School newsletter tells girls how to bind

[ErrolTheDragon]

There's a piece in the Times today ... parents not happy at the content of a newsletter produced by the 6th formers

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nonsuch-high-school-sixth-formers-told-girls-11-how-to-bind-breasts-k7slvrbkr?shareToken=a84af706d3b638e2ea3d2d53ea04e29d

Sorry wrong link: www.spiked-online.com/2021/05/13/breast-binding-has-no-place-in-schools/

Thanks 2fallsagain.

I was just coming to post this

Here is the link to the head teachers statement.

www.nonsuchschool.org/64/news/article/174/statement-regarding-the-student-lgbtq-newsletter

The school has had a support club for students for many years to create a safe space for students who may have questions regarding these issues. In lieu of the support group in Covid times, some students produced a newsletter. It is the usual practice for such newsletters to be checked and vetted before being sent out to students and in this case that did not happen.

We apologise for the considerable alarm caused by content that was not contextualised nor in keeping with our RSE programme. We wish to assure parents that we have reviewed and strengthened our checks and balances to vet all internal and external communications to ensure the safety of our students and the appropriateness of all school communications.

We will be inviting parents to join us in focussed discussions around RSE and sexism and will send out further communications regarding this.

This one I think Clymene, it's been posted a few times over the years:

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/8/e004996

good to read that, Helle.

The school has had a support club for students for many years to create a safe space for students who may have questions regarding these issues.

So are they actually saying, 'oh shit, these things are normally just discussed in school but we don't hear what is said so it actually it doesn't happen and therefore doesn't count and we don't have to worry about it because we don't facilitate these meetings. Rest assured everyone, any written communication we put in future will be vetted so we cover are arses.

Or AIBU?

Students having questions isn't really a problem, it's more 'directing children to totally unsuitable websites' that is the issue. You mean, does that happen within the school anyway?

I think they need an investigation and a programme of educating on safe internet usage, at very least.

I posted this on the other thread. The final two paragraphs....

In working with the students who put the newsletter together we have been discussing how we ensure we are working within clear boundaries whilst avoiding putting up barriers that may inhibit young people from seeking advice safely. We are taking steps to doubly ensure that all understand our communications processes and protocols.

So, this reads in my head - the students that put together that doubling down post on instagram did not actually understand anything that people were saying and just took the approach that any disagreement is phobic. We are now going to put into place an approval process with the safeguarding lead. At least, that is what I hope it reads.

We would encourage our parents/carers where they have any concerns going forward to raise them with the school directly so we may address them responsibly.

And .... please don't go to the press about this. Being outed for safeguarding breaches in the Times is not a good look for the school. But then those doubling down messages were not made by responsible adults. Even the ill-advised 'we only seek to inform'.

I’d just like to add this - I sometimes have to wear a back brace bleugh.

It’s a bit like these bindings in structure - firm and rigid, straps around just under my boobs (my boobs flap free).

JFC - I can’t eat when I wear it and have to limit it to a couple of hours. It makes me feel vomity (if it’s too tight or or I even eat anything) and wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. I sometimes have to lie down after taking it off as I sometimes feel like I am going to vomit. If I’m stressed out and my heart rate is up, no way - it exacerbates this (probably breathing).

Doing something like this for aesthetic reasons is a joke.

How can girls even function with this? I shuffle around like Frankenstein’s monster, trying not to bend over or eat. It digs into my ribs and can make breathing uncomfortable. I certainly can’t exercise with it.

Reminds me of the whole ‘mortification of the flesh’ doobry when religious types would wear something painful under the clothes as a religious penence (or something).

Whatever happens to being joyful?

[quote Ereshkigalangcleg]This one I think Clymene, it's been posted a few times over the years:

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/8/e004996[/quote]
That's the one! Thank you

From The Times...

Excellent news, some grown ups will hopefully help the school staff to understand safeguarding.

Strange name for a school really. I keep reading it as ‘Nonsense’.

That's good. Teachers need to unpick how safeguarding breaches like this happen . I'm sure this is a generally good school safeguarding wise which is why it's so important to review how inappropriate ideas / practices can be advocated under the guise of 'inclusivity'.

@toffeebutterpopcorn

Strange name for a school really. I keep reading it as ‘Nonsense’.

I think the same, it almost seems a made up name.

It’s an archaic Tudor word meaning an example of perfection or excellence. It was the name of a lost royal palace built by Henry VIII - Nonsuch Palace - which was then demolished in the seventeenth century. It may be that the school dates back to an early educational foundation? That’s what I’d assume from the name.

Just looked it up on their website - it’s near where the site of Nonsuch Palace was! That makes sense!

There is Nonsuch Park which had Nonsuch Palace named because there was No Such Palace as magnificent. One side has Nonsuch Primary schiol the other sits Nonsuch High.

The Park is lovely spent many many walks there over lockdown. The school has a main entrance gate in the park and the remains of the palace are visible from it

www.spiked-online.com/2021/05/13/breast-binding-has-no-place-in-schools/?fbclid=IwAR1uNFXwXkafu9OjreEz2jNWmbAAstdt8m6NYcQc0YSaTat0rrtIBwYI8SY

Note to self: must read thread before posting!