Just Like Us - school assembly

[listsandbudgets]

Does anyone know anything about this charity? DS said they ran his school assembly yesterday and it seemed to be suggesting that lots of the boys would be happier as girls and they should all consider whether they were really happy as they were. They were also talking about gays and lesbians which DS does understand and accepts but the idea that it was OK to use the girls toilets or dress in skirts really seemed to upset him. He also said some of the boys were now talking about using the girls toilets and just telling the teachers they were now girls.

DS is year 7 (and young for the year) has some learning difficulties and came home rather distressed and confused. I want to take it up with the school but I'm not quite sure how. I don't think DS exaggerated but I do think (hope) that he might have misunderstood some of the ideas presented.

Feeling rather confused myself - I do think also that the school should have told us before running this type of assembly.

Ask the school. Don’t go in guns blazing / just say you have some questions.

This might be useful

https://safeschoolsallianceuk.net/2023/03/27/bad-rse-in-schools-where-is-the-evidence/

Do you have a mum friend who you can ask to maybe get a better idea of what was actually said before you go into school?

As for who to speak to at school, is there a pastoral lead or similar? If not then I’d start with his form teacher.

Wouldn't trust Just Like Us at all, the ITV journalist Paul Brand is a patron for the charity and probably explains why ITV News is very politically biased towards trans-rights etc.

Whenever I've heard the charity mentioned what usually follows is nonsense based off of gender-identity etc.

On the front page they’re telling schools to ignore government guidance

https://www.justlikeus.org/

i expect with mermaids in meltdown they’re seeing great business opportunities everywhere

What a load of grifters - there are at least 4 links to 'DONATE' on the front page alone. And it is remarkably light on content on what they actually do.

And the statement about ignoring guidelines is the biggest 🚩🚩

Take it up with the school by saying, "I'm not sure that the communication was clear in the assembly yesterday, because DS has come home saying he was told [description of what DS said]. What was the intended message of the assembly?"

Good suggestions.
Maybe start by asking some questions via an email - it's easier to be clear. Here are a few sideas for things you could ask:

State that your child came home with a number of questions following the assembly so you'd like some clarification about the following:
What did the presentation consist of?
What were the children told about gender identity?
What measures did the school take to ensure that the content was age appropriate and in line with the new draft guidelines on gender questioning children & the Cass Review?
How were the learning needs of children with learning difficulties accommodated, during or after the assembly?
How is the assembly being followed up in school?
Where can you see the curriculum materials that will be used for any further discussion with year 7 about gender identity?

Then see what they say?
Schools have a legal duty to be politically impartial and activist groups of any type should only be working with children as part of a balanced curriculum. Children aren't in schools to be lectured or gaslit by political activists. It's one of the reasons the government have issued these new guidelines:

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2023/12/19/gender-questioning-children-guidance-schools-colleges/

A different link to the excellent Safe Schools Alliance for parents talking to schools:
https://safeschoolsallianceuk.net/schools-resources-and-policies/

Well, when you make your money from presentations on 'gender questioning children' it makes good business sense to inject 'gender questioning' into kids assemblies.

OP in case it helps, the Lords Minister said yesterday that schools should not ignore guidance, statutory or otherwise:

hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2024-02-22/debates/C09385A4-8F5E-4D2D-9BEB-7909D1AE1B6B/SchoolsGender-QuestioningChildren

That was in a debate / question on guidance out to consultation but the principle applies. And there is certainly other guidance on impartiality that applies:

www.gov.uk/guidance/plan-your-relationships-sex-and-health-curriculum

KJK has just done a video about them.

https://www.youtube.com/live/96Isphll-k?si=fJfDJIb2S3dAYC9

They have been taking their legal advice from the right side of history lawyers haven't they!

Thank you - the more I look at it, the less comfortable I am

We did get something at the start of the year saying there would be sex education and we could withdraw them if we wished but it didn't say anything about changing gender which I do not regard as sex education. Sure LGB - fine.. but how and why the T and Q were added bothers me - I mean are they going to move onto teach about the Q... what should I expect next?

DS tends to take things very literally so may have missed some of the nuances - he tends towards logical subjects like maths, science, music etc. and actually used hte words "mum the assembly was illogical"

I will use the weekend to compose a non confrontational email to school based on @MrsOvertonsWindow ideas.

Parents have far more power than we realise OP. To be fair to schools, the government initially promoted this and have funded countless organisations before the awful levels of social contagion became apparent with thousands of children now believing that their developing bodies are wrong and can be fixed with a sex change.

These organisations have been making a lot of money out of gaslighting children and won't give up that income without a fight. So they're busy telling schools the new guidance is illegal and to ignore it. Which is why parents need to speak out and use the focus on safeguarding children, schools being politically impartial and not selling a contested belief like gender identity as a fact to children.
Good luck.

Can you just go in with a plain factual report of what your DS has told you
about the assembly and what the other boys said afterwards, and how he
feels now? He is distressed and confused by what he was told, he believes he
was told he would be happier as a girl, and he heard the other boys say they are using it as an excuse to misbehave. You can tell the school so.

An assembly about sexuality or gender or whatever should be age appropriate and leave children informed and reassured. So if the assembly has confused and distressed your son then it was pretty clearly inappropriate and now the school needs to put that right, they need to explain things properly to your son and reassure him.

And if the assembly was presented by someone from outside them maybe the school should reconsider whether to use that organisation in future - but I would leave that for a future meeting.

And I wish the school luck explaining gender identity nonsense to your DS. But do ask them to do it. That should be enough to stop them ever running that assembly again!

To be honest I’d play them at their own game.

The NHS website suggests that gender dysphoria (a mismatch between sex and GI) is rare but can be very distressing for a child. It also suggests a child struggling should visit their GP to be able to access further support.

Is this what this organisation were suggesting? It seems that’s not what your son nor the other children have picked up.

I think this lot did a zoom presentation in the school where i work. I remember bei g told we absolutely could not photograph or video the session for the safety of the speakers who were taking part - as if they were russian spies or sonething!

There was a load of neopronoun nonsense - the single sex boys class i was supervising were very clear that they thought it was a load of bollocks

I also find it interesting when you click on "who we are" on the website, the bard of trustees gives no information other than names (and pronouns obvs). Nothing about qualifications, background, education. So nothing to suggest any experience or expertise in this area. When someone comes to do a talk on drugs or personal safety or whatever, we are told of their training/qualifications. It just seems like anyone can set up as an LGBTQ+ expert

Sounds like they’re trying to create gender dysphoria, not cure it.

. Lots of good advice on this thread. I'm a teacher and parents really do have more power than us on this. Please do challenge the school.

he […] actually used hte words "mum the assembly was illogical"

You’re perhaps fortunate that your son is too logical to accept the inconsistent faith-based beliefs they were telling him. Other children will have taken it all in without questioning it.

Please do contact the school. Maybe start with open questions about what the children were taught, can you see the materials please, as your son was confused when he came home.

Once you know what was taught, then you can address it.

Good luck.

Here's the entry at the Charity Commission.
Just Like Us sends recent LGBT school leavers into schools to give talks and workshops that champion LGBT equality and challenge prejudice. Our national initiative, School Diversity Week, empowers pupils to run events that tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. We also train teachers to support students in establishing Pride Groups, student-led clubs for LGBT students and allies
https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1165194&subId=0

Trustees
https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5067730/trustees

Here's one of the trustees.
https://www.chrispaouros.com/about