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Ukrainian blogger Serhii Hula said the course “Culture of Good Neighborhood” and the textbook with the same name for fifth-grade students is being actively promoted in Ukraine. This course attempts to introduce the concept of gender, which means permission to change gender and sexual orientation. Reportedly, children will be forced to have chaotic sexual relations and perversions, which will bring about the destruction of family values.
However, the news is fake.
Serhii Hula is a Ukrainian lawyer who spread fake news and manipulation about vaccinations even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2020, he regularly disseminates phony information about COVID-19 and vaccinations on his YouTube channels. VoxCheck has repeatedly refuted his allegations about the flu and coronavirus, the “dangers” of vaccines, the side effects from vaccinations, and the like. You can read more about Serhii Hula and other Ukrainian anti-vaxxers in our article about the infodemic.
The course program and the textbook for the 5th grade titled “Culture of good neighborliness” are publicly available and contain nothing mentioned by Serhii Hula.
Among the program’s many objectives are fostering tolerance among students, popularizing Ukrainian and other cultures, forming their personal position and self-reflection, fostering critical thinking, following the rules of safe behavior, developing the ability to conduct dialogue and peacefully resolve conflicts, building a caring attitude toward their health, developing the ability to care for the environment, etc.
Fifth graders are offered to study several different topics: self-identification, modern and future professions, family relations, social life, conflict resolution, etiquette rules, and gender stereotypes in different cultures. The 5th-grade textbook does not discuss sexual relationships, gender change, or sexual orientation.
The section on gender stereotypes explains to children the difference between sex and gender. Sex refers to human anatomical and biological attributes, based on which people are defined as male or female. Gender means specific ideas about social roles, qualities, and established behavior of women and men in society. The book’s authors note that sex differences do not change over time, but gender differences depend on religion, ethnic and social origin, and age. Schoolchildren are taught to respect other people and not limit men’s and women’s opportunities to decide for themselves about their role in society.
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