Our school PCSO did a presentation about ‘Hate’. It included hard-hitting images and descriptions of worrying situations, such as racial harassment. Next there was a pretty animation all about the “correct” language to use around transgender children who had changed sex. The class are nine and ten year olds. They have only just stopped believing in The Tooth Fairy! They took it all in as truth. Why wouldn’t they? A policeman was presenting it!
I spoke to him afterwards about my concerns. He said that they had had complaints from other school parents. He said that he and his colleagues did not agree with it and he had had to confirm that The Head was ok with it. He pointed out that he had not commented on the cartoon with the children, but had simply moved on to the next topic. I felt angry. I wondered if The Head realised what was going to be presented? I felt that parents should have been consulted first.