Children to be taught about domestic violence at school
Categories: Kids+, Primary school, Behaviour and Development, Latest news
Schoolchildren are set to be taught about gender equality and domestic violence after the Government announced new plans.
Lessons on domestic violence will be included in personal, social and health education classes, it has been reported.
Trainee teachers will have to learn about the subject before they qualify and schools will be marked by inspectors on how well they are teaching children about domestic violence.
Some campaigners have criticised the move, calling it "political correctness".
I don't really see the problem - in fact, I'm surprised the subject is not already included in these lessons.
The lessons will become compulsory from 2011 and new rules for teachers on tackling "sexist, sexual and transphobic bullying" in the classroom will be drawn up.
However critics have said that schools should be for academic subjects.
Margaret Morrissey, of the Parents Outloud campaign group, said: "The Government should stop interfering with parents bringing up their children and focus on teaching children to read, write and all those things they need to get a career.
"This political correctness is turning our children into confused mini adults from the age of five to nine. This has nothing at all to do with academic learning."
The trouble is, a lot of parents don't bring up their children properly - and what about those homes where children witness domestic violence? Don't those kids need to be told this behaviour is not acceptable?
Domestic violence charity Refuge has welcomed the plans and called for more services for abused women and children.
It has launched a campaign called Four Ways To Speak Out, featuring celebrities including Dame Helen Mirren and Sheryl Gascoigne.
Refuge is also asking people to sign a petition calling for an end to the "postcode lottery" of domestic violence services.
For more information on Refuge's campaign, go to www.refuge.org.uk
What do you think? Should this subject be taught in schools?
Source: AOL News
Source: BBC
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rw.johns 11-25-2009 @ 5:52AM
Great idea, though it will depend how sensitively it is dealt with & the reality of providing back-up services to handle the fallout of kids getting the light switched on in their heads about what should & should not be acceptable in their homes.
All kids will know instinctively that something "isn't right" with a bad situation, but will be scared & worried about speaking out, often the people in abusive relationships need help to deal with the root causes & make no mistake about it there are not just male abusers yet there is little to no help available to male victims, & they are even less inclin ed to speak out due to the perception of being "weak" if they are taking flak from a female, the same goes for couples in gay relationships too, though it's uncommon for gay couples to raise children right now, it will become more commonplace as society progresses.
My family was in a domestic violence situation for years so I know what I'm talking about, & it takes years, if ever, to mend the damage it can cause to all involved, including the abusers, who in many cases are victims too.
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Rachel 11-25-2009 @ 7:31AM
Good idea, hopefully will make a child feel able to tell someone if something isn't right at home, no matter whether they are the victim or one of their parents/guardians are. About the only thing i have ever agreed with the government on!
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Eliza 1-15-2010 @ 8:19AM
Yes Rachel, you are right.If it will help children to know that it is ok to speak up if they feel scared for themselves or anyone else in the home, then it is great.
It will also let abused children know that they are not alone, that lots of families have this problem.
I feel so sad for children who are unhappy and scared in their homes.If a child can't be happy and feel safe as a child, they never will.
Even when the child has grown into an adult, the effects of what they went through as children, still effect their lives.
Beleive me, I know first hand. I lived the nightmare.
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