Schools to hold special seminars thanks to Netflix’s Adolescence

Netflix’s latest hit, Adolescence, isn’t just a regular chart-dominating series—it is so much more than just that, and it’s now about to make its way into classrooms in the UK to address something grave and serious.

The 4-part miniseries’ alarming storyline has driven schools in the UK to roll out a new seminar aimed at educating young lads on the risks of being misogynistic and being heavily involved in toxic masculinity, all part of a broader government attempt to restructure relationships and sex education.

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How Adolescence sparked nationwide classroom reform

The worrying plotline of Adolescence, which follows 13-year-old Jamie Miller’s fall into violence when he murders a female classmate after being swayed by online misogynistic content, has struck a nerve across the UK.

Since its release just a few days ago, the four-part miniseries has claimed the top spot on Netflix globally over the past few days. Now, the show’s spine-chilling message is set to make its way into a wave of educational reform.

The government of UK is currently planning to revise its relationships, health, and sex education (RHSE) curriculum, with the influence of Adolescence front and center. Schools will soon be introducing anti-misogyny classes, shedding light on encouraging relationships that are healthy and prevent harmful behaviors.

This up-and-coming regulation in schools highlights the significance of teaching and making young lads aware of consent, respecting boundaries, and the dangers that come along with engaging with toxic online content.

Beginning as early as primary school, children will be educated on how to fathom and respect personal boundaries, be aware of what the other person is feeling, and deal with rejection and frustration in a constructive and healthy way.

As students grow older, lessons will dive deeper, tackling the power dynamics in romantic relationships and training teens with tools to work through complex emotions like rage and infuriation—the two most prominent factors highlighted in the miniseries amongst others.

The show’s co-writers, Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, who also acts as Jamie’s father, have voiced their desires for the series to ignite real change.

Their vision now seems to be gaining attention, notably after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer recognized the show during Prime Minister’s Questions, talking about how he’s been watching the show with his own teens and supports calls for it to be screened in schools and the parliament.

The show's impact has extended beyond policymaking. Parents of victims who have faced similar violent crimes have also commended Adolescence for throwing light on how important it is to address such grave issues due to the fact that several young lads easily fall prey to misogynistic influencers online, especially in today’s day and age.

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By tapping into the social commentary made and created by Adolescence, schools in the UK now aim to tackle misogyny head-first, nurturing compassion and healthy relationship norms from an early age for young boys.

As Adolescence continues to leave its mark on the minds of the viewers, its real-world impact is certain to leave an even more lasting mark inside classrooms.