytised rather than educated. That schools are using age inappropriate materials written by zealots and lobby groups rather than educators?

There are too many adults with no understanding of age appropriate boundaries / safeguarding being allowed to access children in and out of schools - it makes it impossible to assure parents that their children will be 'safe'.

www.wnd.com/2019/03/librarys-drag-queen-reading-to-kids-is-sex-offender/

Like this you mean?

Never happens, never ever ever...

(Tediously nene changed to return to thread)

Agreed truth.

Do try to read the introduction of the book on google books. I can understand why there's opposition though I do believe many parts of the programme are good. The author has very limited understanding of the trans issue and doesn't appear to emphasise sex nor sexist stereotypes enough.

In the introduction he describes these posters printed on weather proofed material and being up around the school perimeter. Visitors signed in agreeing to "agree" to the EA however the wording has been somewhat evolved from the actual EA.

Again, there is much good in the programme but I feel many things could have been approached differently.,

I think Bettydumonde pointed out on another thread that stories about two fathers are for the point of view of a child observing. The stories about "trans" are from the POV of an actual child and include the idea that you can physically change sex.

Indeed tedious
There's a lot to like with the resources - and some bits that are down right sloppy and inappropriate.
As a teacher, when you have a particular interest, it is incumbent on you to repeatedly 'self check' to make sure that your enthusiasm and determination to share your views remains balanced. There are whole documents about teaching sensitive subjects and remaining neutral.
FWIW I've been responsible for sex education in two schools, both with large numbers of Muslim students. We talked, discussed and planned, working closely with parent groups and health / sex ed professionals. But we never let political activists / zealots of any sort near the programme. Those pushing any agenda were kept away.

I saw this petition earlier today:

humanism.org.uk/what-you-can-do-to-help/support-tolerance-over-hate-in-schools/

‘I want you to make it compulsory for every school to teach about equality, including LGBT equality, as part of lessons on tolerance.’

This sentence promotes the LGBT way above all the other "equalities." (At the very least the humanists use sex rather than gender which is not used in the pack) What exactly is meant by 'T' tolerance and equality for primary children? Being gender non conforming should be a norm for all who want it, however the books/ lessons on T communicate a different message, that some are born in the wrong body. Also how are the rights of girls and women equally protected?

That's good to hear truth.

I've taught sex Ed in a primary many moons ago. Once a Muslim family were a bit concerned but were fully on board when safeguarding issues were pointed out (as in a child needs to know to know what's right or wrong) and the important of not hearing it all second hand in the playground. Same sex relationships were referred to.

a child needs to know to know what's right or wrong

and doesn't the very idea that humans can change sex just make a mockery of teaching children fact based sex education for their own safety?

The T has no place with LGB or in schools.

Absolutely.

It's expression of personality, body hatred, body modification and ultimately self harm. Nothing to do with reproduction, puberty or relationships.

OH told me Mermaids and the No Outsiders programme was mentioned on the Maajid Nawaz show on LBC last Saturday.
It is at 2 hrs 15 mins in, and was brought up by Maxine from Hackney who called in, pointing out that the T should not be taught with the LGB. It was a good call and if you are here Maxine,

Available for a couple more days on the LBC app, worth a listen.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3516346-Compulsory-trans-lessons-in-primary-schools-what-will-this-involve

see also Website below with links to the books and 'No Outsiders' program by Andrew Moffat. Amazon has some open access to the books.
There is also a section with links and resources.

There's much that's good within the program and resources however despite being based around the Equality Act 2010 where sex is a protected characteristic, Moffat and many resources conflate sex with gender /gender identity.

It would be a shame to 'throw the baby out with the bathwater' but there is a need for careful informed evaluation of the program which has a blindspot with regards sex/sexism.

Schemes of work should be centred on the needs of the children. There is a need for calm, considered nuance & respect.

Many public discussions thus far seem to be being used by adults with a range of adult agendas & motivations

Ideologies whether trans, religious or other may detrimentally impact children especially those who may be gay & girls.

From links, Moffat comments, 'Stonewall . Excellent resource, well worth keeping up to date with.'

www.equalitiesprimary.com/about-us.html

It seems, thanks to the likes of Stonewall, Allsorts et al, that our schools are becoming centres for promoting the violation of the boundaries of females, that is centre for promoting rape culture.

