To think suspending the teacher was extreme?

[LouBlue1507]

A maths teacher has been suspended, probably going to be sacked for accidently calling a trans child a girl whilst referring 'well done girls' to a small group of girls. He apologised for his mistake, but weeks later the parents complained.

I don't think he's helped himself by going to the press and 'This Morning' but for a class of pupils to lose a good teacher over this?

It's obvious that the majority of teachers need training on transgender, gender fluid etc. It's not fair that they are thrown in the deep end with no training what so ever. I bet most don't even know what half of it even means!

boney

Do you think it's true that the teacher has refused to call the child 'him' as the child has requested?

sagamartha

That is the point, I don't know why he was suspended.

I can add many stories, conspiracy theories, suppositions and anecdotes but none of them would add anything other than more "truths" to the story.

I don't know why he was suspended

Possibly for refusing to call the child by the preferred pronoun - which is different to mistakenly calling the child by their 'old' pronoun?

sagamartha

Its clear that the teacher has issues around the pronouns for this child, but I very rarely call a child "he, "she", "it" around the child. I mostly use the child's first name.

But if the child is always referred as the child's male name, then what is the issue other than one apparent mistake which has been apologised for?

Also if the school had an issue with a bible club then why didn't they pull the plug on it?

sagamartha

you use "possibly" so neither of us know.

But if the child is always referred as the child's male name, then what is the issue other than one apparent mistake which has been apologised for

If a child has asked to be called as 'him' - just like the other children in the class are used to being called by pronouns, and the teacher is refusing to do that - and is treating this child differently, is that an issue that would raise concerns to the school?

All children in a class should be treated equally by a teacher even if a teacher has views that clash with situations.

No matter what the teacher thinks of the situation, they are supposed to treat each child the same.

sagamartha
All children in a class should be treated equally by a teacher even if a teacher has views that clash with situations.

It really doesn't work that way. Teachers should be there to provide the best education for that child, that doesn't always mean that the child gets what they want but what they need.

It should also be pointed out that (from the video linked) that the school may not have communicated the requirements fully to the teacher. And that an employer (even if they are a school) have to protect the rights (and beliefs)of the employee.

Whose rights come first? because neither are currently illegal.

It really doesn't work that way

It really does.

sagamartha

Nope, after many years in the classroom, I can tell you that it really doesn't, for many many reasons.

Nope, after many years in the classroom, I can tell you that it really doesn't, for many many reasons

A teacher should not treat a child differently to others because of personal views held about the group a child belongs to.

If a teacher is allowing their personal views to cloud the way they treat that child, they need to find a new employer.

A teacher should not treat a child differently to others because of personal views held about the group a child belongs to.

Yes

If a teacher is allowing their personal views to cloud the way they treat that child, they need to find a new employer.

and yes

But children are treated differently to suit their needs, ADHD, ASC, ODD, NT, MAT, LAC etc.

But children are treated differently to suit their needs, ADHD, ASC, ODD, NT, MAT, LAC etc

Treating a child differently due to their needs is very different to treating a child 'who just wants to fit in' differently because of the personal beliefs of the teacher.

And if a teacher decides to use their first name INSTEAD of their preferred pronoun because he has personal views about this - but uses pronouns for other pupils, then that teacher is treating another child differently because of the teacher's personal views.

Sexism, racism, homophobia, classism, xenophobia, religious 'isms' shouldn't be tolerated from teachers.

The Daily Mail has a long track record of persecuting transpeople (among others...) Let's not forget that it was a Mail columnist who started the persecution of Lucy Meadows (which ended with her suicide - she had harmed no one).
They are also hardly feminism's best friend.

"It’s about the whole concept of women as a collection of organs to be harvested." Totally agree Datan. But I had heard it would be all the trans men donating wombs. so lots of people having major surgery.

... so lots of people having major surgery to perpetuate the idea that that was how they were born.

I'm not sure how I feel about donated wombs for women. It all seems very risky, and I had years of fertility treatment. Basically, if it is offered, someone will opt for it. But should it be offered, for anyone? with all the risks.

Datun, sorry, typo in name.

The Daily Mail has a long track record of persecuting transpeople

The Daily Mail has a long track record of stirring up hate and mistrust for anyone who is different. Negative headlines, repeated opinion pieces. No surprise they jumped on this - especially as it involves someone whose religious views clashed with trans views.

I think they would have struggled if it had been a Muslim teacher who was suspended instead of a Christian teacher.

I think they would have struggled if it had been a Muslim teacher who was suspended instead of a Christian teacher

I think they would have went to town on Muslim teacher if they had done this to a pupil.

Why can he not just use the pupils' name and not "he" or "she?" That way he can stay true to his beliefs without the child's feelings being hurt.

I think their leader writers' heads would have exploded...

Why can he not just use the pupils' name and not "he" or "she?" That way he can stay true to his beliefs without the child's feelings being hurt

Why treat a child differently to all the others?

No wonder some pupils and adults leave places and start new lives where no one knows their history. It can make life a hell of a lot easier and help them escape people like this teacher.

Until the child has actually had an operation to transition then they are surely still the sex they were born as? Surely they cannot self identify as their desired sex until they have actaully transitioned???? Under 18 is way too early to make such a major decision. Why are these parents not letting the child wait until they can undertand the implications of what they would be consening to? It scares me that vulnerable children with GD are being rushed into doing something which may not help them in the long run.

Is there any medical proof that GD will always need surgical intervention? Are there no other treatment options available for them? Is GD always a lifelong condition anyway or could a child overcome it without surgery, I wonder.

sagmartha sorry, I did not explain that very well. I meant could the teachers not use the child's name and avoid pronouns for ALL the kids? I do agree it i sproblematic if a child is singled out.