By Folaranmi Ajayi
A parent, Neydu Wordsmith Onuoha has raised concerns after discovering LGBT themes in their child’s English textbook, published by Oxford University Press, which is part of the British curriculum.
The incident occurred at a school that runs both the Nigerian and British curriculums, where a passage in the textbook described a boy waking up to find he had become a girl. The text, used by Year 2 students, has sparked alarm, with some parents seeing it as an attempt to introduce children to LGBT ideologies at an early age.
The father, who supervises his daughter’s homework regularly, said he was unsettled by the first line of the story, which read, “When Bill Sampson woke up on Monday morning, he found he was a girl.” The father expressed his concerns, stating that the content seemed to subliminally promote an LGBT agenda. He immediately addressed the issue with his daughter, reassuring her that her gender was fixed and cannot change overnight as the story suggested.
The child’s mother also contacted the school registrar, who responded swiftly and acknowledged the mistake. According to the parent, the registrar apologised on behalf of the school, attributing the incident to “teacher’s carelessness” and clarifying that the head of school had previously instructed the teacher to skip the section. The school promised to address the matter promptly.
The father emphasised the importance of guiding children in their understanding of gender, particularly in light of the global discourse around LGBT issues. He expressed his intention to further discuss the subject with his daughter and to introduce her to philosophical studies when she is older, allowing her to critically engage with Western philosophy. He also plans to teach her biblical principles regarding gender.
This incident has reignited discussions on the role of educational materials in shaping young minds, particularly in contexts where moral and cultural values differ. The father urged other parents to remain vigilant about the content their children are exposed to, referencing the biblical proverb, “Train up a child in the way he should go.”
LGBTQ is an initialism of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning. It is an umbrella term, broadly referring to all sexualities, romantic orientations, and gender identities which are not heterosexual or cisgender.
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