School not using "girl" and "boy"

[Personwithrage]

My year 7 DC had a session on puberty in RHSE yesterday. As part of this they labelled diagrams of "people with penises" and "people with vaginas" so as to "not make transgender people uncomfortable" as someone could be "born a boy but believe their personality makes them a girl".

I am so so cross.

I don't have a gender identity, absolutely and wholeheartedly reject regressive stereotypes and have brought DC up to challenge them and to believe they can do and be whoever they want to be. I have also always talked about biological reality and believe that whatever you do, say, wear or think you are still a boy or girl as defined by your biology.

Am I over reacting? Is it unreasonable and excluding to expect puberty lessons to refer to male and female, boy and girl? Is it not ok for my child to refer to themselves in terms they're comfortable with? Are there really lots of 11 year olds with gender dysphoria and a sense of gender identity such that this rings true?

Just seen this thread. Well done for writing/challenging.

The DfE us to blame for much of this. They refuse to accept responsibility. Their relationship with stonewall has influenced them greatly. They say it's not their job to police resources etc and it's up to individual schools. We are fully aware that it's a problem. And it's why it's also important for parents to challenge schools. And if appropriate write to EHRC and the education minister: safeschoolsallianceuk.net/2021/10/23/write-to-the-ehrc-you-can-make-a-difference/

Thank you @2fallsfromSSA.

I feel really strongly about this now. I'm not just going to shuffle off.

Finding that the school think they're doing the right thing by using resources from Brook, then seeing what Brook actually say has really shocked me.

It's also why parental challenge is so important. If teachers are in hock to activist groups rather than centring children's needs, then parents are going to have to stand up and insist that children come first and not the wishes of self interested adults.

It’s also because in many schools parents are listened to while teachers are not.

We’re not all “self interested adults” who are “in hock to activist groups rather than centring children’s needs”.

@HipTightOnions

It's also why parental challenge is so important. If teachers are in hock to activist groups rather than centring children's needs, then parents are going to have to stand up and insist that children come first and not the wishes of self interested adults.

It’s also because in many schools parents are listened to while teachers are not.

We’re not all “self interested adults” who are “in hock to activist groups rather than centring children’s needs”.

My apologies HipTightOnions. I do know that the majority of teachers centre children and so many are quietly concerned at this. My language was careless (and cross). I'd looked at the DfE equality guidance which some of us have been complaining about to MPs etc for years and was enraged to see that it still hasn't been changed and pushes teachers in the directions of these unsuitable organisations.

Thanks MrsOvertonsWindow.

I don’t blame you for being cross, it’s utterly enraging.

Imagine being a teacher who is concerned at this. Concerned that safeguarding isn't being prioritised for the children they are working with. Concerned that their school has a curriculum and lesson plans that directly goes against explicit DfE guidance. Concerned that children with a range of protected characteristics are being placed second to an ideology that seeks to be first and foremost in every context. And they're not able to speak up, speak out, challenge or refuse.

Absolutely chilling.

The problem is the DfE guidelines are fairly 'mild'. This government are trying to roll back what they have actively promoted for the last decade without seeming to be accountable for what they've enabled. I've seen appalling letters from tory ministers like Nick Gibb & Damian Hinds completely ignoring questions from women about safeguarding children and instead droning on about how wonderfully inclusive they find mixed sex facilities for children.

The government are never going to admit that they've funded unsuitable organisations to persuade schools to remove parental rights, celebrate drugs and surgery for teenagers, sell age inappropriate concepts to young children and remove children's boundaries and right to say no. So the roll back will happen at snail's pace to try to avoid drawing the attention of the deranged activists (just look at their hysterics at the bbc at the moment).