It’s the start of the school year and across the country anxious parents have been farewelling their teary little ones at the gates for the first time. But what kind of considerations should same-sex parents be taking into account when choosing where to educate their children?

- Advertisement -

According to mother of four, Jodie, same-sex parents look for the same thing in a potential school as any other parent- a good fit for their child.

‘Our kids were born very premature and we that thought we would probably get them to repeat a year, so therefore we thought that they would start at the school they’re at and then move to another school where they’d repeat a year so they wouldn’t feel the stigma of repeating a year in the same school, but as it’s turned out they haven’t,’ she explained.

‘We weren’t even really thinking about the whole same-sex thing, but thinking about the fact that they might need extra help because they were born so early.’

Jodie and her partner Jackie have triplets who are entering their first year of primary school this month. Having three children at once means three uniforms, three sets of books and endless name tags.

However, it also means safety and camaraderie in numbers. While it is something Jodie and her children have not had to deal with yet, the possibility of bullying in school will always be in the back of a parent’s mind.

‘I guess I’d be stupid not to worry about it, but I think the fact that they completely know the story, they’re comfortable with their family and the fact that there are three of them to stick up for each other definitely helps,’ said Jodie.

It may technically be the triplets’ first year of school but since they have attended play-school, kindergarten and pre-primary, the adjustment should be less traumatic. It has also given Jodie the opportunity to observe the school environment.

To date Jodie, her partner and the children have not had any problems with discrimination or prejudice.

‘We’re in a small school, there are only just over a hundred kids in the school and we’re just completely up-front and honest about who we are,’ she said.

‘We’re both highly visible at the school and I’m in the P&C so it’s just a lot of putting yourselves out there, I suppose, so that everyone else can see that we’re the same as every other family.’

‘I think possibly at some point there may be some issues with other children, but we haven’t seen any of that as of yet.’

Jodie and her partner are also forthright with their children in explaining to them the realities and origins of their family. According to the Rainbow Families Council same-sex parented families demonstrate a high level of honesty about their child’s origins and method of conception from early on, however as Jodie points out, they often have little choice in the matter.

‘Yes, we’re honest, because it’s very clear that they haven’t been conceived the average way,’ she said.

‘There was also some other rubbish that came out lately saying that lesbians made better parents and I thought well, you’re going to find a bit of research to say whatever you want it to say.

‘I don’t think I’m any better parent than anyone else, but I don’t think I’m any worse either.’

Jodie’s advice to other same-sex parents with children entering school for the first time is to just be honest.

‘I guess the main thing for us is we’re both going to go to school on the first day with the kids to meet their new teacher and explain our situation, just so she’s completely aware of what’s going on in our family.’

For more information:

http://www.lookatwa.com.au/Community/schools.html
Provides a complete list of both private and public, primary and secondary schools in WA with links to individual websites and contact details.

Amy Henderson