Wisdom without wokery

BETWEEN 2005 and 2020, I had the privilege to teach in a large secondary school. every Pshe (Personal,

social, health and economic) lesson would include conversations, input and comments from all.

none of us held back — and we were never asked to — when it came to discussing birth, death, drugs, race, eating disorders or mental health. My students were intelligent, well-informed and eager to learn.

They never shied away from issues that might offend them because they wanted to understand and none has suffered mentally as a result, as far as I know. They have all passed through university or apprenticeships without the ‘woke brigade’ shielding them from such horrors.

Name and address supplied.