Headteacher, step down, listen to parents theres no way that people of faith will teach that its ok to be gay, because the bible tells us it isnt 0k to be gay. For the last few months, ive reported on protests outside two Primary Schools in birmingham. Let kids be kids now, im going to meet other people of faith who feel the state is stamping on their freedom to practise what they believe. If i start to teach Sex Education, parents will withdraw their children. This is Queensbridge Primary School in east london. Our mothers house was always alive with music. Sometimes our mothers would put on old rocknroll records and all of us would dance to them. These nine and io year olds are discussing different types of families. Love, happiness, children. I put a grandma and a grandad. Lesbian, gay families, they are very important too. At the moment, its up to schools to decide exactly how they teach children about sex and relationships. Here, that means learning some families have lesbian and gay parents. What we are doing is empowering children to understand that, when they grow up, they are going to need to be around a diverse range of people. Theres lots of different families in this school. We have got children who have got same sex parents and we represent them in our lessons. But from september 2020, as part of new compulsory relationships education, the government wants all Primary Schools in england to teach about same sex couples. What does homophobia look like to you . Theyre saying he is stupid and stuff because he is gay. They are scared of gay people. That means they are homophobic. Many mainstream religious leaders have given their stamp of approval to education like this. Parents, governors, step down but that doesnt mean that its popular with all parents. Andrew moffat is the assistant headteacher at Parkfield Community school in birmingham. Most of the children here come from muslim families. He introduced a Teaching Programme called no outsiders. It uses story books to reflect differences in society, including race, religion and same sex families. I was definitely an outsider. As a young, gay child growing up in the 80s, it was a very scary time and there was a lot of bullying. It would have really helped me to have books that told me it was ok to be different. I wanted to find a way for Primary Schools to teach about equality but in a way that no one was left out. As a teacher, ive always loved using picture books. You can hang a lesson on a picture book. Youre talking about the characters in a book, rather than our own experience. On the face of it, some might question why the materials being used are controversial. Elmer is one of the books. Its about a multicoloured elephant who looks different from all the other elephants. In others, its perhaps more obvious. Theres this one, my princess boy, about a boy who likes to wear girls clothes. And theres this one here. King and king. And this one is about two princes who fall in love. No outsiders, or versions of it, is being used by schools across the country. Weve had four years of not a whisper of complaint. Its gone extremely well. In fact, weve had parents involved in no outsiders lessons for four years, where theyve come in and joined in. Its been fantastic. But, then, in february, after several parents complained, protests began at parkfield school. Sometimes including children. We want education, not indoctrination. The programme designed to encourage tolerance instead brought conflict. We are entitled to our moral values, which we have held here in this community for decades. Parents complained that including same sex relationships as part of equality education went against their beliefs. But there were also rumours that the school was teaching children about gay sex. The book we use in reception that touches on lg bt is mummy, mama and me. Its just about another family, two mums and their child. We teach children you can be who you want to be and you can be yourself. In february, the government laid out new guidance for relationships and Sex Education. From 2020, Primary Schools will have to teach children about relationships, and that can include same sex couples. It says all teaching of the new curriculum must be sensitive and age appropriate, with respect to the backgrounds and beliefs of pupils and parents. The guidance was changed because the world has changed. We want children to grow up understanding that some people are different, some relationships are different from what they may have experienced, but all are valuable. We trust individual schools, individual headteachers, to know their cohorts of children and to determine how and when to address what can be obviously sensitive subjects. But despite the governments support for equality teaching, weve learned that parkfield, the school at the heart of the protests, felt it was getting a very different message. We have seen several emails and letters between the school and the department for education. They make clear that parkfield felt it was put under immense pressure by officials at the department to suspend its no outsiders programme, even though the trust which runs the school didnt want to. This letter from the school says, the dfe would like us to stop our teaching of equality, to make this issue disappear. One minute, youre saying equality is non negotiable and the next, your officials are telling the school to suspend its Equality Programme. Is that not sending mixed messages . Well, im not aware of any such suggestion. I dont think any child should have to walk past a protest to go to school. I dont think any teacher should have to walk past a protest to go to school. People should not be protesting outside schools. And im pleased that, in the case of the school you mentioned, that did stop. The department for education have since told us that pressure wasnt put on parkfield to stop teaching about equality. It says