Weald school drops JK Rowling from its House names after transphobia row

Thanks for the star ChattyLion

Thanks NoraEphronsNeck - I don’t mind at all, tho hope you don’t encounter any work issues!

Blackman also does two things I really hate an author doing: 1) she rewrites / undoes the happy ending of the previous book in the first few pages of the sequel, making you feel stupid for caring in the first place, and 2) she values twist endings above the reader's relationship with the characters, or even the reading experience. I thought I'd only got half the book when I downloaded Crossfire!

I'm really surprised that Malorie continues to be the BAME British author. Would it hurt to let someone else take a crack at her crown?

I checked out the Weald School yesterday and thought that in many ways they looked like an excellent school, but was concerned by the recent promotion of queer themed material on their social media.

I noticed that in 2018 The Weald School was awarded a “Wellbeing Award” from an organisation called Optimus Education.

webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:-K3crpp9_MYJ:www.thedistrictpost.co.uk/news/2020/01/the-weald-wins-well-being-award/+&cd=16&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=ms-android-samsung-ga-rev1

These Wellness and Wellbeing related issues are relevant to my interests and I always dig around a bit when they come to my attention.

Optimus Education does a lot of work around issues of diversity and safeguarding with UK schools

Some sample links for readers’ perusal demonstrating links to Stonewall and various people / themes of interest

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200617074017/blog.optimus-education.com/how-tackle-lgbt-bullying-school" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20200617074017/blog.optimus-education.com/how-tackle-lgbt-bullying-school

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200617073414/my.optimus-education.com/conferences/delivering-statutory-relationships-and-sex-education/speakers-0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20200617073414/my.optimus-education.com/conferences/delivering-statutory-relationships-and-sex-education/speakers-0

archive.is/YJ9wY

worthy of further exploration perhaps?

@thisismytimetoshine yup I made a point of keeping any other opinions to myself as I don't believe in judgement by Twitter or being forced to take a shouty black or white position on social media about something others may feel strongly about. not saying you were doing that though

I’d be asking the head why he is such an intolerant bigot intent on pushing a rainbow agenda at kids who are there to, y’know, learn educational stuff?

If I had a child there they'd be withdrawn double quick. I so hope this nonsense bites him on the arse and he has to do a weasely back track.
What idiocy from a supposed educator.

Wow Notpot your letter is amazing. Clear and factual.

I've you don't mind I'm going to use it as a template for any work issues I may encounter in the future.

The HEa really needs to step bank and ask himself - why a i ushing so much of the 'queer agenda' to these kids?

I'm local so the local newspaper has reported it on their Facebook page. The majority of comments are in JKR's favour. Including mine.

In fact one person who agreed, and said women were never denied anything, was piled on and deleted their comment I think. (I replied, but can't find her comment. Might be Facebook being an arse though, you never know) I will point out the pile on was polite, there were no threats etc.

I would be removing my children from their school if the equivalent happened there.

They’ve seen me get angry about what’s happened this week and I’ve told them if it was their school I’d be pulling them out, and why.

McCarthyism. Yes, very much so.

Is anybody else reminded of the backlash against actors etc accused of being communists in the US a few decades ago?

I seem to remember this in the 70s when I was a child. We used to get people to come in and give us wee talks. all sorts of subjects and topics. Its all gone one way these days.

When was the last time so much time and effort was put into disability education, the environment or age concern?

Never. And never will be. Because those topics don't give certain men tingly testicles.

There seems to be a strange amount of teachers/heads bringing (their) sexuality into their school and creating huge amounts of work/themes/workshops/festivals/assembly time etc.

When I was at school your teachers never had sex - fact. But if they did you certainly didn't want to know anything about it.

Bring back the 'be nice, put yourself in other people's shoes, respect yourself and others, don't be a dick' and ditch the sexuality focus.

When was the last time so much time and effort was put into disability education, the environment or age concern?

Juno Dawson one of their favourite authors? Well that isn’t remotely creepy...

I’m an ex student there (from the 90s) and have sent a strongly worded email today as well. Ashamed that my old school has taken this stance.

They can wave goodbye to the chances of a visit or donation from JKR. An own goal, you’d think.

God if my child was in that school she'd be out before the end of the day.

how can you bear all that woowoo?

Actually one of their ' topic theme' lists was published on twitter (could be fake) but its all 'fabulous. I would be writing to the board of governors.

I've emailed the school not about whether she is a transphobe, just saying I'm concerned about their haste and shut down of debate = not good principles for the school. waiting for response. i am a parent there.

I kinda think about the dudes that decided this. Like dementors

Sucking the life and joy out of everything

A woman said what WHAT.

fucking meeting quick. A women said men don’t have periods

Quick quick meeting quick let’s have a meeting. In a safe space

Everyone ok. No one triggered ?

Good good

A woman just said men can’t have periods. Wtaf meeting wtaf

We have to keep our children safe from this pure out and out heresy

We all still safe and ok here meeting ?

But I as head teacher have denounced that heresy.

YES ok I am awesome but hey. 😊

"[The Head] said about half of responses from families had been in favour of the change and the other half were complaints, with children more likely to support the school’s decision than their parents."

I wonder what the gender split is between the supporters and 'the other half'

The head was on Sussex radio this morning about 10am talking about how they made the decision in order to stay out of the discussion. And then goes on the radio to talk about the it. After the sanctimonious Sue sends out her nasty little letter.
Honestly you can't make it up. Nasty, self aggrandising do gooders.