School trips have changed since my day…..

Smileless2012

I agree maddy our school trips and those our boys went on were always to do with the curriculum.

Yes, ours, the few that there were, were to do with the curriculum too.

Some of my DC's school trips seemed as if they were more for the benefit of the teacher/s in charge. One took her husband and child and ignored her pupils for most of the time.

My private school decided that year 5 (as was), age range 15-16 should go on a cruise around the Greek islands.

It was incredible. We spent most of the time running after Greek waiters whilst downing whatever alcohol we could get our hands on.

That was the only year they trip was offered. The year after ended up camping in the Lake District

Smileless2012

I agree maddy our school trips and those our boys went on were always to do with the curriculum.

But it is part of the curriculum at KS3 and KS4.
All pupils should receive teaching on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) relationships, and secondary schools should includeLGBTcontent in their teaching.

GrannyIvy

I’m with you Maddyone as well whatever is the school thinking of. We live in a crazy world these days.

I assume the school is thinking of broadening the children’s outlook, and with any luck normalising things to prevent prejudice.

The more I read of these disapproving messages the more I approve of these visits!

I’m sure parents can opt out, and of course their children are exactly the ones who would benefit most from the outing.

I think if you take a look at Visit London website you might be reassured. I don’t know what people are imagining but it’s not very controversial unless you truly believe that any sexuality other than heterosexual is inherently wrong.

There are some good openers for discussion on display like the door of Oscar Wilde’s cell in Reading Gaol or Alan Turing’s contribution to victory in WW2 and his subsequent shaming.

The overall ethos is of acceptance of who a person is and acknowledgement of all that “Queer” people have contributed to society, whilst having to hide their sexuality. Perhaps there are a few surprises sitting there for many people.

In regard to the age group, 11/12 years old is when most children are experiencing puberty and becoming aware of sexual feelings. It’s also when bullying about sexuality starts to come to the fore.

I think the visit is well-timed and hopefully will lead to discussion, not just about sexuality, but about being perceived as being ”different” in all sorts of ways.

Lathyrus3

I think if you take a look at Visit London website you might be reassured. I don’t know what people are imagining but it’s not very controversial unless you truly believe that any sexuality other than heterosexual is inherently wrong.

There are some good openers for discussion on display like the door of Oscar Wilde’s cell in Reading Gaol or Alan Turing’s contribution to victory in WW2 and his subsequent shaming.

The overall ethos is of acceptance of who a person is and acknowledgement of all that “Queer” people have contributed to society, whilst having to hide their sexuality. Perhaps there are a few surprises sitting there for many people.

In regard to the age group, 11/12 years old is when most children are experiencing puberty and becoming aware of sexual feelings. It’s also when bullying about sexuality starts to come to the fore.

I think the visit is well-timed and hopefully will lead to discussion, not just about sexuality, but about being perceived as being ”different” in all sorts of ways.

👏👏👏👏

Well said, Lathyrus.Best to find out what is being offered before jumping to conclusions.

Agree with Lathyrus3, this is a good idea, encourages children of this age group to be broad minded and tolerant as they enter puberty and their own sexuality becomes an important issue.
The lesson 'live and let live' is always worth repeating.

Maybe if it also included some balance in some way, rather than being a totally 'gay' day.

There are so many other things to see with gay content, rather than being exclusive, and seeing gay as 'other?'

Just shows how out of touch I am with children's education these days escaped.

keepingquiet

Maybe if it also included some balance in some way, rather than being a totally 'gay' day.

There are so many other things to see with gay content, rather than being exclusive, and seeing gay as 'other?'

Yes I’d agree with that. The museum of Medcine maybe. The Garden museum had a good exhibition of women gardeners - though maybe not for most 12 year olds😬 Pity Ballet Shoes has finished at The National. Lots of schools at the matinee performance. The Fondlng museum wouldn’t do them any harm

Rehabs they can’t go far from KingsCross

keepingquiet

Maybe if it also included some balance in some way, rather than being a totally 'gay' day.

There are so many other things to see with gay content, rather than being exclusive, and seeing gay as 'other?'

