Stop teaching gender ideology in primary schools and let kids be kids

THOSE who enter the gender debate do so at their peril.

The stakes are undeniably high. Go against the current received wisdom and risk being painted as a bigot, losing your job or finding yourself cancelled.

I know many people who are too scared to even embark on a conversation about gender for fear of being labelled transphobic.

Which is why I was struck by Suella Braverman’s words this week.

During a speech, the Attorney General said she had heard from teachers who were “petrified” of saying the wrong thing about transgender issues and “feel cornered into accepting dogma”.

But that is wrong, isn’t it?

No topic should be off the table for discussion. The more robust the debate, the better, as far as I am concerned.

Braverman went further.

She told the Policy Exchange think tank that schools should not be “indoctrinating” their pupils with “one-sided and controversial” views about gender.

She stated that schools offering gender-neutral toilets are acting unlawfully and hit out at teachers “transitioning children behind their parents’ backs”.

Braverman also warned that gender identity ideology is being taught in some schools without scrutiny or “consideration of the consequences”.

I agree with Suella — surely this thorny issue is best avoided in primary school.

It is unnecessary for young children to have to delve into the variables of gender.

This kind of in-depth analysis at such a young age should stop.

And I understand why some may feel that the suggestive nature of this teaching could encourage children to question their identity at an age when these things are confusing.

It’s vital, of course, that kids are taught about diversity, variety and difference.

Some children, for example, have two mums or dads, live with their grand­parents, or a single parent, or in a foster home.

Families come in all shapes and sizes. And so do people.

We need to accept that everyone is different, and primary school children need to learn to accept difference.

We all love different people. And we all have a different sense of our own selves.

But when it comes to gender, they can and will learn all about these things when they get older.

It’s one thing to tell them about this at 14 and another at the age of four.

Live and let live, but you have to let kids be kids — and then grow into their identity as they get older.

All in good time.

Penny and Rod in blended family bliss

PENNY LANCASTER shared a holiday picture of her and husband Rod with their sons Alastair, 16, and Aiden, 11.

They were joined by various other kids from Sir Rod’s previous relationships with four other women.

They are all on holiday on a yacht on the Amalfi coast and look like they are having the time of their lives.

Of course, who knows what is really going on behind the scenes, but Rod and Penny always look to me like they do the massive, blended happy family so well.

They look like they are all having so much fun and I wish them lots of happy years together.

We all loved Olivia

IN the many tributes that have poured in for Olivia Newton-John, what is overwhelmingly clear is how we all – men and women alike – loved her.

Grease made such a huge impact on so many of us, coming as it did when fabulous films came but once or twice a year, if that.

I loved the story of Sandy and Danny and wanted it to be real life.

So it was gratifying to read that co-stars Olivia and John Travolta had an “intense” real-life attraction and would have dated if they could, but chose to be loyal to their partners instead.

Olivia was once quoted as saying: “On the Grease set, he would tell me, ‘Liv, it’s every guy’s dream to have you as his girlfriend’.”

She admitted: “Yes, we really liked each other and there was an attraction, but we would never date because we were both involved with other people and both of us have a loyalty streak that runs deep.”

And John remembered: “It almost happened between us a few times, but it didn’t.

"Sometimes life just offers you the wrong timing. We had to leave it as dear friends.”

RIP Olivia. But happily, we’ll always have Grease.

Right to quit

DESPITE claiming that football was “his life”, Brooklyn Beckham admitted he had given up on his sporting dreams to avoid living in his dad David’s shadow.

The budding chef, who is 23, used to play in Arsenal’s youth academy but decided to give up the sport when the club released him at 16.

In an interview, Brooklyn said his dad “wasn’t sad” to see him give up the sport, and it’s hard not to conclude that, whatever he ends up doing, he made the right decision.

Let’s face it, trying to compete with one of the best-known footballers the world has ever known is always going to be a losing battle, isn’t it?

But it also makes me sad to think about him giving up the thing that had been his life.

All in all, it makes you realise how hard it must be to grow up with famous and successful parents, doesn’t it?

Can't fight nature

ANNOUNCING her retirement from tennis at the age of 40, Serena Williams suggested that if she were a man, she would still be playing.

Writing in US Vogue this month, she said: “Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family. I don’t think it’s fair.

“If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labour of expanding our family.”

As a woman it’s easy to feel naturally indignant at that seeming inequality. Injustice, even.

But hearing that her reason for quitting is because she wants to grow her family, and does not want to be pregnant again as an athlete, I feel deep sympathy.

Who can blame her?

Serena has had one of the most astonishing tennis careers of any woman, ever.

She has been an absolute trailblazer for female athletes in general.

But for all the equality in the world, sometimes we have to acknowledge that there is no fighting biology.

Also, when one door closes, another opens.

And I have no doubt in my mind at all that many, many doors will be opening on a new chapter for Serena, just as soon as she is ready.

Anger flows

WE have all experienced road rage but it appears there is a new mass anger sweeping the nation. Water rage.

My husband’s friend was telling him that his 80-year-old neighbour came by his garden, he thought to compliment him on his flowers, but instead embarked on a tirade of abuse.

She even threatened to “knock him out” and report him to the water authorities if he didn’t turn his hose off.

He suggested that she call them to snitch about a water leak down their road instead.

But, as you know, they probably wouldn’t listen to that.