The scale of the philosophical and political indoctrination of children in primary and secondary schools has again come to light through those exposing the resources provided by “Just Like Us”.

The group claims to be resourcing thousands of schools, stating on its website:

This year is set to be the biggest celebration of LGBT+ equality ever. More than 6,000 primary and secondary schools are now signed up to take part in School Diversity Week.

Their resources are to be used in all subject areas and for all ages from Early Years to Secondary. Diversity week started on Monday 26 June. 

Religion

One of the most disturbing features is how lessons provided by “Just Like Us”, show multiple videos of young liberal religious “ambassadors”, promoting a one-sided perspective of faith, sexuality and gender to young people. 

Same-sex sexual activity is prohibited by the historic, orthodox perspectives of all the Abrahamic faiths. Though some in each religion have argued for change, the accepted scriptures themselves, as well as the vast majority of adherents throughout their histories, are clear that — for example — same-sex activity is in opposition to the created order.

Yet children are being directed to believe that Jews, Muslims and Christians can be active in same-sex sexual relationships and accept transgender ideology.

With no contrasting religious perspective, young people will watch in an RE lesson an interview with a non-binary Christian who uses the pronoun they, a gay Muslim, a gay Jewish man, and a trans man who belongs to the Church of England.

Imagine being a pupil from an orthodox religious family being faced with this one-sided perspective. Does everyone have to be a complete ally to the ideology?

Children believe they should go along with the ideas presented to them by the adults around them. In these lessons pupils, from faith communities especially, are encouraged through their lessons to align to the LGBT values. Many do feel deeply disturbed and conflicted. The emphasis throughout is on making a safe space for LGBT people and their allies, with no space for disagreement. Certainly not disagreement from those with a faith perspective.

Early years children as young as 3 will sing about families using different names for same sex parents on their fingers. 

Daddy finger, daddy finger, where are you?

Here I am, here I am

How do you do?

Papa finger, papa finger, where are you?

Here I am, here I am

How do you do?

Brother finger, brother finger where are you?

Here I am, here I am

How do you do?

Sister finger, sister finger, where are you?

Here I am, here I am

How do you do?

Baby finger, baby finger, where are you?

Here I am, here I am

How do you do

In primary English lessons children will learn about a Victorian lesbian Anne Lister, otherwise known as Gentleman Jack, and how she used coded language to speak of her desires. The lesson plan for teachers explains:

Pupils learn about Anne Lister, a lesbian woman living in the 19th century. Anne created her own code so she could write honestly about who she was. Pupils get the opportunity to break Anne’s code, and create their own code.

They have increasing primary school role model teachers who are demonstrating how to hold mini Pride Days and Rainbow dress up days.

Lessons on LGBT issues are regularly prefaced by detailed discussions of “ground rules”. These essentially mean that any child who could raise any objection to the religious, sexual or gender viewpoint expressed in the lesson, through the videos they watch, or through the “Just Like Us” content to be delivered, would be sanctioned for expressing this objection. Before the gender ideology infused, LGBT education begins, teachers are told to make sure the pupils are clear that:

Hate speech, name calling, accusations, personal attacks, sarcasm, and other negative exchanges are forbidden and those using it will face the same sanctions as you would with all hate speech (e.g. racism)

In most schools the children will understand that this would mean suspension and exclusion. Secondary teachers have been recorded recently by pupils, castigating them for not aligning to the new orthodoxy, and saying how they will be dealt with severely. 

It is stated that the resources for secondary schools have been developed in collaboration with LGBT+ faith organisations Keshet, One Body One Faith, Hidayah and Quest. However, after browsing the resources, it is clear that these liberal and unorthodox groups only highlight religious practices that affirm LGBT lifestyles. They are doing little to tell children about the traditional view of marriage (one man and one woman for life) as taught by the major world religions. 

Political

In the secondary webinar resource on how to celebrate ‘Diversity Week’ the presenter, Robert Ward, is clear with the teachers, “We are going to be investing in politicians. We are going to be asking young people to be a rep in this as well. We are hoping this will be something that raises the profile of LGBT education.”

They have powerful financial backers and corporate partners, such as Tesco, Deloitte, Legal & General, JPMorgan Chase and Unilever, which help them achieve their aims for social change. They are also supported by the National Education Union.

This all goes to show that the teaching involved in Just Like Us is inherently political and inappropriate for schools.

The more that schools normalise “born in the wrong body” ideology, and teach how children can create their own identities from their feelings, the less safe our children become in school. The context of lesbian love in the primary school English lesson, and creating secret codes to communicate about love and sex, should ring alarm bells. The lack of any critical thinking from teachers who deliver these lessons, also leads to an unsafe environment, where any disagreement from the teachers or any pupils on safeguarding grounds is silenced.

There are an increasing number of organisations that are creating resources and visiting schools in order promote the LGBT agenda to children. What is most concerning about the Just Like Us resources is that they are often targeted specifically at faith schools after its research showed that a third of teachers have reported faith has been a “barrier” to discussing LGBT+ topics in school.

Many politicians and thinktanks are providing evidence to show just how damaging these ideologies promoted to children can be and how pervasive they have become in our schools. The New Social Covenant Unit, Sex Matters, and Policy Exchange to name but a few, have highlighted key safeguarding risks. 

For any of you as parents it may be a shock that the legal right to raise your children in accordance with your religious beliefs (a right which schools are required to take into account when producing resources and teaching on these topics) is being marginalised. Perhaps you might feel stirred to act upon this information by asking your school what their plans are for “Diversity Week”? Courageous parents have especially been supported through our work at Christian Concern to make formal complaints and even go to court to challenge the indoctrination of children. Could you stand with us to challenge this?