Miriam Cates report on RSE

[RPMcMurphy]

Starting a new thread as this report is being discussed in others and I think it needs a thread of its own.

Report available here:
www.newsocialcovenant.co.uk/RSE%20BRIEFING%20FINAL%201631%20(IS)_small.pdf

Lots of media attention around it, even mainstream TV news, and plenty of press.

(Not) to my surprise, there is quite a bit of pushback on social media, of the usual 'it isn't happening, and even if it is it's only in a few schools, and even if it is in a lot of schools who cares you are all pearl-clutching bigots'.

Also unsurprised by the response of head teachers, given the numerous reports here on Mumsnet about their behaviour when parents express concerns:
“Head teachers said they were unhappy about the review. James Bowen, director of policy the National Association of Head Teachers, said: “It is hard to be anything other than deeply concerned by this announcement.”"

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fb68df7c-bdc4-11ed-8959-aac6a1130ac2?shareToken=bf5da7c9d4de81e288a9d29fa865ba99

Please please please write to your MP, ccing the Pm and Gillian Keegan to say you support this review and that it must be quick and independent. Let them know that this is popular!

Do not allow the naysayers to have the loudest voices.

Sorry about formatting I copied from twitter!

I suppose the point is there is evidence aplenty if he was to look for it. We did reply to him but no engagement.

@2fallsfromSSA

Have sent you a pm.

Another story on the thing that's not happening:

Mother’s campaign to lift lid on graphic sex ed lessons

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/3ae39692-c02c-11ed-9483-91eafb35e9ed?shareToken=cd2710f8e7a0afe1e0ae88dcd17e9c67

Tucked away at the end:

"The information commissioner and the School of Sexuality Education were contacted for comment."

Page appealed to the information commissioner, who also rejected her request to have a copy of the lesson plan and to know who taught it, arguing that it was commercially sensitive and a copyright matter.

What does this even mean? A mother aghast at what her daughter is being taught isn't going to reproduce it for commercial gain.

Is merely publicising it a breach of copyright?

Obviously they're attempting any old bollocks to stop people seeing their materials, but this seems particularly lame.

Quite, Datun. If this mythical consultation ever comes out, one point I think we all need to make strongly is that whatever schools are teaching, must be published online. If it can't be then they can't teach it. That should remove a lot of these problems swiftly as they won't survive proper sunlight and no one will pay for the materials if parents are unhappy.

I would imagine those heavily invested will say "but we don't publish our Maths curriculum" to which I would say "so what?". Those charged with the care of our children should never have let it get to this stage.

Exactly.

There are no non-dodgy reasons to keep sex education secret. None.

We know what’s taught in maths class as our children have the books. Also maths is not controversial.

I linked the crowd funder. I had forgotten that is not allowed.

The Asdiciation of Head Teachers is dubious - not a voice of reason against stupid, troubled parents.Ask @ResisterRex.

That's true that we get Maths books home. I guess I meant it more as the kind of line that will be trotted out as reasons why schools "can't". Well, ours (along with a lot of school, I notice!) spends a good deal of time arsing about on Twitter so they definitely can upload things. So it can be published if there's a will to do so.

NAHT:

Sex education review launched by Sunak

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fb68df7c-bdc4-11ed-8959-aac6a1130ac2?shareToken=492b784275b819814df9911773b44ed0

"Head teachers said they were unhappy about the review. James Bowen, director of policy the National Association of Head Teachers, said: “It is hard to be anything other than deeply concerned by this announcement.

“The overwhelming majority of schools are doing nothing more than following the government’s own statutory guidance when it comes to relationships and sex education. The current curriculum was subject to extensive consultation before it was introduced.

“We have seen no evidence to suggest there is a widespread problem with pupils being presented with age-inappropriate materials and if this were the situation, we would expect it to have been picked up on a case-by-case basis.

“There is a real concern that this is a politically motivated review, rather than one based on the reality of what is happening in the vast majority of schools up and down the country. Our appeal to government is to ensure this review is now handled with the care, sensitivity and impartiality it requires and to listen carefully to the voices of education professionals and pupils.”"

More on NAHT:

www.naht.org.uk/About-Us/Organisations-we-support/Diversity-Role-Models

safeschoolsallianceuk.net/2020/06/18/love-has-no-age-a-letter-to-asda/

"Ceilings" plan reported in the Telegraph:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/11/sex-education-classes-given-ceilings-limiting-what-pupils-certain/

"Sex education classes could be given "ceilings" limiting what school pupils of a certain age can be taught under plans being considered by the Department for Education, The Telegraph can reveal.
The aim of the revised guidance would be to take a “more robust” approach on the use of materials to “make sure reliably that no one is being taught things that aren’t age appropriatee_”, a DfE source said.
The department would have to strike a “balance” to make sure that pupils continue to receive “the education they need to be safe”, they added.
However, the source said that existing guidance on political impartiality in schools meant that teachers already had a duty not to teach contested theories as fact.
This would apply to any teaching on issues relating to “types of genders” or use of pronouns, they said."