any suggestion the dispute should be kept out of the media was simply intended to bring an end to the protests and encourage consultation. The no outsiders programme is yet to be reinstated. Theres no doubt in my mind that, once parkfield had suspended its no outsiders Equality Programme, it gave an impression to people that, actually, if they turned up outside of a school with loud hailers and protests, that other schools would back down too. I think that was a fatal mistake. A few miles away, at anderton park Primary School, they also use books about same sex parents as part of their Equality Programme. Listen to parents she comes home and says, why dont i have two mummies . Why dont i have two daddies . How are we meant to explain that . Small children like that, they are brainwashing them and confusing them. Sarah Hewitt Clarkson is the headteacher. This is what we have to deal with every day. This is a year one classroom, reception children over there. What do you do if this continues . Well, thats a very good question. Im not sure. Werejust a regular, normal, lovely Primary School and, then, for the last 20 minutes of the day, its like living in a parallel universe. We have people outside our school screaming. We have to make sure children are prepared for life in modern britain. And all families are different. Some have one mummy, two daddies. So your parents, yourfamily might, might not think its ok, and we respect that religious belief, but, in british law, it is ok and thats an important thing for children in british schools to know. The school and the government is asking us to change our own principles of our religion. Yes, it is legal to be gay but do not push that narrative onto our children the protests here have provided a platform for campaigners who want to reach a wider audience. See you there friday, 2 30, at the protest. Sha keel afsar is one of the lead protestors. Hes not a parent here, but his sisters children go to the school. So where do you go from here . Do you keep doing this day in, day out . Do you really think that the parents who are sending their most prized possession into the school are going to budge . In may, the local council here issued him with a Community Protection warning, telling him his behaviour was having a detrimental effect on the school and local community and that he should stop. But he didnt. Being gay and legal is ok. That doesnt mean you have to morally accept it. Are you homophobic . Im not homophobic at all. We have nothing against lgbt community. Believe what you want. But i shouldnt have to agree with the way they are living. The protestors feel their views are being ignored. Our faith does not agree with this. At home, were not promoting this, are we . Im a muslim. According to our religion, its forbidden. The gay is forbidden. Concerns like these are being raised elsewhere in the country. Parents, governors, shame on you. Were seeing cases being referred almost on a weekly basis now. Over 70 schools where these issues have been raised directly. Letters being sent to school leaders, asking the school to stop teaching relationship education, threats to withdraw their children, through to organised rallies and events. Schools around the country have been affected. In ealing, in west london, letters threatening to withdraw children were delivered to 11 schools. In redbridge, parents at one school threatened to withdraw more than 100 pupils. And, in cheshire, threatening messages about a schools curriculum were left on its answerphone and facebook page. These protestors a re declaring war on lgbt kids. Theyre saying that these children should not get love and support and advice in their school. For peter tatchell, the row over what children are taught in school is all too familiar. In 1988, the government banned anything considered to be promoting homosexuality in the classroom. It was called section 28. Children who need to be taught to respect traditional moral values are being taught that they have an inalienable right to be gay. All of those children are being cheated of a sound start in life, yes, cheated. Applause. Mrs thatcher was responding, in part, to rumours that schools were using books featuring same sex families. Word spread that children were being taught to be gay. The ban prompted a counter campaign. Peter tatchell was one of the leaders. He was concerned about the children caught in the middle. In those days, young lgbt kids felt ostracised, rejected, so the levels of depression and anxiety was very, very, very high and many of them felt ashamed, because that was the message they were getting in school. So he took his message to the school gates. The slogan was, its ok to be gay, whether your friends are heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, its ok. This leaflet wasnt promoting homosexuality. It was encouraging understanding and tolerance. In 2003, section 28 was repealed. It really is so sad that these arguments are still happening more than three decades later. Today, again, rumours are circulating that children are being taught to be gay. On social media and websites like this one, there have been claims that the rse curriculum is part of a drive to socially engineer the values of children. And others say that the no outsiders programme involves the promotion of homosexuality. Words i was hearing over again was overpromoting of homosexuality, brainwashing children. I am teaching children about equality and yes, that includes being lesbian and gay. It also includes having different faith, disability, gender. Sara khan leads the Governments Commission for countering extremism. Shes concerned that the protests and the changes to the relationships and Sex Education curriculum are fuelling the problem. I would describe that as a mob. Its a mob who are chanting and shouting and engaging intimidating and threatening behaviour. And i think we have to recognise