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Original poster

A small victory- sex ed in Scottish schools

57 replies

Hagiography · 03/11/2023 11:26

Last year my DD came home from school having had her first sex ed lesson.

'Some girls don't get periods' she said, cheerfully. 'So I might not get them'.

In Scotland, we can access and read all the materials used for RSHP lessons. And we can feed back.

So, after giving my DD a small follow up lesson to explain that all girls get periods, unless something has gone wrong, I wrote an email to the body that writes the RSHP lessons.

This is more effective than going to the school, who are generally sensible and after all.were only giving the lesson as provided.

I included two references from the NHS that state clearly that girls who don't start menstruating by age 15 need to see a doctor to investigate.

I heard back that they were due to review I summer. This term I checked, and its been changed. The sentence about some girls not having periods has been removed.

This is one way we can counter the insidious creep of gender identity. Sentence by sentence, one email at a time.

I encourage all parents in Scotland to check the RSHP resource when they can. It's a big resource, and needs careful checking, and input from as many parents as possible.

Any incidences of genderwoo, consider how they can be questioned. Look for solid evidence to counter any problematic points, and raise the issue directly with the RSHP site/providers.

The people who write this content are responsive and can, and do listen.

rshp.scot

OP posts:
Uooobee · 03/11/2023 23:40

Hagiography · 03/11/2023 11:26

Last year my DD came home from school having had her first sex ed lesson.

'Some girls don't get periods' she said, cheerfully. 'So I might not get them'.

In Scotland, we can access and read all the materials used for RSHP lessons. And we can feed back.

So, after giving my DD a small follow up lesson to explain that all girls get periods, unless something has gone wrong, I wrote an email to the body that writes the RSHP lessons.

This is more effective than going to the school, who are generally sensible and after all.were only giving the lesson as provided.

I included two references from the NHS that state clearly that girls who don't start menstruating by age 15 need to see a doctor to investigate.

I heard back that they were due to review I summer. This term I checked, and its been changed. The sentence about some girls not having periods has been removed.

This is one way we can counter the insidious creep of gender identity. Sentence by sentence, one email at a time.

I encourage all parents in Scotland to check the RSHP resource when they can. It's a big resource, and needs careful checking, and input from as many parents as possible.

Any incidences of genderwoo, consider how they can be questioned. Look for solid evidence to counter any problematic points, and raise the issue directly with the RSHP site/providers.

The people who write this content are responsive and can, and do listen.

rshp.scot

It’s great to hear that you got this corrected, but it’s outrageous that you had to do it. Something has gone seriously wrong.

quantumbutterfly · 04/11/2023 10:00

desiringtoremainsane · 03/11/2023 23:38

4.12. Through effective learning and teaching, children and young people develop their skills in using inclusive language when referring to or addressing individuals. This will allow them to discover and express their own identity and will support the potential to tackle gender stereotypes, ultimately improving gender equality in and outside the classroom. This will also help to set a positive ethos both in the classroom and wider school, reducing potential for racism, sexism and homophobia as well as other forms of discrimination.

How the heck does genderwoo and pronouns tackle gender stereotypes?

Ha. It doesn't of course, it relies on them.
Lippy and high heels-presto you're a woman Harry Potter!

Original poster
Hagiography · 04/11/2023 11:38

There's a lot of conflation of sex and gender, too.

OP posts:
SinnerBoy · 04/11/2023 12:34

ultimately improving gender equality in and outside the classroom

As they undoubtedly mean sex equality, does that breach the EA?

SaffronSpice · 04/11/2023 15:27

SinnerBoy · 04/11/2023 12:34

ultimately improving gender equality in and outside the classroom

As they undoubtedly mean sex equality, does that breach the EA?

This is Scotland. They mean Gender.

UsernameAlreadyTaken101 · 04/11/2023 15:54

Hagiography · 03/11/2023 11:26

Last year my DD came home from school having had her first sex ed lesson.

'Some girls don't get periods' she said, cheerfully. 'So I might not get them'.

In Scotland, we can access and read all the materials used for RSHP lessons. And we can feed back.

So, after giving my DD a small follow up lesson to explain that all girls get periods, unless something has gone wrong, I wrote an email to the body that writes the RSHP lessons.

This is more effective than going to the school, who are generally sensible and after all.were only giving the lesson as provided.

I included two references from the NHS that state clearly that girls who don't start menstruating by age 15 need to see a doctor to investigate.

I heard back that they were due to review I summer. This term I checked, and its been changed. The sentence about some girls not having periods has been removed.

This is one way we can counter the insidious creep of gender identity. Sentence by sentence, one email at a time.

I encourage all parents in Scotland to check the RSHP resource when they can. It's a big resource, and needs careful checking, and input from as many parents as possible.

Any incidences of genderwoo, consider how they can be questioned. Look for solid evidence to counter any problematic points, and raise the issue directly with the RSHP site/providers.

The people who write this content are responsive and can, and do listen.

rshp.scot

Who told her that not all girls get periods? I'm a teacher in Scotland and I've never seen any RSHP material which states this.
The second level lesson plan specifically promotes the "Hey Girl" programme and addresses women and girls being affected by period poverty.

If a teacher has told her this then I would be speaking to the teacher about misleading young girls.

