Help me write to my child's school

[MiraWard77]

Hello, I need some help please.

My child's school has what appears to be a very good PSHE curriculum. I am pleased to see that they have a section on discussing sex stereotypes.

But then they invite speakers in from diversityrolemodels.org, who these days have a very heavy slant toward gender theory. (upper KS2)

I am planning to request that my child skips that bit, but I would like to attempt to explain why it should be skipped for all the children.

I'm more than happy for my child to discuss different sexualities and different families (and all the other types of diversity that doesn't involve magical thinking), in age appropriate ways, but I do not want them learning that if they don't feel like they adhere to sex stereotypes then their body is wrong.

Yes, I should have these conversations at home. I'd also welcome tips on opening those kinds of conversations.

I've had a browse round TransgenderTrend and can't see any easy resources there.

I've started gathering excerpts from my own reading to support my letter, but if you are aware of any resources for this kind of thing, please let me know.

Thank you

Well done on trying to sort this for all students. Safe Schools Alliance has lots of useful information.

The recently published Cambridge research papers also spell out how potentially dangerous the 'being in the wrong body' thinking is. Will try to find them for you.

Here you go:
www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-bulletin/article/sex-gender-and-gender-identity-a-reevaluation-of-the-evidence/76A3DC54F3BD91E8D631B93397698B1A/core-reader

There is at least one food Twitter summary of this (which I don't have)

Thanks @Jeeeez, I've been reading that very article (slowly) today. It is very good.

It looks like I need to keep reading then!

I would just say you need to know when this is happening so you can remove your child and arrange childcare and say why you don't think it's appropriate for the children.

There is a twitter thread about a recent DRM webinar they did where I think furries were mentioned? Check SSA's twitter feed going back a few weeks.

DRM promote the Beyond Magenta book which normalises child abuse/oral sex for children so really by mentioning that alone should make them reconsider. If it doesn't then you'll know to keep an even closer eye on it.

www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-bulletin/article/freedom-to-think-the-need-for-thorough-assessment-and-treatment-of-gender-dysphoric-children/F4B7F5CAFC0D0BE9FF3C7886BA6E904B/core-reader

Here's the other one

@OhHolyJesus thanks for that. (And how appropriate your name is there)

That's probably going to be enough to have the school rethink inviting in that group.

I'll have another dig around the SSA website too. I'd forgotten they existed too.

This might helps OP, it might be that this has passed your school by so no harm in reminding them.

https://safeschoolsallianceuk.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/NAHTletterr_SSAUK.pdf

Has the PHSE curriculum/policy been signed off after consultation with parents? Schools are required to consult so if they haven’t already done so you can raise this point with the governors/PHSE lead. Tell them that you think that any talks given by outside organisations should be flagged up in advance to parents who should then be entitled to request copies of any materials/presentations that will be used.

Ah, crap, I missed your post @CaveMum.

I'll make a note of that for the reply though.

I wrote a fully referenced letter, and took the risk of running it past some friends who have kids in the same year. They asked to put their names to it too!

I was so worried they'd cast me out for the hateful bigot that I am. But they haven't.

I'm not sure they've all peaked yet, but they're definitely on the way now.

But the letter is sent, and I won't expect a reply till September.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Well done OP. It is so positive that parents like you are taking the initiative and making it clear to schools that, while inclusive / diverse SRE is appreciated, organisations that misrepresent the law, coerce children into believing regressive stereotypes and that they might be born in the wrong body are not welcome.