With a quote from Policy Exchange:

"Mr Lehain told The Telegraph: "All school curriculums have limits on what they cover. This might be because of the time available, pupils' ability to properly understand an issue, or because it's just not appropriate for a teacher to be the one introducing it. It's the case in history or RE, and no different for sex ed too.

“For instance, the guidance as it stands has no mention of sexual pleasure or the infinite range of possible sexual acts. This was deliberate, as anything that is statutory needs the maximum consensus behind it, and as soon as you wade on to issues like masturbation or 'rough anonymous sex' (as per an infamous textbook), large swathes of people would withdraw their support.”
He added: “Perhaps just as importantly, intimate subjects like these are almost impossible to discuss without embarrassing or humiliating pupilss_, or putting teachers at risk of accusations of inappropriate behaviour.
“We just have to accept that with sex ed, as for other subjects, some things can't be taught in school safely or sensibly.""

And now it looks like the review is a "first phase". How many phases are there to be? We don't know. Also no timelines given. Again:

"The first phase of the DfE review will include gathering evidence on what materials are currently being used in schools, with the department then launching a consultation process on changes to the guidance, which could come later this year."

Consultation could come later this year. When? December? And by implication, it could never come.

However, the source said that existing guidance on political impartiality in schools meant that teachers already had a duty not to teach contested theories as fact. This would apply to any teaching on issues relating to “types of genders” or use of pronouns, they said.

The trouble is that many teachers do not see it as a contested theory or a political issue. They think it is all just true.

Quiet. And if they're doing it when it goes against guidelines, can they be sued?

There must be recourse otherwise they could indoctrinate children in whatever the hell they like.

Absolutely. My deputy head accused me of wanting all trans people dead because I questioned teaching gender identity as fact.

However, the source said that existing guidance on political impartiality in schools meant that teachers already had a duty not to teach contested theories as fact. This would apply to any teaching on issues relating to “types of genders” or use of pronouns, they said.

There are some inherent problems about ‘facts’ to deal with, given schools are supposed to teach the protected characteristics of the Equality Act. One of the characteristic, Gender Reassignment, brings in the idea of a subjective reality. How can this be taught without teachers being in danger of teaching contested theories about sex and gender? They definitely need a specific book to follow. Winging it won’t work.

And that's the hyperbole (and intimidation) that surrounds all this.

If you look at all the comments below the line, it's evident that parents (and hopefully many teachers) are waking up to what's happened. This in itself will begin to put a break on some of the dangerous sex positive / porn soaked adults and materials being allowed into schools. And make it easier for teachers to challenge what's happening.

I agree. BUT...whenever the consultation comes, it needs parents taking part en masse AND copying their MPs/giving them copies of their responses. There's no way we're out of the woods yet so far as this and the department responsible is concerned.

Not England but the Isle of Man story in the MoS:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11848247/Furious-mother-speaks-school-embroiled-Drag-Queen-gender-row-gave-graphic-sex-lessons.html

"EXCLUSIVE: Mother speaks out after 11-year-old daughter given 'graphic' lesson"

From the Times article, in the header:

“Many of the resources used would make adults deeply uncomfortable, especially if they were expected to view them in their place of work. It is unconscionable that our children are being forced to engage with such disturbing materials in school.”

The letter said that many schools refused to allow parents to view lesson materials in advance, adding: “Exposing children to explicit materials and radical ideologies is not a victory for equality; it is a catastrophe for safeguarding.”

And some of the schools are hiding it behind the excuse of "commercial confidentiality." I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that they're riding a tiger and are too scared to let go; they know exactly why the don't want parents to see the awful material they are presenting. If we showed rubbish like that to our own children, a visit from the authorities would ensue.

Cailin66 · Today 09:18

We know what’s taught in maths class as our children have the books. Also maths is not controversial.

Are you sure? My 9 year old tells me that algebra is abuse!

😄

Completely agree. This is a shitshow of epic proportions.
The main problem is that schools, unions, the DfE and even Ofsted are / were captured by Stonewall - who's main aim is to remove single sex resources, language and facts from life. Add to that their insistence that in order to be a Stonewall champion institutions must actively promote gender ideology as facts - even to the youngest of children - dragging these predatory values out of schools will be a massive task.
Institutions will deny deny deny as to admit active involvement in pushing gender ideology at children and selling porn to children below the age of consent will make them culpable in the face of all the future investigations -including criminal charges.

I saw from the Daily Mail article that the drag queens on the Isle of Mann are denying that one of them gave a lesson at the school.

If that story is not true. I wonder why parents are not also saying it is untrue?