I opened the can...

“Christmas1988

You have to keep your opinions to yourself and be as neutral as possible. Your job is to teach not brainwash, open and non bias thinking only in the classroom. It’s up to students to make their own minds up.“

So are you saying a lesson should go something like this:

Some people think the earth is flat because it certainly looks that way. Some people think it is round because when they start at one point and keep going they don’t come to an edge but back where they started. What do you think?

Some people think that men and women are born because that is how it has always appeared on the basis of their physical differences. Other people think that there is no such thing as a man or a woman based on physical differences, it depends on what they feel they are and you can change your physical differences. What do you think?

I was also wondering what you would say if a student asked, “Is it true you can change your sex?” Would the truthful answer ,”No one can actually change their sex” be political and impartial?

“SunbowRainshine31

There must be strict rules as to what can be taught to children.

Extreme political positions are not a good idea, especially those that already go against equality legislation on the books.

How would you feel if a NeoNazi teacher went rogue and filled kids heads with extremist propaganda.

Have you considered another career?“

Since when has being able to say what a woman is an “Extreme political position”?

And I would say it is only under some sort of very malign regime that you may not say what a woman is.

Concerning the OP, I’m a bit mystified as to how this seemingly “gotcha” question appeared on the quiz. I find it impossible to believe that this question could be asked without the intended outcome of a very pointed discussion about biological sex.

Lots of schools do quizzes in PSHE or tutor about what's been in the news. Yes one of the points of this is to encourage discussion. It's literally a form tutor's job.

Which is what it sounds like you've done

It's nothing like what she's done. This isn't analogous to thinking being gay is unnatural.

Tell them they are being like Putin.

Are we saying the kids have invaded Ukraine or the school?

This thread has gotten a little hyperbolic.

How would you feel if a NeoNazi teacher went rogue and filled kids heads with extremist propaganda.

Christ, you are just embarrassing yourself. At worst OP spoke in favour of a position which is the law as it currently stands- hardly comparable to Naziism.

Tell them they are being like Putin.

This pandering to lying has to stop.

Women are being raped in prisons and hospitals due to self ID. It’s a fact that self ID is dangerous for women. That’s not comparable with spouting neo-Nazi views or homophobia.

[quote Palmfrond]@viques

Sorry, don’t agree, there are some topics and ideas that is is right and proper that teachers show a bias towards. It is not brainwashing to state an opinion about a personal opposition to racism, sexism, fascism to name three examples.

Unfortunately what constitutes racism, sexism and fascism has become increasingly unclear in recent years, so, while I personally believe there is an essential definition of each of those things, many people would differ, and indeed might see my version as “brainwashing” and vice versa.
What i think is far more important is to teach critical thinking with a basis in the golden rule, and I would presume, at least as far as social sciences are concerned, that that is the motive of a good teacher. So, sorry, I don’t agree with you.

Concerning the OP, I’m a bit mystified as to how this seemingly “gotcha” question appeared on the quiz. I find it impossible to believe that this question could be asked without the intended outcome of a very pointed discussion about biological sex. Very odd.[/quote]
Yes. There are parents in the US, including non-white parents, deeply disturbed about what their children are being taught from a supposedly anti-racist perspective in school. Stuff like "whiteness" being problematic.

It would be nice if we could feel confident about what teachers might say about such things. But given that many don't seem to be able to understand that there is more than one way to think about these topics, they need to be quiet about it.

I think directly linking self-id to rape is offensive to most people.

I just wanted to say I appreciate what you did and said, and I think in time to come, hopefully not that long even, given the Cass Review and Baroness Nicholson’s speech this week, these young people will come to realise that.

I hope you are okay. I’ve found it increasingly hard to bite my tongue at work (new role, one woke bro in particular). It’ll spirit its way out of my mouth at some point, quite looking forward to it.

That isn’t the “fact” she talked to them about though. She said it was “dangerous” for women. That’s an opinion.
This.
You stay neutral as a teacher, you don't give your opinion.
Would you say as fact that being gay is an unnatural act and goes against nature?
Of course you wouldn't.
You'd be entitled to hold those beliefs (just for clarity, I don't!) but not express it to your pupils as fact.
Which is what it sounds like you've done.

@viques

Sorry, don’t agree, there are some topics and ideas that is is right and proper that teachers show a bias towards. It is not brainwashing to state an opinion about a personal opposition to racism, sexism, fascism to name three examples.

Unfortunately what constitutes racism, sexism and fascism has become increasingly unclear in recent years, so, while I personally believe there is an essential definition of each of those things, many people would differ, and indeed might see my version as “brainwashing” and vice versa.
What i think is far more important is to teach critical thinking with a basis in the golden rule, and I would presume, at least as far as social sciences are concerned, that that is the motive of a good teacher. So, sorry, I don’t agree with you.

Concerning the OP, I’m a bit mystified as to how this seemingly “gotcha” question appeared on the quiz. I find it impossible to believe that this question could be asked without the intended outcome of a very pointed discussion about biological sex. Very odd.

And yes it stinks that this kind of teacher led opining is allowed on the other side of this question, and many others.

I think OP that you probably could have handled this better. You can help students explore controversies but it is really better to leave your personal views out of it. You can ask pointy questions, encourage the students to discuss it from different viewpoints, ask them to try and articulate the real nature of the controversy.

Biology isn’t an opinion. It’s a fact.

That isn’t the “fact” she talked to them about though. She said it was “dangerous” for women. That’s an opinion.

They do often share TWAW views with students though

And worse than that, sometimes they actively teach it as part of the school's curriculum.

Glad there are teachers with facts, teaching our children.
Facts.
Good on you OP.

Oh my goodness, you are so brave. Thank you.

I don't normally comment but a very similar question was in a quiz for my year 9. Their response was starkly different to the sixth-form response.

Exactly this. You should not have got on your personal soap box in class and in front of any students.

As a teacher your job is to be impartial, you did not do this.

I agree. Not sure why we think it’s ok for teachers to give personal views on this issue, but if OP had posted a similar thing about, say, telling children that they are wrong to say there is no God, as she is a devout Catholic, she would have been roundly set upon.

Time and place and all that.

Talking to children about trans women in prison, but not talking to kids about inspirational trans women, writers, actresses, scientists etc, is never going to look like anything but bigotry, whether or not you think you only covered 'facts'.