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Original poster

Teacher suspended for mis-pronouning child

60 replies

QuietContraryMary · 05/12/2018 16:12

Peter Vlaming is said to have refused to use male pronouns for a FTM trans-child, though he does use the child's new trans-name.

""I won't use male pronouns with a female student that now identifies as a male though I did agree to use the new masculine name but avoid female pronouns. Administration is requiring that I use masculine pronouns in any and every context at school. I was informed that any further instances of using female pronouns would be grounds for termination."

www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/controversy-surrounding-west-point-hs-teacher-placed-on-administrative-leave/1639788748

www.thepetitionsite.com/771/641/032/don%E2%80%99t-terminate-mr.-vlaming

"Legal analyst Russ Stone told 8News that it's uncertain whether or not the school has grounds to fire Vlaming."

OP posts:
HestiaParthenos · 05/12/2018 16:34

Does the fact that he is a French teacher make a difference to the amount of gendered pronouns he would use? Generally I'd expect a teacher to use the child's name in most circumstances.

I don't speak French, but if it is anything like Spanish, then adjectives are gendered, too, so he doesn't have to just use the preferred pronouns, but also male gendered adjectives when talking directly TO the child, and it is no wonder that'd drive him crazy.

Also, it seems like they also objected to him using female pronouns when talking about the child to colleagues, with the child not even present.

Knittink · 05/12/2018 16:34

Does the fact that he is a French teacher make a difference to the amount of gendered pronouns he would use?

Not to the amount of pronouns, no. But potentially there are other things (some verb endings and adjectives) which would show gender, so even if you were using the child's name, you'd still have to choose to use feminine or masculine options in your sentence iyswim.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 05/12/2018 16:32

Woah! That's not a precedent that needs setting in an educations setting.

The school really needs to think carefully about referring him and the GTC should be very cautious. This could have far reaching ramifications

Original poster
QuietContraryMary · 05/12/2018 16:29

Does the fact that he is a French teacher make a difference to the amount of gendered pronouns he would use? Generally I'd expect a teacher to use the child's name in most circumstances.

OP posts:
HestiaParthenos · 05/12/2018 16:25

I hope he can find employment elsewhere.

Have the school thought about what they'll do when, inevitably, more and more children start to identify as transgender, as has happened in several schools already?

How are the teachers supposed to keep in mind just how each and every child identifies?

Orlande · 05/12/2018 16:22

What a bullying dickhead.

KenDoddsDadsDogsDead18 · 05/12/2018 16:20
KenDoddsDadsDogsDead18 · 05/12/2018 16:19

This happened over here. I’ll try & find a link.

Original poster
QuietContraryMary · 05/12/2018 16:17

I suspect this man is also a Christian, as it says he studied theology in France.

OP posts:
GardenOfSeeds · 05/12/2018 16:15

There have been a few cases like this, one was safeguarding concerns at the NUT covered by the Times, the others a Christian teacher and if I remember correctly a case in Oxfordshire for mis-gendering students.

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