that and call it out for what it is. I consider what were seeing in birmingham to be extremism. Its whipping up tension, its whipping up fear, its whipping up hysteria. Are you worried about how things might escalate . Yes, i am, and i am worried that how, when rse comes formally into the curriculum in 2020, that this will escalate even further. It is very much being driven by muslim groups, but theres no doubt that there are christian groups and jewish groups who are also concerned. Its predominantly anyone who comes from a very conservative faith background. In scotland, the government also wants schools to teach about same sex families. Im on my way to meet one campaigner who is closely following events in birmingham. To be a person of faith, its like being in love. Peace without anxiety. Because christ is god. Pauline gallagher is a recently retired religious studies teacher. Shes started a group catholic family voice hoping to provide an alternative perspective. The Catholic Church teaches that theres one context for sexual love, and it is a man and a woman who are married. Anything outside of that disrupts that beauty. The actual agenda that underpins the ideology thats behind no outsiders, for example, is queering the primary classroom. Just so im clear, pauline, youre saying that these books are making children gay . If you go back and look at the program, thats what theyre designed to do. Pauline has her own take on the meaning in the books. And she thinks those protesting are right to be taking a stand. Now shes hoping to join forces with them. The Muslim Community in birmingham are total stars as far as we are concerned and they are, um, they are trailblazers. We are encouraged by what we see. I would say were excited. Have some soup. Tonight, members of the group are gathering. Hail, mary full of grace. The lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, jesus. Amen. It is not possible to disagree with at the moment with lgbt. You will be called fascist, you will be called homophobe. The government is saying, weve got our understanding of sexuality and gender, that is the one true truth and all kids will learn that, regardless of what parents want. We continue saying what weve always said, which is that marriage is between a man and a woman, and now that is what is controversial. Its great to see that the Muslim Community have spoken out about it. I am pretty encouraged by that. I think it gives us kind of a bit of hope. Pauline says people are coming together because they feel their religious freedoms are being sidelined. Weve spoken to people from various faiths and theyjust simply do not accept lgbt being taught at a primary level. What do you say to those people . Well, i have to say, my experience is different. We had a very extensive consultation process. Its quite a monumental step forward, actually, in terms of the amount of new material reflecting the modern world, and its been done in a way which has brought the vast, vast majority of people along with it. In oldham, however, some parents are yet to be convinced. Nasim ashraf is a muslim. He claims he has a multi Faith Network of 500 600 concerned pa rents. Hi, guys. Hello. Teaching kids, 5 year olds, er, sexualisation of them, its too early. The whole point is, who is the primary educator of the children . Should they be learning these things at school from possibly a biased teaching material, or from home from their parents . Back at home, nazim tells me that his group is asserting its religious rights without resorting to direct action. There have been no protests, there have been absolutely no angry parents going to see any teachers, we have not allowed that to happen. Were asking people to approach the school, find out exactly what is being taught and create steering groups with parents, governors, teachers, to create a more inclusive policy. So are you saying that if the parent disagrees, the school should abide by that request . Well, they should do, shouldnt they . In manchester, faith leaders meet regularly to discuss Community Wide issues, and relationships education is high on their agenda. For reasons going back millennia, sexuality touches that raw nerve. Many here support the planned changes. For me as a catholic, youve got to love the individual. Whatever may be your own prejudices, and change is coming and we as faith leaders need to actually take everyone with us. Dovid lewis is an orthodox rabbi. A strict reading of the bible, or torah, means that for people like him, same sex relationships are problematic. The torah contains not just our history, but also all of our laws. In leviticus, it does describe forbidden relationships. You shall not lie with a man as one lies with a woman, its an abomination. So, when you read this, what does it mean to you and to your family . What do you say to your children . The bible forbids me from many things. So my children will know the same way that the bible tells them they cant eat pork. Neither can one man marry another man. If i want to keepjudaism, i cannot be an active gay man. But the bible forbids it forjews, it doesnt give me the right to tell you what to do. The new guidance on sex and relationships education applies to all schools secular and religious, state and private. Many of the most orthodoxjewish children go to haredi ultra religious schools, run for and by the community. At a typical haredi boys school, there would be, um, at least half if not more of the day spent on religious studies. It is a very central part of what these children would need and to grow up and function in the haredi community. What about lgbt teaching, is that a part of your syllabus . The short answer is no. Haredi parents are very strongly opposed to any sexualisation of their children whatsoever, to the extent that they wouldnt mention anything which could even lead to a discussion about sex. Simply put, haredi children do