Nobody is asking for it, but that's not the purpose: the purpose is to stir up opposition.
I suspect a significant portion of the population will be indifferent to the proposal. At best, they'll shrug and say, 'Sure, makes sense if that's what's needed,' without bothering to think it through fully.
More liberally minded people react with justified opposition to the proposal. At that point, the Conservatives will rally the indifferent against 'the woke'. They hope to gain support by convincing people they have a common enemy.
Thank you. I really needed a good way to describe what i was seeing the current election cicle.
All these weird promises, bad ideas, sudden legislations i am seeing around are so detached from the problems i witness. Every time i see an ad for a party i want to vote for em less. Some of it even feels like it laughing in my face and taking the piss at us.
They are just doing what they want at this point!
Thank you!
Edit: This rant has little to do on the subject of sex education in the uk.
Inventing controversial non-solutions to non-problems in order to avoid discussing solutions to real problems that they themselves have caused or worsened, which would all, in some way, involve giving money to non-rich people or spending money on non-rich people, which they see as an egregious waste of money.
There's basically a hierarchy in political decision making.
Doing things that are good for the country.
Doing things that voters want.
Doing things your party wants.
1 should be the reason you get into politics in the first place because you want to make the world a better place. 2 is also super important, we live in a democracy and if you don't give people some of what they want you're not doing your job. 3 is basically day to day politicking. You throw red meat to members of the party so they continue to support you.
The Tory party is now so up their own arses that they only do 3 in the hope that they won't tear themselves apart. This is some random anti-woke bullshit, that will mean it's harder to catch and prevent child abuse, and kids can't learn basic biology. And it doesn't even appeal to what's left of their fanbase.
Certain parents are asking for this but the government is dumb/opportunistic for listening to them. Also seems strange to have a blanket ban when the complaints I've heard on the radio are about the teaching resources being used. Suspect that a blanket ban is an easier headline to understand for the people they want to pander to.
"These bloody schools want to teach 5 year olds about sex. Only parents should be allowed to choose what and when kids learn about this stuff".
Fantastic mate. So your teaching method will be "avoid the subject", then "vague religious murmurings" then finally "son learns about love and consent on his own from 4chan"
Obviously they think it's better to fill the newspapers with arguments about gender than about the cost of living crisis, Trussonimics, housing, the state of the NHS etc etc etc.
We had some sex education in primary school at age 9.
It told the girls that they're going to have periods. At age 9 some of them will be so I think this is a good idea. Parents were able to opt their kids out if they wished.
It told the group as a whole that puberty is a thing, and we might start it soon. Some changes might happen like body shape changes, voices getting deeper, hair growth etc.
None of it was about how to have sex, or how children are made. It was simple stuff that kids that age would benefit from knowing.
I don't understand why anyone would even be on the fence about their kids knowing this stuff.
What this country really needs to do right now is make sure that children are as vulnerable to sexual abuse as they can possibly be. Without some level of sex education to teach them what is absolutely not okay for an adult to force them to do they won't know that they should seek help and won't know how to describe what's happening if they do. Ideal for the paedophiles in power and their friends.
I think you can still teach children what is not okay without going fully into sexual education. Rules like don't let a stranger touch you, my private square and ensuring children can reach out to an adult for any reason at any time.
This doesn't need to fully cover the concepts of sexual intercourse or even the differences in sex/gender. Lessons like no one is allowed to touch chests or groins on anyone and no one is allowed to touch you anywhere without permission, can help set boundries without covering more sexually mature topics.
This is all sex education though. Nobody is saying you should be showing porn to toddlers, but age appropriate sex education comes from when they can speak. Names for body parts, the underwear rule, how a baby is born, this is all normal stuff you can teach pre-schoolers.
The Conservatives have heard about culture wars from their friends in the US, but they haven't quite grasped the fundamental principle that it has to be about something that anybody gives two hoots about.
Then they wander around been sad that their voting numbers are down, and they really can't work out why.
The BBC has not seen the new guidelines but a government source said they included plans to ban any children being taught about gender identity.
The National Association of Head Teachers has previously raised concerns the review is "politically motivated", saying there is no evidence to suggest a widespread problem with pupils being presented with age-inappropriate materials.
The review was announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak following concerns that some children were being exposed to "inappropriate content".
The government believes that clearer guidance will provide support for teachers and reassurance for parents.The proposals, which are expected to be announced on Thursday, will set out which topics should be taught to pupils at what age.
Under current guidance, external, it is down to primary schools to decide whether they need to cover any aspect of sex education to meet the needs of their pupils.
Last year more than 50 Conservative MPs wrote to the prime minister claiming children were being "indoctrinated with radical and unevidenced ideologies about sex and gender".Separate guidance published last year stated teachers should inform parents if their child wished to change their gender identity at school.
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