School trips have changed since my day…..

maddyone

^recognising and acknowledging gay rights, gay history and gay families is NOT sexualising it!^

Quite correct.
So what is the visit to the gay bookshop supposed to achieve? To my mind, discussion of gay relationships is what is important. It’s important that children know and understand that gay people exist, and families exist where the parents are gay, and that everyone, no matter what their sexuality should be treated with respect. This is ideally taught through discussion, normally under PSHE. I cannot see what going to a gay bookshop will do to enhance this since all schools now have books about same sex parents on their shelves anyway, and these books will have been chosen for the suitability.
No one has told me how a visit to a gay bookshop will in any way enhance the children’s learning, nor the objectives for such a visit. It is important to recognise that the books in any shop cannot be vetted for suitability for the children in that age group.

I can only hazard a guess that this trip is to mark/celebrate Gay Pride Month, in much the same way as Black History Month.

The bookshop visit will highlight som great gay authors.

I guess this OP will have to ask her DGC school of the purpose behind this trip.

The novella Death in Venice by Thomas Mann is a blast from the past for me on here. So beautifully written, exploring the themes of obsession and desire through one character's head. I had to study it (in German) for my German degree in 1980s, but hardly any emphasis was put on the homosexual content of the story, or I wasn't so aware at that age!
I'm guessing that the visit to the shop might go completely over the head of some pupils or it might enlighten a few and make them more tolerant. Different children will take away different things from it.
I'd be interested to see the hopefully meaningful preparation and follow-up around this visit in order to observe its relevance.

Yes, Death in Venice is beautifully written. I loved it. And the beauty of youth so carefully expressed.

You could, of course argue that he is a paedophile though...
I confess that has only just occurred to me.
😟

Grandma70s

nanna8

I had a bit of a laugh, David . You are so right. Our ‘sex education’ was the biological life of rabbits . The teacher told us humans were similar. That was it. My smart friend whispered that they were ‘at it’ all the time, weren’t they ?

Our school sex education in the 1950s was about rabbits, too. We liked to make the teacher blush by asking about human reproduction. We didn’t even get as far as being told humans were similar to rabbits! Luckily I had enlightened parents so I knew the ‘facts of life’.

We disected a rabbit I can’t remember whether it was male or female no discussion on reproduction beyond biological facts. There was very little interaction between boys and girls apart from the odd couple snogging behind the bicycle sheds.
We all knew about queers, the dodgy scout master and the Christine Keeler affair, lots of sniggering and vulgar jokes about that.

There was one big incentive to obey the rules, the Deputy Head, everyone respected him, he administered the cane when needed. We were just kids obeying instructions - mostly

I don't think this trip is worthwhile at all. Young people today tend to be far more accepting of differences as they see them in their daily lives. My grandchildren know and are friends with others who are different from them. They grow up with them and it doesn't matter what their religion, colour or sexual preferences are. They are just friends.
I think this trip will just accentuate differences.

One in ten UB40 was about the Thatcher government , the policies at the time the unemployment and suicide rates I don't think it was actually about gay people, a brilliant song.

The letter from the school says that pupils may want to buy a book at the bookshop, so they should take enough money.

I don’t have to ask the school about the purpose of the trip. It’s obvious - it’s to educate and broaden the mind.

Heidithecat

One in ten UB40 was about the Thatcher government , the policies at the time the unemployment and suicide rates I don't think it was actually about gay people, a brilliant song.

You're absolutely right

I have already said that my granddaughter has a gay uncle, so she knows that gay people are perfectly ordinary and normal.

I think most children are well aware that there are gay people. They will have gay relatives, gay friends. Seen it on tv,social media etc etc. Love is all around, love is all around!

I was aware at a very early age. My grandma lived in a flat in Twickenham. Her neighbours across the way were 2 men who I absolutely adored. I'd go over there and they would bake amazing cakes and read me stories, just a generally nice pair of guys. My mum loved them as well we'd go off for walks together. Mum explained they were just like her and Dad and happy together . Of course it didn't bother me one bit

I have 4 teachers in my family. I've heard their views on teaching different age ranges. And the truth of the matter is a lot of kids aren't always keen on their teacher. Also more than a few children will talk about how they have a teacher who is trying to be cool and trendy. Maybe that works for some.

Upthread someone made an excellent comment. A class of children will have many personalities. Some will be disinterested, some keen to learn, others not really liking the message. Or making out they don't like the message. They might really dislike the teacher so anything taught by them will not be listened to.

I hope your grandchildren have a great time! Grandma70s

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Who said DEI is dead? Not in the UK. The teachers haven’t got the memo.

What is DEI?

