RSS 2.0 FeedJanuary vol 30 2011, Featured Articles, Lifestyle Love & Sex
UK Children as young as FOUR to be taught about homosexuality under plans to 'celebrate gay community'c
Children as young as four are to be taught about homosexuality in maths, geography, science and English lessons.
Children as young as four are to be taught about homosexuality in maths, geography, science and English lessons.
In a Government-backed drive to ‘celebrate the gay community’, lesson plans for pupils have been drawn-up to raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual issues.
Geography students will be asked why homosexuals move from the countryside to cities, statistics students will use census data on the number of homosexuals in England and maths students will be given problems involving gay characters.
The LGBT vocabulary - which includes words such as ‘outing’ and ‘pride’ - will be incorporated into language classes.
And youngsters aged four will be exposed to images of same-sex couples and books such as ‘And Tango Makes Three’ which is about two male penguins raising a chick, inspired by events at New York’s Central Park Zoo.
Critics have labelled it an unnecessary use of resources and a distraction from the teaching of core subjects at a time when British pupils are tumbling down international league tables on maths, English and science.
Craig Whittaker, Conservative MP and member of the education select committee, said: ‘We are too far down the national comparative league tables in core subjects. Teachers should concentrate on those again.
‘This is not about being homophobic, because there are other schemes around the education which support the LGBT agenda.’
John O’Connell, of campaign group the TaxPayers’ Alliance, added: 'Parents will wonder if this is a right use of funds and time, particularly when we keep hearing how tight budgets are.’
Same sex: Geography lessons will explain why homosexuals move to cities and language classes will teach gay vocabulary (picture posed by models)
Funded with a £35,000 grant from education quango the Training and Development Agency for Schools, the plans will be launched next month at the start of LGBT History Month.
Although not compulsory, they are backed by the Department for Education and will be available for schools to download from the School Out website.
Leaders of the scheme issued a strong defence of the project.
Sue Sanders, from Schools Out, said: ‘All we are attempting to do is remind teachers that LGBT people are part of the population and you can include them in most of your lessons when you are thinking inclusively’
David Watkins, a teacher involved in the scheme, said: ‘when you have a maths problem, why does it have to involve a straight family or a boyfriend and girlfriend? Why not two boys or two girls?
‘It’s not about teaching about gay sex, it is about exposing children to the idea that there are other types of people out there.’
A Department for Education spokesman added: ‘These are optional teaching materials. It is for head and teacher to choose the most appropriate teaching resources to help promote equality and tolerance.’
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