Andrew Moffat, an expert on the EA was on Sky News the other day talking about it. news.sky.com/video/lgbtq-lesson-row-teacher-speaks-to-sky-news-11688256

Andrew Moffat, an expert on the EA was on Sky News the other day talking about it.

Not such an expert given in first 30 seconds he fails to identify the 9 protected characteristics having claimed they are all given equal focus.

gender & gender identity are not protected characteristics.
Sex is!

Its a very short clip but I'm not impressed.

Who do you highlight it to that a government approved charity is giving schools the wrong information on the EA2010. I’m dure he’d want to know so he can put it right.

Posted on the NSPCC thread but posting here too.

There's an extra fucking layer of chaos regarding gatekeeping thanks to the Tories as academies and free schools don't have to teach the national curriculum.

https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN06103

So it's extremely important charities like the NSPCC are held to account on this. Campaigns like the talk pants song are regularly used in schools.

I'm sure this has been covered on FWR before but I'm just putting it here.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/781150/DrafttguidanceRelationshipssEducationRelationshipssandSexxEducationRSEanddHealthEducation2.pdf


Point 82 and 89 seem pertinent, gender identity is mentioned in relation to the law.

NSPCC pants video and Stonewall are suggested as good sources to support the curriculum. The EA is mentioned a lot.

I’m seeing some similarities between the no outsiders pack and how some of this has been set out.

I have found this briefing paper interesting reading.

researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06103/SN06103.pdf

The previous Government’s Education White Paper, The Importance of Teaching, published in November 2010, stated:
Children need high-quality sex and relationships education so they can make wise and informed choices. We will work with teachers, parents, faith groups and campaign groups, such as Stonewall to make sure sex and relationships education encompasses an understanding of the ways in which humans love each other and stresses the importance of respecting individual autonomy.
*
*
2 Parents’ rights to withdraw a child from SRE
Section 405 of the Education Act 1996 enables parents to withdraw their children from sex education other than the sex education that is in the National Curriculum (such as the biological aspects of human growth and reproduction that are essential elements of National Curriculum Science).

There is nothing in the report about transgender identity. There's a paragraph on LGBT being integrated into the curriculum, not stand alone. There's a lot about same sex relationships. The majority is about consent and healthy relationships.

We will work with teachers, parents, faith groups and campaign groups, such as Stonewall

As Too points out, schools will just copy the pack verbatim.

There's so much about the EA in the draft guidance, I wouldn't be surprised if NO is used by many schools tbh.

Who do you highlight it to that a government approved charity is giving schools the wrong information on the EA2010

The information should go to schools' board of governors.
They have the responsibility for the school, the staff & all the pupils.

Im not sure if important document has been shared on this thread.

Women & Girls in Scotland have done a great deal of work which is made available for others with concern for schools' policy to use:

'Chlldren's Rights Impact Assessment'
(extract)
Foreword
Women and Girls in Scotland is a grassroots, feminist, women’s campaign group set up to protect the sex-based rights of women and girls. Current UK equality legislation recognises that women and girls need legal protections on the basis of sex.
However, these protections are in danger of being undermined by current policies
and proposed legislative changes. As such, we are undertaking a process of reviewing policies and proposals in order to identify where the needs of women and girls are not being met or where their rights are not being upheld.
We identified the document Supporting Transgender Young People: Guidance for Schools in Scotland as one such proposal that merited review. We have assessed this proposal using a children’s rights-based approach, with an impact assessment model developed by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland. This
model was developed to offer policy and decision makers a tool to help them “fulfil their responsibilities to respect the rights of children and young people set out in national and international law”.1
We are currently waiting for a formal response from the CYPCS in relation to our Children’s Rights Impact Assessment. This version has been submitted to the CYPCS; we have removed the few sections where we did not make a submission.
We may update this Children’s Rights Impact Assessment once we have heard back from the CYPCS, at which time we will also issue our assessment as a report that we will then move to share with schools, local authorities and other stakeholders.
This impact assessment is intended to be used as a resource and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. We are happy for other groups and individuals, who may wish to develop their own impact assessments, policy positions or other related work in the field of women’s and children’s rights, to
freely share and adapt our text provided that appropriate credit is given" (continues)
wgscotland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Childrens-Rights-Impact-Assessment-by-Women-and-Girls-in-Scotland.pdf