I think it’s not about “gay” content, rather than outlining the problems and issues historically and celebrating and accepting “differences”

I’m the parent of a gay son. I made clear in my post that children of twelve, and before twelve actually, should learn about gay people and different types of families. Of course they should because that is part of life today. For goodness sake, my grandson is being raised by two dads, and very well raised I may add. But that doesn’t make me think that a gay bookshop and a gay museum is a suitable educational outing for twelve year olds. These venues are for adults, not for children. It has nothing to do with Section 28, that’s gone and it’s not going to return because children haven’t visited adult venues such as a gay bookshop or a gay museum. We just need to understand that children do not need to experience such venues to know about gay people and families that are different.

Cossy

www.gaystheword.co.uk/

www.kingscross.co.uk/queer-britain

Maybe here are the two visits?? They are not sex shops

Yes, those are the two visits.

I went on a school trip to a Hare Krishna temple - which was pretty "out there" in 1973.

Well said maddyone. Age-appropriate this outing isn’t, imho.

The links don’t look unsafe or sexually explicit?

maddyone, those venues aren’t necessarily for adults. I think adolescents are allowed in, too.

Lathyrus3

keepingquiet

Maybe if it also included some balance in some way, rather than being a totally 'gay' day.

There are so many other things to see with gay content, rather than being exclusive, and seeing gay as 'other?'

Yes I’d agree with that. The museum of Medcine maybe. The Garden museum had a good exhibition of women gardeners - though maybe not for most 12 year olds😬 Pity Ballet Shoes has finished at The National. Lots of schools at the matinee performance. The Fondlng museum wouldn’t do them any harm

Rehabs they can’t go far from KingsCross

The Fondlng museum wouldn’t do them any harm.

Neither would the Foundling Museum, Lathyrus3 😉

Grandma70s

maddyone, those venues aren’t necessarily for adults. I think adolescents are allowed in, too.

To be fair, the bookshop does have a selection of children's books relating to the subject.
That's also why I asked about the musical "Everyone's talking about Jamie" because it is rated 13 years.
I wouldn't choose to take a group of Year 7s to these venues, I think it should be left to parents, but obviously some schools do see fit.

I’m not against this day trip per se but I’m with escaped here.
Too much, too soon. Seems we push these things on kids nowadays. Can’t childhood, a game of football or netball just be enough for a little while longer? Why this rush into learning about alternative types of sexual behaviours all of a sudden?
12 years old?
Must be me that’s out of step.

ixion

Lathyrus3

keepingquiet

Maybe if it also included some balance in some way, rather than being a totally 'gay' day.

There are so many other things to see with gay content, rather than being exclusive, and seeing gay as 'other?'

Yes I’d agree with that. The museum of Medcine maybe. The Garden museum had a good exhibition of women gardeners - though maybe not for most 12 year olds😬 Pity Ballet Shoes has finished at The National. Lots of schools at the matinee performance. The Fondlng museum wouldn’t do them any harm

Rehabs they can’t go far from KingsCross

The Fondlng museum wouldn’t do them any harm.

Neither would the Foundling Museum, Lathyrus3 😉

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Oh dear………

I agree too much too soon.

Maybe we try just a bit too hard in this country. Not just about this topic, but others such as mental health and climate change. It's good to inform but I question if we're going about it the right way. My grandsons are at a school where over half the children have been diagnosed with a mental health issue.

Our children are the least happy in Europe. Languishing at the bottom.

I'd like to know why.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I’m not against this day trip per se but I’m with escaped here.
Too much, too soon. Seems we push these things on kids nowadays. Can’t childhood, a game of football or netball just be enough for a little while longer? Why this rush into learning about alternative types of sexual behaviours all of a sudden?
12 years old?
Must be me that’s out of step.

Can I respectfully say that I think you are.

As I said, most are going through puberty at this age and along with that come feelings and questions about sexuality. Along with some (mostly self) exploration.

It’s not new. I can remember some of the conversations at Secondary school when I was 11. We might like to still think of them as children, but nature thinks otherwise.

I admit to being quite surprised, too.

Our GC went on ski trips and Disney trips - I'm pleased.