So this week, as you’ll know unless you’ve been living under a rock, is G8. When the 8 big leaders come together.

This year they come together in Northern Ireland, at Lough Erne in Enniskillen.

And to kick it off, President Obama gave a speech here in Belfast today.

I could go into a massive rant here about what that did to the city but it did what it does to any city he visits. It shut us down.

Still. It was nice to have him.

And his speech?

He rocked the Waterfront Hall.

Not just because he said ‘What’s the craic’ to 1,800 school children, making them cheer. He’s always been very with it, what with fist bumping Mrs O all the time and such.

But because he made the speech that only he could ever make.

He, not only as The President of the United States, but as the first black President of the United States.

A speech about acceptance and unity and ending conflict.

A speech about America’s past and Northern Ireland’s future.

All we can hope is that the people in the audience who still have open minds about this, the ones in school uniforms, were listening and listening well. Based on this BBC piece, they were.

This is a good thing. Because at this point? Their elders have stopped.

Catchy title, huh? Thought it up all by myself.

What does it mean?

It means I’m tired of all children being taught things in the same way. I’m tired of ‘But if school doesn’t teach X, who will? The parents don’t.’

This is coming off the back of the announcement about:

“an amendment to the Children and Families Bill currently before parliament has been tabled, which would:

” 1. Add PSHE to National Curriculum;

2. Make age appropriate SRE a statutory component of this curriculum at all 4 Key Stages;

3. Specify that same-sex relationships, sexual violence, domestic violence and sexual consent be part of the curriculum on PSHE”*

What’s my objection? I don’t think this is the job of the government or the schools. I think saying it’s the job of the government or the schools because ‘some’ parents may not do the education is, as my title says, lowest common denominator rule and school.

Why are we running our countries and our educational systems based on what the worst of the populace does? Why are we subjecting pupils who are taught this at home to the same classes as those who aren’t taught it at home?

Why? Because we, as a race of humans, seem to spend our entire lives doing our best not to offend other members of the race of humans. So it’s not possible, for that reason, to send a questionnaire home saying something like ‘Are you teaching your kids about sex and relationships?’ and then taking those kids whose parents say ‘oh hell no, they’re too young/silly/whatever’ into a class and teaching them and only them.

Granted, some parents will lie. But you know what? That’s their right.

You know what else? Who decides? Who decides what they should teach about relationships in the classroom?

I live in Northern Ireland, this isn’t a secret. Do you mean to tell me that the Catholic schools here are going to teach about same sex relationships? Sex before marriage? Any of the stuff listed above?

Of course they aren’t. They’ll object, and rightly so, on grounds that it is against the doctrine of their faith. And they are faith based schools.

What about the faith based schools in England, Scotland and Wales? Are they going to be forced to teach things against their doctrine as well?

So what’s the answer?

There isn’t one.

There is no way to teach all kids all things in the same way. It’s just not possible.

My son has some level of special need, still to be diagnosed and defined. But he gets special help in the classroom and, hopefully, will continue to do so as he goes through school.

Do I expect the entire class to be taught at his level? Of course not. That would be fucking stupid.

So why is this any different? I will teach my son about sex and relationships and two mummies and two daddies and single parents and divorce and all of those things. It is my job.

And if some parents aren’t teaching their kids this? That’s not my problem.

*Quoted from Mumsnet Guest Blog Thread

Dear Adam

Today is your third birthday. Mummy hasn’t written one of these letters in months, but figures if she applies herself, she’ll be able to manage once a year. 🙂

Of course, your development over the last year has been incredible. You walk and run and talk and play and do puzzles. You count and know your colours. You have favourite TV shows and books and films. Mummy can now recite most of the Toy Story Trilogy by heart.

You finally have a bear that is yours. His name is Charlie. He wears a bandanna around his neck. You love him very, very much.

You are starting to potty train. Slowly, but surely. I am no longer worried about you needing to be trained by the time you get to pre-school in the fall. They won’t move you to the pre-school room at Wee Care until you’re trained, but you’ll only be there for another few months, so I am not too worried about pushing you.

You are, for the most part, a well behaved little boy. You have your tantrums, of course, but I get the feeling most of the time that you have a reason for being unreasonable, if only I could understand what those reasons are. Some day you’ll be able to tell me, I’m sure.

As predicted by many many people, you began sleeping through the night consistently around two and a half. Not always but most nights, sometimes for weeks at a time. Now if we could just get you to stay in bed until the sun comes up on your Gro Clock! But I’ll take 6 over 430 any day!

In just a few months you will start your school career with pre-school. Mummy is a bit worried since you’ll be one of the youngest in your class. We’ll just have to see how it goes, really.

The biggest thing that has happened recently is you giving all your bottles to the Bottle Fairy. Mummy and Daddy talked about it with you for at least a month and then the day arrived. And you were so sad, starting during dinner.

And then we were getting ready for bed and I realized Charlie, your bear, had been left downstairs so I called for Daddy to bring him up. You shouted “NO! No sleep with Charlie!” very loudly. And I realized you thought giving up your bottle meant giving up your bear! And your snuggles!

I soon told you that you didn’t have to do that! It was only your bottles you needed to give to the Fairy. Everything else is just the same as before.

The next morning you were fine! So I think you did understand about no more bottles. And Charlie was tucked in your arms all night.

And so my boy is three.

And everyday he makes me proud.

Love

Mummy

It’s been a very long and very busy week. The ending is leaving me very tired and very sore.

I’ll try to update during the weekend.