Comments? Call 0131 226 4378 or E-mail us |
Home
About the SPTC
Contact Us
Publications
Downloads
News
Infoshop
FAQ
Useful LinksBackchat Newsletter - Issue 81 - September 2004
In this issue
- Sex Education – the Facts
- Parents in Education
- Changes in primary teaching
- “KIDS BEHAVING BADLY” Conference 2004
- WATCH OUT … THINGS ARE CHANGING
- WWW.SPTC.INFO
- Your Questions Answered
- Ideas for your PTA/PA Events
- And Finally …..
|
In the light of recent alarming reports in the press about proposals to give
graphic sexual information to pre-school children, we would like to put the
record straight. In 2000/01, there was a thorough review of the sex education
policy and material to ensure that both were suitable and that parents were
fully involved. As a result of this, a short guide on Sex Education in
Scottish Schools was prepared for Parents and Carers. The opening section is
worth repeating. It states quite clearly that all schools are expected to provide sex education but in a way that “presents facts in an objective, balanced and sensitive manner within a framework of sound values”. It goes on to say that schools are expected to make sure that • sex education takes account of each child’s age, understanding and stage of development • they work in partnership with parents, and have simple, direct procedures in place for parents to raise concerns • they have a method of consulting with pupils • they respect the different cultural, ethnic and religious environment of the home and the different home circumstances and needs of all young people. The document goes on to add that “Great care is taken to emphasise the importance of relationships based on love and respect”. The guide is available from schools who can order copies for distribution from Learning and Teaching Scotland. If parents have any concerns, they should start by talking to the school, but parents do have a right to withdraw their children from sex education classes. However it is important to remember that many youngsters already say that they get information about sex from their friends. Whilst school sex education is objective, truthful and put in context, the “sex education” that youngsters pass on to each other is often more lurid. Moreover, the growing incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) means that it is important for children to have accurate information. Those of you who came to our conference last year will remember the presentation by Healthy Respect, a group that works in Lothian to improve the sexual health of young people. One of their main messages was that where children can talk to their parents about sex, they are more likely to behave responsibly and avoid unwanted pregnancies. However, it can be very hard for parents and children to talk. In their latest newsletter Parent:talk Healthy Respect highlight the case of a single parent, a father, who needs to talk to his daughter about periods. He joined a local group that was advertised through the school and was helped to overcome his natural embarrassment. School sex education is important not just because of the information it provides to youngsters but also because it often provides an opportunity for parents and children to talk together. If you have concerns, talk to the school about their sex education programme and maybe the PTA can help by setting up an information evening for parents. 
Contact Healthy Respect on: | |
|
Getting the links right between parents and schools is not easy. Many parents
complain about the little time they have at parent-teacher evenings whilst PTAs
often find that all they are allowed to do is raise money and hand it over to
the school. School boards were meant to be the answer but they involve very few
parents and spend much of their time discussing complicated official documents.
Now the Education Minister, Peter Peacock, has launched a new initiative aimed at every single parent. He wants all parents to get better information from the school. He highlighted as good examples a primary school where a home-link teacher visits parents in their own home and East Renfrewshire where the authority runs sessions designed to help parents understand and cope with teenagers. For its part the Scottish Executive plans a series of leaflets written in plain language that will explain to parents how they can help with their child’s homework and the importance of ensuring that their child gets to school on time. However, more practical action will be decided locally by authorities and individual schools. The policy is still at the planning stage but as it moves from theory to practice, it will be good to get feedback from members on what difference it is making to parents links with the school. | |
|
| |
|
Parents in primary school may have noticed that their children now regularly
have a second teacher for part of the curriculum - maybe sport, art or personal
and social education. This is because the teachers’ pay and conditions
agreement, (also known as the McCrone agreement) cut the contact hours for all
primary school teachers from 25 hours – which matches the pupil week – to 23.5
hours from August 2004 with a further cut to 22.5 hours planned for next year.
The total cut will be the equivalent to a half day and this has to be filled.
Many authorities are using the time to bring in specialist teachers and give the
youngsters more sport and/or art, music etc. Again feedback from you about the
impact the changes are having in your school would be welcome. | |
|
| |
|
Here’s a fundraising idea with a difference. Andy Hall has linked famous Scots
to their favourite places and produced a stunning book of photographs. He’s
willing to come to your school for a PTA fundraising event, talk about the book
and sell signed copies. Contact him on 01569 766532 or email:
aahall@btopenworld.com Website: www.asenseofbelonging.com | |
|
| |
|
Enclosed with the (paper) newsletter you will find a registration form for our
conference on Saturday 13th November. It should be an interesting and lively day
as the subject of pupil behaviour and discipline is constantly in the news and
can lead to very differing opinions. Come along and join in the discussion,
enjoy lunch and meet other parents and teachers. | |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
|
This is the address for our website which is changing and improving all the
time. New sections include: “SPTC In The News” - where you can access press articles involving SPTC SEED News - with all the latest from the Scottish Executive Search Facility – for a look around our Info Shop. We think our website
is a great place to look for ideas and to find answers to your PTA problems.
However, we would like more input from you. Do you have any tips or ideas for
other parents and schools? Here’s one from Chryston Primary PTA. | |
|
| |
| We have given this Question and Answer section over to questions on disability and the changes resulting from the new Disability Rights legislation. | |
|
Is your school open for all? | |
|
Q. My son has been refused admission to our local primary school because he has
epilepsy. The school has told us that they will not take him until he stops
having fits. What can I do? A. You may be able to argue that your son is being discriminated against under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA). Under the Act, education providers are not allowed to treat a disabled child less favourably for a reason related to their disability without justification. In your case, the “less favourably” treatment would be refusing him admission to the school. | |
|
Is your school willing to help your child? | |
|
Q. My daughter has severe asthma which is made worse by exposure to chalk dust
from blackboards. Her school has a number of classrooms with whiteboards. Can I
ask her school to change her classes to these rooms under the DDA? A. Arguably, yes. Under the DDA, education providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled pupils are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to their non-disabled peers. In this case, your daughter is being disadvantaged by the fact that she is having to use a classroom with a blackboard. It would seem a reasonable adjustment for the school to transfer her classes to rooms with whiteboards. | |
|
Enclosed with this (paper) edition of Backchat is a copy of the DRC guide for
parents which explains the above further. The DRC also provides a range of other
publications explaining more about the DDA and who is covered by it. These
publications can be downloaded for free from the DRC website at
www.drc-gb.org | |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
|
Printed & Published by:- Scottish Parent Teacher Council, 53 George Street,
Edinburgh, EH2 2HT Tel 0131-226 1917 or Tel/fax 0131-226 4378 Email: sptc@sptc.info Web site: www.sptc.info | |
Article 205 - published on 24 Sep 2004
Return