Sat 25 May 2024:
In a significant move, the government of England has proposed that gender identity will not be included in school curriculum for children up to the age of 18. This comes amidst growing concerns surrounding transgender issues in the UK and beyond.
The decision follows a notable review that emphasized “extreme caution” regarding the prescription of hormone treatments for young individuals dealing with gender identity concerns. Notably, England’s inaugural gender identity development service for children, overseen by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, shut down in March amid prolonged criticism for its alleged hastiness in administering puberty-blocking treatments.
Outlined in the newly drafted guidance released on Thursday, the proposed measures aim to exclude the “contested theory of gender identity” from educational instruction for students of all ages, as stated by the Department for Education.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said the measures were aimed at making sure children were “not exposed to too much too soon, taking away the innocence of childhood.
“That is why this updated guidance includes clear age limits for the teaching of the most sensitive content and specifies that the contested topic of gender identity should not be taught,” she wrote in the guidance document.
Since 2020, sex education has been compulsory in secondary schools in England, which teach children from the age of 11.
Harriet Cass, the retired paediatrician who led the four-year review into gender identity services, called the “toxicity” of the debate “exceptional”.
“At secondary school (11-18 years) pupils will learn about legally ‘protected’ characteristics, such as sexual orientation and gender reassignment,” said the Department for Education statement.
“But the updated guidance is clear that schools should not teach about the concept of gender identity.”
‘Inappropriate’ content
The proposals will also ban sex education for children under the age of nine following concerns about some of the materials being used in schools.
“Parents rightly trust that when they send their children to school, they are kept safe and will not be exposed to disturbing content that is inappropriate for their age,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in the statement.
“That’s why I was horrified to hear reports of this happening in our classrooms last year,” he added.
Suicide prevention
The updated guidance also incorporates more information on suicide prevention and the dangers associated with accessing online content that promotes self-harm.
The prevalence of harmful material on the internet was brought to attention in the UK following the tragic death of 14-year-old schoolgirl Molly Russell in 2017.
The government’s fresh proposals will undergo a nine-week consultation period and will become legally binding once finalized.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
______________________________________________________________
FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:
WhatsApp CHANNEL
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22
TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent
FACEBOOK (CLICK HERE)
https://web.facebook.com/ipindependent
YOUTUBE (CLICK HERE)
https://www.youtube.com/@ipindependent
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
