Pride in primary school

[Askingforafriend24]

Help me get my head around this. Primary school is making a huge deal about pride, and running a themed summer fair to celebrate. The whole school - kids and parents - are expected to get involved. Including an educational seminar for the parents that we are expected to attend!

I’ve been told point blank I am a dinosaur for questioning why there is such an emphasis on celebrating LGBTQ+ communities to a bunch of kids who probably don’t think about any of this stuff yet. There is already a carefully planned curriculum around all of this from the LA so I am confused as to why the school feels the need to go even further, particularly holding a massive event outside of school hours! I feel I have other things I would rather do with my Saturday morning, and I feel attending Pride events should be a choice for families to make for themselves.

One parent is no longer speaking to me because she was so horrified I even questioned the event - so hoping someone could come along with some advice.

Don’t get me started on sports day, when the kids all compete against each other (up until year 5) - which means the boys win pretty much everything and the girls come away empty handed. Again apparently I am ridiculous for daring to point out how unfair it is. Really fed up with it.

I'm fine with Pride being celebrated as long as the conversations are age-appropriate. Many of these children in primary school are already experiencing many of these topics in their lives, family or individually with same sex parents, family members, or personal thoughts. Even if you're gender critical, reminding children that love can be in many formats is a good thing.

I doubt attendance is MANDATORY, and they'll come after you if you don't attend, but if you're free and open, get involved, find out what they're going to cover, and allow students who might need support, education or reassurance to have that experience.

You're not wrong to question it, What are your concerns ?

What gay and trans materials are age appropriate for a.5 year old? I doubt that young children will understand very much in the education talks. And anyway what gives LBTQ etc the right to access other people's children and' 'educate' them?
OP, if you don't want to go, don't.

Primary school is for more than just 5 year olds, but even young children can learn what love looks like and that it can involve 2 mummies, or 2 daddies, or a mummy who love another lady, or similar.

And we ask schools to "educate" our children on a whole range of important social issues, including that love comes in many different forms. I also assume that the 5 year olds aren't sitting through a lecture, but instead are - as I suggested - participating in an age-appropriate learning activity.

But sure - OP don't go if you want - that is your choice.

I think that’s it. I think it feels a bit forced on us. And if I don’t agree completely I’m ridiculed.

the quality of education with the school on this area is actually very good. So I don’t see the need for an event I suppose.

Thanks for the POV btw!

'And we ask schools to "educate" our children on a whole range of important social issues'

Who are 'we'? I have not seen much demand from parents for this particular type of education. Quite the.contrary in fact.
We must disagree on the question of 5 year olds. Real education happens when pupils have the capacity to understand and engage with ideas. Anything else is indoctrination.

Personally I would reserve this issue until children start High School. They can think and question by that age unlike the tots in primary school.

I agree with you op, i think running a whole fayre for it is OTT and not something i’d be interested in attending at all, especially on a weekend!

Can you imagine a school running a fair to promote disability awareness? Or most businesses changing their logos to a particular colour for a month to highlight ageism/sexism? It's odd that LGBT+ has such a monopoly on diversity. Not very...diverse is it?

From my experience, LGBT education in primary schools tends to be focused on parenting rather than children’s own sexual orientation. So, lots of “all families are different” stuff which includes single-parent families, blended families etc. I’ve never seen anything inappropriate in any of the schools I’ve taught in.
In terms of sports day, I’ve always thought it was best practice to mix boys and girls before puberty because boys don’t have an advantage until that point. Girls and boys are equally fast or strong until testosterone kicks in properly.
I’m not necessarily saying you’re wrong, but I think you need to be really specific with what your concerns are when you raise them with the school. Otherwise, you could be dismissed as a bigot and your concerns not taken seriously.

To be clear, you think that same-sex relation ships should not be a part of primary school education?

Primary schools are full of heterosexual materials for 5 year olds. Every book with a mummy and daddy, every prince and princess fairy tale, every family tree showing male/female couples, every time a teacher mentions her husband or his wife, every reference to Mrs Claus, every time the children learn about weddings with a bride and groom. And most materials in school do not show any trans people. So gay and trans materials for 5 year olds would be a reading book featuring a family with two mums, a story where the prince married a man, a mention of how Uncle Joe was once Aunt Emily, a pretend wedding with two brides or grooms.

Thank you for your comment.

Isn't there a danger of 5-year-olds believing that people can change sex if they are presented with a book about "how Uncle Joe was once Aunt Emily"? Teaching children that what sex they are is some sort of personal choice is inappropriate. Children that young are likely to believe that it's true if the teacher presents it as fact.

I asked a specific question about something a PP had said. I didn’t mention pride.

What is bigoted about my question? Would you like to answer it?

Why don’t you think it is appropriate in schools? Or shops?

Did you know that gay people go to school. And shops. And are related to those that’s go to school. And that go to shops?

Why shouldn’t gay people (even if you are gender critical) have a time to make recognize their achievements. We have months to “celebrate” lots of minority groups. Do you have issues with them too?

Oh my gosh, you’re right. In a thread about pride, titled “Pride in primary schools” where most of us were focused on broader, and important conversations, you did focus unnecessarily on the one non-gender-critical comment in the whole thread.

I’ll save my bigot name calling for another thread.

Exactly you are so right !

I think a pride celebration is amazing,all.the children in same sex families,with same.sex siblings,aunts,uncles and cousins will be delighted to have a day to celebrate them and in a familiar and family setting.

Also may help someone who is struggling with their sexuality,a member of staff,a relative etc. To know you would be accepted and belong is great.

If the op is so homophobic probably better not going, not very nice on your children though who could potentially end up gay. And even If not sharing the outdated views.

This is nonsense about girls and boys. From the ages of 7/8 it’s obvious that the majority of boys are faster and stronger.

may help someone who is struggling with their sexuality,a member of staff

Why do you think children should be used as validation props for grown ass adults?

OP: don't worry too much about the people who are calling you a bigot and trying to shame you. They aren't the majority here but you posted after most sober sensible people had gone to bed.

If I were in your position I think I would tell the school that I am unsure about this post Cass and want to pause my DC education indoctrination on this matter until I believe they are old enough to understand and not be led to believe (wrongly) that they were born in the wrong body. Of course this in no way effects your support for others who are happy to go along. Cowards way out, adopt me for the week and tell them you're visiting your long lost aunt.

I don't know if you're aware of this but many children at both primary and secondary report not feeling included or represented feelings of confusion around their sexuality, ostracized etc.

It's so important to celebrate pride and not be too heteronormative. Sounds like the school are doing a great job. Nobody is forcing you to go along on a Saturday morning, you're making a big fuss over nothing

Are we back in 1988?!

Someone is "not speaking to" ie ostracising the OP for saying she didn't want to go along. That's an attempt to force her.
There is plenty school can do to make kids in diverse families feel accepted without making the summer fair about them.
OP did you say school fees? is that a private school?