To think some people shouldn't be allowed to remain as school governors

[sizzledrizz]

A school governor at my dad's primary school has openly expressed homophobic views. She insists that homosexuality is a choice. She also stated, when challenged that people should hide their preferences, and not act on them.
I was too gobsmacked at this point and had to walk away.
But this woman is a parent governor! Surely there are rules on who can be a parent governor

[sizzledrizz]

At my dd's primary school, not dad's 🙄

[Papillon45]

Is it a church school?

[kitkatsky]

Erm I agree her views are abhorrent, but her opinion will not inform school policies (fellow parent gov!) If its a contentious issue like sex Ed policy for example, she can share her views but doesn't mean it'll inform overall policy, so essentially in that circumstance school would write policy, then govs ok it/ don't ok it. I'd imagine majority of govs absolutely ok with homosexuality wtcin which case she'd just get voted down/ ignored.

Have you thought about governance yourself btw? Such a good experience if you have the time x

[WorraLiberty]

There will be school governors up and down the country to hold views that neither you nor I would agree with.

However, no single governor gets to make changes at the school, that's down to the governing body as a whole.

If it trickles back to the chair that she's stated these views in public, they may decided to have a word.

[WorraLiberty]

*Who - not 'to'

[Takethebuscuitandthesink]

I agree her views are reprehensible. But I think you are setting a very dangerous precedent to say certain people can’t hold certain positions because of their views. Someone should run against her on an anti homophobia platform she must be removed. But she must be removed democratically.

[mummyhaschangedhername]

I am a governor and I read on a forum recently someone asking a similar question, about someone being strongly and openly religious. They had apparently put it in the bio about themselves as a Governor.

I think while there was some concern, overall there was a recognition that having opposing views can be heathy, but I suppose it depends on how they act. Generally governors HAVE to take onboard the majority decision even if they don't personally agree.

Also, governors don't really have all that much "power" in the schools day to day activities. They oversee things and hold the senior management to account for decisions etc. They over see the budget etc.

Governors do employ the head and sit on employment interviews, but not all governors, it would be wise to not have a governor with strong homophobic views on that panel.

Several of the governors on my schools governing body are counsellors for a specific political party, which they strongly push their agenda but even with them, it's still majority decision so as long as everyone has had their say it usually still becomes a diplomatic decision.

[StopMakingAFoolOutofMe]

Most of the teaching staff at my last school were homophobic bigots, never mind the governors?

[StopMakingAFoolOutofMe]

Not supposed to be a question

[onthenaughtystepagain]

Someone once said and I paraphrase, I disapprove of what you're saying but will defend your right to say it. Voltaire I believe. Saying everyone has to agree with you puts you in the Hitler league.

[austenozzy]

As PP have said, governing boards have to stick to the script when it comes to what’s been decided by the board. Since she will hopefully be in a minority of 1, her bigotry shouldn’t find its way into any policies or decisions. Governance should always be strategic and not operational, so she will nothing to do with day to day running of the school. Write to the chair of governors and the head if you think her influence overreaches her station. Get it on the record and speak to other governors. Their details will be on the school’s website and or easily available from the school office, by law.

[MissClareRemembers]

The governor’s views are dreadful, however school governors are simply human beings with differing views on all sorts of things. If this particular Governor is expressing these views as school policy or opinion then that could be a problem and is worth addressing.

[ForalltheSaints]

I was one for a few years, and if any of the governors held homophobic or racist views, they never showed them. If they have not been expressed in school or any other capacity as a governor, then I expect nothing could be done in relation to their appointment as one.