How to complain about Allsorts in school?

[howtocomplain]

DS came home today saying year 7 have had an assembly from Allsorts. I found it on the school intranet.

It was mostly about anti-bullying, but they slipped in "assigned at birth" "born this way" relating to trans and transition was mentioned in passing as a choice. They said next time it'll be a whole assembly on gender identity, and AllSorts is partnering with the school.

I'm not at all happy about this and I'm emailing the school.

Can anyone recommend any links or help me explain why teaching gender identity as fact - and allsorts specifically - is such a bad idea?

I've looked at Safe Schools Alliance and they've got some great letters which I've pinched some text from, but nothing about Allsorts specifically (unless I'm looking in the wrong plage).

I know there were changes to school guidelines about this recently.

That article says schools should now not use resources which “suggest that non-conformity to gender stereotypes should be seen as synonymous with having a different gender identity”, and that schools “should not work with external agencies or organisations that produce such material”.

I'm guessing the best approach is to show that they could be falling foul of the law if they use AllSorts. Any ideas how I could do this would be much appreciated. Thanks :)

StillTish has written a useful critique of some of their guidance which you could quote?

gendercriticalwoman.wordpress.com/2020/10/01/school-transgender-policy-1-brighton/

I’m sure it’s Allsorts who advocate “stonewall law”, ie: children can use whatever facilities they prefer etc, which is incorrect. “Born in the wrong body” goes against DofE guidance as well, so watch out for that.

I would withdraw her from the assembly if it goes ahead.

I’m in Ireland so different laws and not allsorts but today I wrote a rather long email complaining about the teaching of gender ideology to my child’s class of ten and 11 year olds. They were asked to list all the gender identities and sexualities they knew of and then each one was explained. They were then told that their gender (there is no sex in Irish law) was a mix of their assigned at birth gender, their gender presentation and if you “feel different” you could be transgender. I was pretty horrified and said as much in my letter. I have been invited to a meeting with the head and the class teacher. I’m very, very nervous about it but I hope just raising a concern will get them to rethink.

@Irishmom7 I’m in Ireland with a child of that age and shocked to hear that! Which programme is it part of?

www.bewiser.ie/

[quote Clymene]StillTish has written a useful critique of some of their guidance which you could quote?

gendercriticalwoman.wordpress.com/2020/10/01/school-transgender-policy-1-brighton/[/quote]
That's really useful, thanks :)

Not at all what was promised or what is described on their website. I am pretty angry about it.

Stupidly, I thought you were talking about the liquorice kind.......but I too would be outraged, and wouldn't be happy with the school. And my Dd would NOT be attending those assemblies!!

What is this world coming to? We're all going to hell in handcart

Here you are OP. Safe Schools Alliance has a range of sample letters for schools and are happy to answer specific questions about the range of unsuitable organisations currently touting for business in schools.

Oopps - the link would help:

safeschoolsallianceuk.net/resources-2/letter-templates/#External_training_providers_letter

We’re not in your neck of the woods but will keep an eye on what’s happening here. Currently, what they’re doing is also mainly about bullying and seems ok. If it changes I will also be speaking to the head.

@HermioneWeasley

I’m sure it’s Allsorts who advocate “stonewall law”, ie: children can use whatever facilities they prefer etc, which is incorrect. “Born in the wrong body” goes against DofE guidance as well, so watch out for that.

I would withdraw her from the assembly if it goes ahead.

It's not just the assembly, they seem to have some kind of partnership with the school, the way the guy way speaking in the assembly, he expects to see more of the DC.

It concerns me for a number of reasons

• my DS knows a fair bit about this issue already. He is firmly of the camp that there are two sexes and that gender identity is a belief not fact. I am worried he'll be treated badly by other kids and even teaching staff if he speaks his mind on this - which is likely as he's autistic and it's impossible to stop him speaking his mind! Even if he misses the assembly, if the kids are being indoctrinated with this stuff then it'll come back on him.

• I'm worried about the school being used to promote gender ideology as fact to impressionable kids

• I'm planning to send his little sister to the school and I worry about social contagion for girls particularly

@Irishmom7

I’m in Ireland so different laws and not allsorts but today I wrote a rather long email complaining about the teaching of gender ideology to my child’s class of ten and 11 year olds. They were asked to list all the gender identities and sexualities they knew of and then each one was explained. They were then told that their gender (there is no sex in Irish law) was a mix of their assigned at birth gender, their gender presentation and if you “feel different” you could be transgender. I was pretty horrified and said as much in my letter. I have been invited to a meeting with the head and the class teacher. I’m very, very nervous about it but I hope just raising a concern will get them to rethink.

Well done 💪💪💪

Good luck, and let us know how it goes, I'm following in your footsteps!

@dexterslockedintheshedagain

Stupidly, I thought you were talking about the liquorice kind.......but I too would be outraged, and wouldn't be happy with the school. And my Dd would NOT be attending those assemblies!!

Liquorice All Sorts are indeed an outrage.

Transgender Trend has this on Allsorts.

Searching on Transgender Trend and Allsorts will bring up a few more links that may be helpful.
Good luck.