not know how babies are made. For haredi schools like this, the requirement to teach children about different relationships, including lg bt, poses a major challenge. If i was to decide tomorrow to teach about sexuality, Sex Education, if i start that tomorrow in my school, parents will withdraw their children. Are you concerned that religious groups will start withdrawing their children and perhaps homeschooling them . The law as it stands can and should work for parents of various religious views. Most schools are getting this right now every day. The lawjust means becoming aware at the moment that its age appropriate that families come in different shapes and sizes. Its very important to understand this is not about Sex Education for young children. Judith nemeth runs the values Foundation Set up last year to promote faith and traditional family values in education. Do you think these faith groups understand that this is, this is not about the mechanics of homosexuality, this is about storybooks . I feel its very naive to say, sorry, to say this is just story books, it isntjust story books. They all give messages which to some parents would be what on earth is this . I do not want my child to get this message. If you dont teach your children that it is ok to be gay, how do you teach them to be respectful of people who are different to them . Theres no way that, um, people of faith will teach that its ok to be gay. They wont, because the bible tells us it isnt ok to be gay. But that doesnt mean that we are intolerant of people who do follow that lifestyle. Nobodys being judgemental here, nobodys being homophobic. But what do you think could happen, do you think more protests could happen . Grassroots groups of parents are standing at the school gate, handing out leaflets saying, do you know what your child is being taught . Campaigner susan mason is doing just that. I prefer not to encourage the practice of homosexuality to children in Primary School. She too is taking a message to the school gates. For her, its about warning parents of the curriculum to come. The plan is to go to schools to mobilise parents. Its not that were targeting schools per se, itsjust that we know thats where theyll be at 3 oclock in the afternoon, picking up their children. Hello, this is your new curriculum. New curriculum. Its to do with the new relationships education that will be coming to the school. You might be fine in your school, but its worth checking. Im aiming to disrupt, essentially. Im not wanting, you know, riots and protests outside schools. But either the parents need to be satisfied or the school will need to change what its doing. Back in birmingham, the row outside the schools continues. For those stuck in the middle, it has taken its toll. I still hear, now, the children chanting, get mr moffat out. That was the worst thing ive ever heard. Ill never forget that sound. Ive seen children change in their attitude towards me. A few weeks ago, i did an assembly. I say to this group, good morning, everybody, and hardly anyone answered. Thats really heartbreaking for a teacher. I think the dfe could have done so much more. I think they were too slow to respond. And to be able to provide support to headteachers who are experiencing something thats really quite traumatic, when youre at the receiving end of that type of hostility and abuse, it is really very traumatic, so providing support to headteachers, but also clarifying whats actually being taught to pupils in school. The new curriculum becomes compulsory next year. The government says parents should be consulted, but wont have a veto. Its schools that will have the final word on what is taught and when. At the moment, heads have quite a lot of responsibility for taking the decisions about the size and shape of the curriculum. So i think it would be very helpful if there was a bit more definition around what schools are expected to do so that individual heads dont come under this kind of pressure. And what happens if there is no consensus . Sometimes the two sides dont agree. It is the law in this country that two people of the same sex can get married. We are all obliged to be considerate, to not discriminate against people because of their Sexual Orientation along with, you know, other characteristics, and that isnt going to change. Its the reality of the society we live in. Talks between the parkfield parents and teachers have broken down after months of trying to come up with a compromise. The headteacher says a revised version of its Equality Programme will be taught from september. Large numbers of parents are now temporarily withdrawing their children from the school in protest. Pupils and teachers across england are packing up for the summer. For many, it will be a welcome respite. But when schools return, the protestors may too. I think we will see more and more campaigns and protests that weve seen at parkfield, anderton park and many other schools. So were calling again for that urgent review and clarification around the regulations and politicians and faith leaders and everyone else in communities affected to work with schools to ensure that all of our children receive an education that equips them for life in modern britain. This is bbc news. Welcome if youre watching here in the uk, on pbs in america, or around the globe. Im mike embley. Our top stories President Trump attempts to distance himself from the racist chanting targeting a somali born democratic congresswoman, at Wednesdays Campaign rally. I was not happy with it. I disagree with it but, again, i did not say i didnt say that, they did. The pentagon says us forces have shot down an iranian drone as it approached an American Ship in the gulf. Staying injail the reasons why a judge ruled that financierjeffrey epstein must stay behind bars until his trial on sex trafficking charges. 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