Original poster
Hagiography · 04/11/2023 16:15

This was a verbatim quote from the resource. I can find it for you if you don't believe me - it isn't there anymore but I will have copies, somewhere. And I'm pretty sure I'll have archived it, too.

I know and trust my DDs teachers - it was not their fault. They were reading out the slides exactly as instructed.

OP posts:
OP posts:
Original poster
Hagiography · 04/11/2023 16:22

A screenshot:

It's 'from the my body is changing' activity plan.

A small victory- sex ed in Scottish schools
OP posts:
Original poster
Hagiography · 04/11/2023 16:24

Gutted. Have they taken it out and put it back in again?

How many girls with Primary Amenorrhea are at risk of having a health condition missed because they're being taught this bullshit?!

Also, I'm sorry, everyone, this is no longer a small victory at all. Shit.

OP posts:
UsernameAlreadyTaken101 · 04/11/2023 16:32

I've honestly never noticed this but I've not taught at second level for a while. It should come with a note attached that this would be due to a medical condition. I'm sure there is something in second level which says to visit your GP if it hasn't come by the age of 15. Making a bold statement like that needs explanation.

Madcats · 04/11/2023 16:41

FFS

It is interesting that boys have erections but not all "girls" have periods.

While are you complaining to them, it might be worth pointing out that a lot of teen girls favour period pants over tampons/towels/mooncups.

Froodwithatowel · 04/11/2023 16:42

Ridiculous.

Clear explanation needed: Is this about trying to be all modern and positive about girls with medical conditions which will include girls with DSDs, or is this about pretending that some boys are girls and it's totally norms for a girl to have a boys' body? Let's have it. What tangled mess is this all based on in order for adults to look cool and down with the kids?

And why are we fucking up the next generation of girls for it? We're going back to the bloody dark ages for generations to come as confused girls grow up to be confused mums raising confused children, and all so a bunch of adults can show off to each other.

Original poster
Hagiography · 04/11/2023 17:01

UsernameAlreadyTaken101 · 04/11/2023 16:32

I've honestly never noticed this but I've not taught at second level for a while. It should come with a note attached that this would be due to a medical condition. I'm sure there is something in second level which says to visit your GP if it hasn't come by the age of 15. Making a bold statement like that needs explanation.

Well, I made both of those points in my email, including links to NHS information that states girls should seek medical advice if they've not started periods by 15.

I've read through the whole resource and saw nothing that made this point, at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hagiography · 04/11/2023 18:11

Yes, that was posted upthread.

I urge all parents to take part.

OP posts:
nepeta · 04/11/2023 18:17

Madcats · 04/11/2023 16:41

FFS

It is interesting that boys have erections but not all "girls" have periods.

While are you complaining to them, it might be worth pointing out that a lot of teen girls favour period pants over tampons/towels/mooncups.

This is the usual pattern I see everywhere: It is the female sex and people who are women/girls because they have female bodies which are being erased. The male sex is hardly erased at all, even after so many of us pointing this asymmetry out.

This, to me, has been a true revelation about how deeply baked-in sexist thinking is in everything.

Because not all boys will have erections, either, according to their philosophy/belief system. Those who were not born with penises, for instance.

Original poster
Hagiography · 04/11/2023 18:54

Careful what you wish for. The kids were also told that girls can have wet dreams.

OP posts:
quantumbutterfly · 04/11/2023 19:20

Well they can, sort of.

Original poster
Hagiography · 04/11/2023 19:27

Sort of. I don't know if I'd call it useful information for 9 and 10 year olds, though.

At least I don't think it has the potential to be harmful in the way the statement about periods does.

OP posts:
quantumbutterfly · 04/11/2023 20:45

No I agree, it was never something I learned in sex ed. so was slightly unprepared for the experience.

But 9-10 yr olds should really only need to be learning about normalising puberty, not sex ed. I hope.

Original poster
Hagiography · 04/11/2023 20:48

I think it depends which sections teachers choose to use.

OP posts:
Divorcingjack80 · 04/11/2023 22:21

Well, you should take your small victory in knowing that at least this Scottish mum will be thoroughly reading the material tomorrow and writing an email about it. Thank you.

Original poster
Hagiography · 05/11/2023 09:21

Good to hear, DivorcingJack.

I'm thoroughly disheartened that they will just keep pushing this shit.

Ultimately the whole ideology needs to be challenged and rooted out. And then every piece of propaganda and every inaccurate and misleading piece of information has to be fixed.

The size of the task is quite daunting, to be honest!

OP posts:
MapleSyrupWaffles · 05/11/2023 09:55

In addition to the obvious issues with saying not all girls get periods, I'd like them to be a bit more realistic about what having a period is actually like, too - I know it's for 9-10 year olds and you don't want to scare them, but I had a lot more than a bit of pain or discomfort, and I couldn't do all the things I normally did because I was curled up in front of the toilet throwing up. I'd like to have been told what level of pain was normal, what a doctor could help with and how, things I could do to help myself - and also to have other people understand that periods can often be really quite painful. I know adults (both men and women) who don't believe that women can be that badly affected by periods, get migraines, get sick, faint, need a fair bit of pain relief etc, because they've never known women who do or because they aren't affected like that themselves.