Proud moment at school today

I have a gender-nonconforming boy in my class (I think that's the PC term these days) and I of course encourage an atmosphere where he feels comfortable doing whatever makes him happy in class. For example, during a class reward where most of the boys and some girls wanted to play football, one of the boys wanted to do cheerleading and brought his own pink poms poms from home. He also sang 'I'm a barbie girl' complete with a dance routine during Show and Tell this week. We started off the year where the majority of the class were a little bit giggly and sometimes unkind (not on purpose I don't think) towards some of his choices, but after a year of me promoting people being able to choose whatever makes them happy rather than stereotypes forced upon them, the children are completely accepting of his and anyone else's choices (I have a few gender-nonconforming girls too, but people tend to not bother about that so much).

Well, today he went around telling everyone that he fancies a particular boy in our class and my class responded with complete indifference apart from his best friend (a girl) who said 'but he's a boy' and looked a bit confused. I think she was more upset as she openly admits to fancying him and all the other kids seem to see them as boyfriend and girlfriend. Unfortunately, the next door class were less accepting and I heard a few 'erghs' coming from them before I had a quiet word with them.

 

How old are these children? Got to feel a bit sorry for the lad who is the object of his affections.

 

8 and 9. I wondered how he would react but he loves to be the centre of attention and the class clown and is never embarrassed by anything. I think he was a bit pleased that he got attention out of it to be honest.

 

Dear me

 

Wonder how his dad will react when he tells him?!

 

If you mean the first boy, I doubt his dad will be all that surprised to be honest!!

 

I think he means the lad who being hit on by the pink Pom Pom fairy

 

We have a girl who is very similar but she hasn't said anything like this about other girls in the class - it's a tricky one. Might have been a different reaction in year 6 :-( Have you mentioned to the head ?

 

Yeah, I did wonder how they were going to react. My class as a whole are insanely well behaved and sensible though (nothing to do with me, they have been all the way through school); hopefully they will just be used to the idea by then.

 

Why would his dad care who fancies him?

 

Good haul so far!

 

is this one of those threads where if think something isn't right and say anything remotely 'homophobic' it means you are gay?

 

Might be worth mentioning to the head if you haven't already or another member of the safeguarding team - doesn't seem to be an issue but will become so as they grow older in the eyes of some

 

I don't understand what you are trying to say but I am going to go with no? Bear in mind though that I am sharing this to say how proud I am of my class being accepting of differences, not asking for the wisdom in me allowing the children to be confident enough to make their own choices.

 

I'll mention it on Transisition Day to his new teacher, I'm not sure if needs to go to the Head unless any issues do arise.

 

It's one of those threads where you can't express your thoughts, if you think it's wrong that's for sure.

 

Just out of interest, would do you consider to be 'wrong?'

 

Your kids sound great by the way - my year 3's would have gone mental and I dread to think the reaction of the year 6's I've had this year :-(

 

Nothing at all

 

They really are! Back to normality next year though


*It's bugging me that I can't edit my post for Transition Day and not Transistion Day