School trips have changed since my day…..

I’m a bit more comfortable with school trips when the educational side is really clear and the kids actually get involved. Some of the newer trips can be a bit more controversial depending on the topic, whereas I’d personally rather see them come away having learned something practical.

That’s why I’ve always liked Wild Science for this sort of thing. Their sessions are built around experiments and animal encounters, so the kids aren’t just being taken somewhere, they’re actually doing and learning something along the way.

Grandma70s

Allira

maddyone

Good grief Cold, you went to an interesting school! We had none of the things you mention happen at my all girls school. However the girls did speculate about the history teacher and the geography teacher who always arrived at school and left school together. It was rumoured they were lesbians, but I’ve no idea if that was the case. I imagine if true, the staff would have realised, but probably none of them mentioned it, as that wasn’t done in polite society in the 60s.

I’m glad society is more open open now.

Oh yes, we knew two of our teachers were a couple; that was the 1950s/60s. They shared a home.

In my youth, it was quite usual for two women, teachers or others, to share a home for financial reasons. They were not necessarily gay. I don’t think it was so common for two men to share a home.

I know of two women today who live together, and were absolutely furious when some official referred to them as partners..

People do live together, young children probably think nothing of people's sex lives as young children don't know or think on sex.

They were a couple.

Allira

maddyone

Good grief Cold, you went to an interesting school! We had none of the things you mention happen at my all girls school. However the girls did speculate about the history teacher and the geography teacher who always arrived at school and left school together. It was rumoured they were lesbians, but I’ve no idea if that was the case. I imagine if true, the staff would have realised, but probably none of them mentioned it, as that wasn’t done in polite society in the 60s.

I’m glad society is more open open now.

Oh yes, we knew two of our teachers were a couple; that was the 1950s/60s. They shared a home.

In my youth, it was quite usual for two women, teachers or others, to share a home for financial reasons. They were not necessarily gay. I don’t think it was so common for two men to share a home.

I know of two women today who live together, and were absolutely furious when some official referred to them as partners..

maddyone

Good grief Cold, you went to an interesting school! We had none of the things you mention happen at my all girls school. However the girls did speculate about the history teacher and the geography teacher who always arrived at school and left school together. It was rumoured they were lesbians, but I’ve no idea if that was the case. I imagine if true, the staff would have realised, but probably none of them mentioned it, as that wasn’t done in polite society in the 60s.

I’m glad society is more open open now.

Oh yes, we knew two of our teachers were a couple; that was the 1950s/60s. They shared a home.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

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

If only it was that straightforward for mine!!

Well, I think some have entirely forgotten their history and the fact that LGBTQ people lived throughout it. For example, Berlin had a thriving LGBTQ community and the first ever clinic for the treatment of trans people until Hitler burnt it to the ground. In fact we see rather a few similarities between the time of Hitler and modern day problems when we remember. How Hitler used newspapers to spread fear and hatred of minority groups. How he removed citizenship from those born in germany and threw them in concentration camps. He took away women's reproductive rights. Similar to what we are seeing in today's world news I fear. Something to consider.

Good grief Cold, you went to an interesting school! We had none of the things you mention happen at my all girls school. However the girls did speculate about the history teacher and the geography teacher who always arrived at school and left school together. It was rumoured they were lesbians, but I’ve no idea if that was the case. I imagine if true, the staff would have realised, but probably none of them mentioned it, as that wasn’t done in polite society in the 60s.

I’m glad society is more open open now.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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! 😁

Diversity. Equality. Inclusion. Daddima.

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.

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!

Not landscape. Lardicake!

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!

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!!

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….

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.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

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

What is DEI?

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

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