Updated relationships, sex and health curriculum guidance

[umbel]

Updated government guidance, released today!!!

Here's that link again for those struggling with how schools maintain balance in dealing with sensitive issues:
www.teachingcitizenship.org.uk/sites/teachingcitizenship.org.uk/files/Briefing%20for%20Schools%20-%20remaining%20impartial%20and%20avoiding%20partisan%20activity%20-%20final.pdf

^ *Schools should not under any circumstances work with external agencies that take or promote extreme positions or use materials produced by such agencies. Examples of extreme positions include, but are not limited to:

teaching that requirements of English civil or criminal law may be disregarded whether for political or religious reasons

selecting and presenting information to make unsubstantiated accusations against state institutions

promoting divisive or victim narratives that are harmful to British society*

This pretty much prohibits virtually any LGBT or Feminist group from being involved in RSE, and quite a few other groups as well such as disability charities who have all been highly critical of austerity policies^

Do you really think so? Are you saying the criticisms made by disability charities are unsubstantiated? Or that what they say is somehow 'harmful to british society'? I don't believe they, or feminist orgs (and probably not most LGBT ones either) fit those criteria.

Do you really believe its extremist for an organisation to be critical of the government?

It doesn't say they can't be critical of government.

It's interesting looking at who wants access to children in schools. Tbh, I've never come across feminist groups demanding to teach children about sex, mentor children, change toilet and changing facilities for children, let alone remove parental rights of certain children - and that's after decades of working in and with schools in pastoral care and safeguarding.

@ErrolTheDragon

Do you really think so? Are you saying the criticisms made by disability charities are unsubstantiated? Or that what they say is somehow 'harmful to british society'?

Iain Duncan Smith and the DWP would have said they were unsubstantiated. He was furious with them. So who decides? And will schools just play safe rather than risk falling foul of the guidelines.

This could have a really chilling impact and could see the voluntary sector pushed out of education completely and replaced by shiny suited profit seeking training companies who do nothing but parrot the current government propaganda of the day. It's a worrying development.

@persistentwoman

It's interesting looking at who wants access to children in schools. Tbh, I've never come across feminist groups demanding to teach children about sex, mentor children, change toilet and changing facilities for children, let alone remove parental rights of certain children - and that's after decades of working in and with schools in pastoral care and safeguarding.

Women's Aid and others have done work in schools. They have also been very critical of the government at times.

Nah. It'll just ensure organisations make sure they're working on the basis of evidence.

@ErrolTheDragon

Do you really believe its extremist for an organisation to be critical of the government?

It doesn't say they can't be critical of government.

You're right ErrolTheDragon Political education is an important part of a broad and balanced education that prepares young people for adult life, and we want young people to be informed and engaged citizens. Teaching about the political system including voting and elections, and consideration of political issues is a key part of national curriculum citizenship . The new guidance is ensuring that schools can't be used by individual groups (charities, voluntary or political) to push their own world views.

Nothing has changed in terms of children accessing different political views. Schools do this on a daily basis.

Nothing has changed in terms of children accessing different political views. Schools do this on a daily basis.

And yet another clause says that any group which opposes capitalism is now banned as extremists. That would have included the Labour Party prior to Tony Blair. As are groups which promote a victim narrative, presumably aimed at anti-racist groups who might be symathetic to BLM. This really isn't about children having access to different political views, it is about ensuring they only have access to political views the Tory Party approves of.

It's a right wing conspiracy!!!🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

More right wing feministing

And the exclusively right wing posters here on the FWR board are rejoicing 🤣

As an Irish nationalist, living in Northern Ireland, does that mean I have to hand in my feminist card? 😱

Do you really believe its extremist for an organisation to be critical of the government? Or to pursue a 'victim narrative'? Or to recognise the role that illegal direct action has played in progressive causes?

….But you're the one trying to frame those views as 'extremist' ones to say they would be blocked, as part of your explaining why it is a problem to block political organisations from schools.

I'm done with this conversation. I want children protected from political activists with passionate agendas in all circumstances, end of. Such things have no place in childhood, or in schools, and until very recently in history no adult activists or groups had ever lacked sufficient judgement or balance to think it did, to the point that guidance had to be issued.

And yet another clause says that any group which opposes capitalism is now banned as extremists. That would have included the Labour Party prior to Tony Blair.

Hm... written by someone who wants an electable Labour Party perhaps?

@FloralBunting

It's a right wing conspiracy!!!🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

It's a Tory education policy put together by the most right wing government in living memory that more than amply demonstrates direction of travel.

It's perfectly possible to support the clauses on gender, which I do, without turning into an apologist for the worst kind of Tory authoritarianism.

I want children protected from political activists with passionate agendas in all circumstances, end of. Such things have no place in childhood, or in schools, and until very recently in history no adult activists or groups had ever lacked sufficient judgement or balance to think it did, to the point that guidance had to be issued

Spot on.

@ErrolTheDragon

And yet another clause says that any group which opposes capitalism is now banned as extremists. That would have included the Labour Party prior to Tony Blair.

Hm... written by someone who wants an electable Labour Party perhaps?

Written by someone who doesn't believe opposition to capitalism is extremist.

It's perfectly possible to support the clauses on gender, which I do

That's what the thread was supposed to be discussing. If you support that why didn't you start another thread on the parts you object to instead of derailing this one?

I must have been away from this thread for too long. I thought JJ was arguing that Mermaids and Stonewall didn’t have much involvement with schools and now they’re arguing that there’s a danger voluntary groups will be kept out of schools?

Anyway, are we right wing now? Do I need to buy a non-ironic twin-set?

The worst kind of authoritarianism is being pushed by the TRA Gender Idealogues, there is evidence galore of this.

I'm done with this conversation. I want children protected from political activists with passionate agendas in all circumstances, end of. Such things have no place in childhood, or in schools, and until very recently in history no adult activists or groups had ever lacked sufficient judgement or balance to think it did, to the point that guidance had to be issued.

Are you kidding, Section 28 was introduced precisely because the Tories claimed extremists were infiltrating schools.

Anyway, are we right wing now? Do I need to buy a non-ironic twin-set?

I’ve ordered one. Should be delivered shortly.

Idly ponders on whether a knitting discussion is better than recipes?
Decides not...

Did you use your right wing cheque to pay for it?

I'm sorry, that joke set a low bar. I'll try to find a more sturdy one.