We're Heading 'Up Stream'
Let Kids Be Kids Vision, our end of year update and thanks
What a year it’s been (where did it go??). Let Kids Be Kids was formed only 4 months ago, in response to parents and grandparents seeking a nationwide support network. And we’re growing, as more people are becoming aware of the many challenges our young people face nowadays, and where their issues are stemmed from.
“There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.” - Archbishop Desmond Tutu
This quote is one of many that gives me (Penny Marie) the resolve to continue in our pursuit for the truth… to understand what is happening and why. In our homes, schools, communities, government, and media. It’s a jungle out there, and together, with love and support, we are working things out, and supporting one another to be brave and loving, as our collective blinkers come off.
Our Vision
A small LKBK Steering Group met recently to plan ahead into 2024. This is our Vision:
Let Kids Be Kids (LKBK) exists to empower parents, caregivers, children/teens and those in education, sport, faith, and community groups to protect the innocence of children. To ensure their happiness, liberty, safety and wellbeing with parents as their primary caregivers.
As parents and communities evolve and become more empowered, LKBK will meet the next challenges while working alongside other agencies.
We are going to be here a while, it seems. We have much in the pipeline and can’t wait to share it with you all, soon, and build our team - will you join us?
One thing you can do to give us a merry Christmas… share LKBK with others
To really make our Christmas cheerful, we’d love you to share this Substack, and/or a post from one of our channels, in a post or conversation online. You can find us on X/Twitter, Facebook, Rumble, Telegram, Tiktok. Our Rumble channel has a bunch of informative conversations - please share them!
Huge thanks to our supporters
Thank you to our supporters, those who have donated time, funds, and encouragement - all of which have indicated there is a huge need for more of what we have started very minutely, to offer to those who reach out for support. If you would like to support us - some ways are: one-off or regular contribution via Buy Me A Coffee, upgrade to paid subscriber on this Substack, get Let Kids Be Kids clothing, or contact us for other ways to support us.
Thank you to our first business supporter
Auckland site works generously donated a much needed resource to LKBK. If your business wants to support us, please get in touch - we have lots we’d love to do, and we so appreciate your help!
What’s coming up in education in 2024?
NZ First’s 2023 Coalition Agreement states they will “Refocus the curriculum on academic achievement and not ideology, including the removal and replacement of the gender, sexuality, and relationship-based education guidelines.”
No mention was made in National’s Coalition’s 100 Day Plan however. Many of us are wondering what, if anything, is going to change in our schools in 2024. A Curriculum Refresh is coming - and from a skeptics point of view, it looks to be rolling up critical race theory, climate change activism and gender ideology into one messy leftist agenda. It remains to be seen what, if anything, will be done to halt incoming curriculum changes, and to relook at the entire curriculum, and the roots of where NZ’s learning framework stems from. It needs more than a bandaid.
An eye on MOE’s Education Gazette
The Ministry of Education’s Gazette is a monthly publication sent to all schools for teachers and leaders. It is good to view, to see key messages educators are getting from the MOE. Read the December 2023 edition by clicking on the cover below. A few things we noted was the amount of content relating to the climate change narrative, some reasons promoted for low attendance rates, and a couple of mental health promoted programmes being endorsed.
What’s happening overseas?
Recent speech in UK Parliament
A hearing on gender ideology in the UK was shockingly common sense on Wednesday. MP Kemi Badenoch says that the UK says that "the government is taking an evidence-based and principled approach on these issues, and taking our time to get this right."
Trans scepticism makes its way home to the Netherlands
Scepticism of youth transgender medicine, which has been a major point of discussion in the UK and US for years, has finally made its way back to the Netherlands, as observed this week by the Society for Evidence-based Gender Medicine (SEGM).
The Netherlands has long been the epicentre of transgender medical research, and its guidelines for youth gender transitions have become a model for other Western countries, where demand for such procedures has skyrocketed over the past decade.
Thank you!
Thank you once again for being part of the Let Kids Be Kids family, we are here with you, and for you. 2024 feels like it’s going to be a big one.
Happy holidays, stay safe and we hope you have a wonderful break with your kids, grand kids and friends,
From Penny Marie and the team at Let Kids Be Kids
This is great Penny!