Should the PARENTS of school children be taught about diversity?

extreme_one

A head teacher in Birmingham is calling on the education secretary to intervene as her school faces a backlash for teaching students about gay relationships.

"It seems at the moment that some of the parents - and it's only a few of the parents - are worried that younger children, so maybe nursery and reception children, shouldn't be told that some people have two mummies.

"I'd say that some people do have two mummies, some people do have two daddies just as some people are black, white, Buddhist, female, male and that is what the Equality Act is about."

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We want children to know that there are many types of people, and relationships - that's why we are making relationships education compulsory in all primary schools from 2020.

"This will ensure pupils are taught the building blocks needed for positive and safe relationships of all kinds - starting with family and friends - and how to treat each other with kindness, consideration and respect.

"We trust headteachers to make the decision as to what is and is not appropriate for their pupils to learn, and to engage with parents on this where they are required to do so."

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/lessons-about-gay-relationships-spark-protests-outside-birmingham-sch...

Should the parents of school children be taught about diversity?

k89bpa

Absolutely.

vickyjakesmum

Yes they flippin should, I'm amazed at how narrow minded some people are. They should teach about acceptance too.

Without getting into religious issues, a lot of it is down to following a certain path.

zakrs

@extreme_one you know I'm on the fence with this one. Parents yes but I'm not sure about children as there is a very fine line between acceptance and possible...promotion and that I would not like to happen.

Don't get me wrong, If my daughter said to me that she is gay I wouldn't mind at all. But if she was going to promote homosexuality at school (as a teacher) I wouldn't be happy.

extreme_one

@zakrs by promotion?

For myself I know that no amount of promotion would have changed my feelings.

And for what it's worth, I can't imagine any teachers I've ever met, deciding they would use their influence to persuade children one way or another about their sexuality.

nefarius

Is making people aware of "homosexuality" promoting it?
I did Geography at school. I didn't feel like they were promoting it!

slarti

@extreme_onewrote:
Should the parents of school children be taught about diversity?
Wouold they listen as they think it is against their religion?

slarti

@extreme_onewrote:
And for what it's worth, I can't imagine any teachers I've ever met, deciding they would use their influence to persuade children one way or another about their sexuality.
I suspect that I am older than you, which is why I certainly do remember teachers denouncing homosexuality in school assemblies and RE lessons. Especially when the 1967 Act was in the news.

giffin

Should we be happy that the state inteferes more and more with how parents what children bringing up?

nefarius

Oops, wrong thread.

k89bpa

GGK-0326-0951
> Do you think your sexuality could have been influenced @extreme_one, I'm not entirely convinced that all that stuff is down entirely to nature anymore.
When the NHS stuff forced me to look back on my life the conclusion was that the lack of an innate "identity" and the lack of willingness to "develop" one has definitely allowed all of that kind of stuff to be influenced by outside factors.
My supposed gender was defined at birth and then redefined before I was a teenager, not by me but by those around me, and tagged in with that obviously was my sexuality.
My whole life people have kinda assigned "identities" to me and I've just gone along with it for the most part because doing so hasn't caused me any issues internally or externally.
And this is true to such a degree that I even allowed others to instigate body modification to a certain degree, (although I drew the line at what I personally considered mutilation).
I know that doesn't correspond with conventional wisdom and developmental psychology, which makes me wonder if I'm just plain weird or missing some kind of functionality which everyone else is born with, but at the same time, if I'm like that, how many more might be and might also just be playing along because doing so causes them no consternation or harm?
In terms of whether kids should be taught diversity, I'm still kinda torn which is why I haven't answered. I think it comes naturally to kids and that is helped by natural exposure, so I'm not sure "teaching" it would either work or be the best for them. On the other hand, for kids growing up around prejudice...
Again though, looking at my own experiences, I was definitely prejudice once upon a time thanks to the attitude of many adults around me and literally all it took to stop that was one positive experience with someone "different", (my first), and that was enough to completely eradicate thoughts along those lines and they've never returned.
That again leaves me wondering, is that typical or is it an exception.
I dunno, I keep going back and forth on the other thread.

zakrs

Problem is that I think it can...
I need to go to work now.

monkey_for_sale

@extreme_one on this one. "For myself I know that no amount of promotion would have changed my feelings." Ditto

nefarius

How is making someone aware of homosexuality promoting it? They teach about heterosexuality regards birds and bees. What's the difference? @zakrs

inandout2

I think that it should be made aware in schools, just like any other curriculum subject. But I am aware as I live not far from the school in question, that it is more of a cultural and religious objection. All of this can cause some very awkward questions. The fact that homosexuality is not illegal can in its self cause an offence of homophobia. But I doubt very much that there will be any convictions due to the Culture and religious beliefs involved.
This causes another problem, which can only be seen as one rule for them and another rule for us.
Will the parents be prosecuted for not sending their children to school, I doubt it, but you may be if you take your child on holiday in term time.
Questions, questions, questions.

extreme_one

@zakrswrote:
Problem is that I think it can...
I need to go to work now.
Sounds about as plausible as "pray the gay away" to me.

djgizzouk

@extreme_one put a bus on and take all the parents to a gay bar or send them all to a drag show ... how will they ever intergrate if they are not encouraged

extreme_one

lol @djgizzouk I think that might be taking things a bit far. Mind you, I bet they'd have the night of their lives!

djgizzouk

@giffin if this problem isnt tackled people could be attacked and killed for being who they are ... and is possibly already happening.. thats not what we want

djgizzouk

@nefarius iv never seen a stop promoting geography placard... or demonstration lol