SOS Children: A survival handbook against the dictates of gender theory

One of the greatest piazzas in Rome, that of St. John’s, was packed with families in June for Family Day, with hundreds of thousands of parents shouting slogans such as ‘We defend our children’, or ‘Stop gender theory in schools’. Hundreds of thousands of people protested in the piazza, but not only. Confronted with the State’s decision to directly insert gender theory into Italian schools, many shocked and upset parents made many appeals on the internet, on blogs and social media.

This is the situation, the panorama of a difficult and confused situation which has become progressively more complicated in Italy over the last months. It has even caused many exasperated parents, not to mention infuriated, to be up in arms over the new reform of the Italian educational system which provided, more or less subtly, the introduction of gender theory in classrooms.

Complicit to all this was also bad – and often misleading – news media reporting, which over the last few months has divided and split public opinion. Now with the schools opening and a new academic year about to start, the fears and controversies that plagued the recent months resume with new intensity.

One of the major problems is the strong disorientation of parents who, beyond descending into the piazzas of Rome or gathering for demonstrations against those principles and teachings, as is happening all over Italy, they do not know what else to do. It’s the same challenge for teachers, caught between the fear of being branded as enemies of freedom and human rights for not wanting to divulge content on gender during their lectures, and the rebellion of their own conscience.

SOS Children may come of aid to those facing this challenging situation. It is an association which, for nearly twenty years, has fought in defense of the family and the rights of new generation.

What SOS Children offers is basically a survival handbook for parents and professors dealing with the pitfalls of the Italian school system and gender theory. Below are some key points proposed by SOS Children to help parents and teachers in such difficulties. For parents:

– first of all, speak continuously with your children and about what they do in class. Check school notifications, teaching material proposed and home-work assigned;

– exploit the channels offered by the school to participate in the life of the institution, for instance the class council, the parents committee, the election for representatives, parent reunions, etc;

– be attentive to language used in these contexts and to certain key phrases such as “education of gender identity” or “education of difference” or, again, “fight against gender stereotypes and discrimination”. Terminology behind which lurks content that often refers to gender theory.

That which is most important, be an example for your children. Be a living demonstration of the beauty, diversity, and the complementarity between man and woman.

For professors, on the other hand, SOS Children offers the following advice:

– remain in constant contact with parents and immediately inform when the school decides to incorporate courses concerning gender;

– always be alert, above all in teaching staff reunions, to courses and extracurricular activities. If things seem unclear or out of ordinary, ask questions and ask for clarifications;

– if the teaching staff approves meetings and visits concerning gender theory, be sure to be among the accompanying teachers and try to take note of the critical aspects, as well as where potential registered meetings are, even with a simple telephone call. SOS Children will give a hand on how to carry oneself.

Of course these are small tips, which can be however helpful in difficult situations, and particularly delicate ones, such as the question of introducing gender content in classrooms. It’s valid advice also for parents of Spain, Mexico, the United States, Chile, Colombia. In short, it’s useful for all countries where schools feel under attack and families want to defend themselves from the “ideological colonization” of gender theory.