One of the more interesting trips I went on was to The Staffordshire County Show. 1960. I remember free samples of Birds frozen Fresh Cream Sponge cake and sitting on a swing seat. Oh and meeting some young soldiers who were there on a recruiting trip. We were fifteen years old.

All school trips need to be justified because by taking pupils out of school for one subject, they are missing their normal lessons. On a fortnightly timetable they could be missing a chunk of ( for example) Art, DT, PE, or several shorter lessons of Maths, French, Science etc. In Year 8 they are probably taught in forms, but if not, they miss what the other pupils are being taught in those missed lessons. So in my view the trip has to be important and well-considered.
Personally I wish every pupil had the chance to learn to play an instrument: not only is music life-enhancing in itself, it teaches them to work together, to listen to each other, involving maths skills, co-ordination, harmony, diversity….

My granddaughter will be missing one lesson. I don’t know which one. The trip is in the afternoon and finishes about 5.30. I think that’s fine.

She plays a musical instrument (2, actually) as well, Cabbie21!!

I'm guessing that there is an influential gay element among the staff at that school. I don't really see the point of that school trip.
I've enjoyed other posters' memories of their school trips. Our big treat after O level was a visit to the local pork processing factory, from squealing piggies at one end to sausages at the other. It was actually highly educational to realise how some of our food was made. Landscape too!

Not landscape. Lardicake!

Romola

I'm guessing that there is an influential gay element among the staff at that school. I don't really see the point of that school trip.
I've enjoyed other posters' memories of their school trips. Our big treat after O level was a visit to the local pork processing factory, from squealing piggies at one end to sausages at the other. It was actually highly educational to realise how some of our food was made. Landscape too!

I would have hated that! Squealing piggies to sausages. No!

Romola

I'm guessing that there is an influential gay element among the staff at that school. I don't really see the point of that school trip.
I've enjoyed other posters' memories of their school trips. Our big treat after O level was a visit to the local pork processing factory, from squealing piggies at one end to sausages at the other. It was actually highly educational to realise how some of our food was made. Landscape too!

I dont assume that only gay people care about gay history, the care of gay children in their school, the significant history of change to a point - I hope - that what happened to say Turing, that wonderful mathmetician - would never happen again in the UK,
....understanding that accepting our gay friends and relatives in the way we do would result in other countries for them to get the death penalty - an important part of our history and geography - great idea to do the visits as I'm sure the school is imaginative and has other visits on other historical matters.

Diversity. Equality. Inclusion. Daddima.

Heidithecat

One in ten UB40 was about the Thatcher government , the policies at the time the unemployment and suicide rates I don't think it was actually about gay people, a brilliant song.

I’ve been ‘wrong’ for years then Heidithecat so thank you! 😁

David49

Way back in the 1960s there was no sex education at all, surprise, surprise most of us managed to navigate the dating and relationship challenges. 60 yrs later I see nothing that has changed for the better, in fact behavior and wellbeing has got considerably worse.
It was an ordinary state high school, there was never any sexual harassment of girls, now everything has to be sexualized from an early age - progress?.

I don't think that is true. Lots of people didn't navigate relationships and there was a lot of sexual harassment and even abuse of girls (especially from male teachers)

Just at my ordinary state high school
- the headteacher was forced out after the tabloids broke news of him sleeping with a pupil (despite being married with children).
- a teacher was later convicted of sexual abuse involving pupils
- another teacher was in a relationship with a 5th former but she left the school at 16 so it was hushed up
- a girl in my class left at 15 to have a baby
- another girl left at 15 for marriage
. harassment was common

Romola

I'm guessing that there is an influential gay element among the staff at that school. I don't really see the point of that school trip.
I've enjoyed other posters' memories of their school trips. Our big treat after O level was a visit to the local pork processing factory, from squealing piggies at one end to sausages at the other. It was actually highly educational to realise how some of our food was made. Landscape too!

Was there an influential pig element among the staff at your school, squealing against being eaten perhaps.

Heidithecat

One in ten UB40 was about the Thatcher government , the policies at the time the unemployment and suicide rates I don't think it was actually about gay people, a brilliant song.

Yes, Heidithecat it was a protest song. Maybe you are thinking of another song FriedGreenTomatoes?
It spoke of the housewife hooked on Valium, the dole queue, malnutrition, homelessness.

I would guess the 1 in 10 were the nameless people who had become a number:
I am the one in ten
A number on a list
I am the one in ten
Even though I don't exist
Nobody knows me
Even though I'm always there
A statistic, a reminder
Of a world that doesn't care

This was about the time of her "no such thing as Society" speech.

Apologies. Started typing, went away and now see that in my absence this point has been raised.
Sorry

No worries NotSpaghetti repetition helps seal information in my brain. 😁