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Original poster

Would you mind if your school's head teacher was gay?

130 replies

seeker · 23/07/2008 09:19

Someone started a thread on this topic a few days ago, and I was delighted at the tolerant attitudes shown. However, the thread's title didn't really say what it was about, so I'm not sure the OP got a full range of opinions. So I thought I'd try this and see what happens. Sorry to hijack your discusion, linney!

OP posts:
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hannahsaunt · 01/08/2008 16:29

I happen to know that ds1's first HT was (is) gay. Didn't bother us in the slightest - in fact, was a completely irrelevant/usesless piece of information. He was a v good HT and particularly kind to ds1 which we appreciated.

StealthPolarBear · 01/08/2008 16:33

Yes, if it was a he and he happened to be my DH
Otherwise no
Are there any jobs where sexuality is relevant?

SpookyMadMummy · 01/08/2008 16:59

Sexuality for me not an issue,. An ability to do the job no matter what sexual orientation IS an issue. So no, it would not bother me in the slightest.
The Head Teacher at my DD's school has never had children. That has no bearing on her ability as Head.

edam · 01/08/2008 17:01

Am trying to think of jobs where sexuality might be an issue (justifiably)...

and failing. Of course, that doesn't stop the churches and army etc. etc. etc. getting their knickers in a HUGE twist about it, sadly.

edam · 01/08/2008 17:03

ds's headteacher is also childless. Only thing is it makes her quite intolerant of working mothers. Think she assumes that everyone round here is rich enough to have one partner at home, so she hates the after-school club and thinks the children should all be at home with Mummy.

But that's nowt to do with her sexuality AFAIK.

brimfull · 01/08/2008 17:04

Headteacher at dd's school is gay,or it is assumed she is gay.
Also head of 6th form is gay.

No one cares.

Beauregard · 01/08/2008 17:05

In answer to the OP ,absolutely not.

choccypig · 01/08/2008 17:06

Before reading any posts. NOT AT ALL. Teachers sexuality is completely totally, utterly irrelevant to their ability to do the job. End of.

stitch · 01/08/2008 21:00

a teachers sexuality should have no bearing whatsoever on their ability to do the job. to imply anything else is racist/sexist etc.

i taught in a aschool where the head way gay. the fact that ithought tshe was crap at her job was because she was crap at her job! nothing whatsoever to do with her sexuality. she was a professional in that respect. (probly the onely respect)

stitch · 01/08/2008 21:00

a teachers sexuality should have no bearing whatsoever on their ability to do the job. to imply anything else is racist/sexist etc.

i taught in a aschool where the head way gay. the fact that ithought tshe was crap at her job was because she was crap at her job! nothing whatsoever to do with her sexuality. she was a professional in that respect. (

charliecat · 01/08/2008 21:01

no

yama · 01/08/2008 21:03

To answer the op - no.

Has anyone actually said 'yes'?

Hulababy · 01/08/2008 21:05

No, not important.

expatinscotland · 01/08/2008 21:05

no

MrsWeasley · 01/08/2008 21:06

Not at all.

It doesnt come into play anymore than the fact DD's 2 teachers are divorced and one is living with her DP.

Quattrocento · 01/08/2008 21:06

No - but you need a few Daily Mail readers on this thread for a truly heated debate

girliefriend · 01/08/2008 21:06

NO!

LaDiDaDi · 01/08/2008 21:08

No. I'm not sure why/how I would know about their sexuality though tbh (unless of course I was shagging them to boost dd's grades)

zippitippitoes · 01/08/2008 21:11

no

but my dd1 english teacher a few years ago did have to leave because he was a member of the labour partyy and was on tv on some programme about the eurovision song contest and julian clary

Original poster
seeker · 02/08/2008 06:50

LaDiDa - you would presumably know about their sexuality when they brought their partner to the school fete, barn dance or when you bumped into them in Tesco!

OP posts:
ghosty · 02/08/2008 07:33

Haven't read the thread but I wanted to tell you a very funny story ...
One of the Prep teachers (Prep is Reception in Australia) at DS' school is gay and I am really hoping DD will have him next year. From what I hear and see he is a fantastic teacher and the children LOVE him.
At the recent school fundraising ball (parent and staff affair) he brought his partner and no one batted an eyelid when they had a smoochie slow dance ...

ghosty · 02/08/2008 07:36

PMSL - started to tell a funny story about the reaction of ONE mother at the ball (the only one who did bat an eyelid) .... but then I deleted it as it didn't seem so funny in translation ... but forgot to delete my first sentence ... doh! I'll get me coat ...

goldndiamonds · 02/09/2008 12:31

No.

Zazette · 02/09/2008 12:46

My kids are at different schools, BOTH of which have gay headteachers (one out, one merely rumoured about by the out one, rather impertinently...). They are both very good at their jobs.

snarky · 02/09/2008 12:46

my housemistress at school was gay - her partner ran the house directly beneath ours and they lived together in the flat in between. They shared a vehicle/dogs/everything quite openly. No, I didn't mind! They were a very stable and affectionate and loyal couple so IMO great role models for the young girls in their care.

While I can see charliegal's point and sympathise though, I can't see what the point would be in deluding oneself that society has moved beyond the point where these debates are unnecessary. The fact is that people DO still deride and snigger/object indignantly to gay people in pastoral care roles with childre, as well as in a range of other contexts. The idea that one is being "tolerated" by "normal people" out of the goodness of their hearts si very offensive - but these attitudes are out there, in fact they are still prevalent, not to mention the vociferous minority who still think it's their civic duty to spread hatred and aggression towards gay people. So instead of trying to smother the debate because it upsets you, direct your ire towards the idiots who make discussions like this continue to be necessary! As far as I can see this thread and debates like it are a force for the good, even if they do remind gay MNers that society still contains hostile elements. If overt racism still prevented black people from working with white children to the degree that it did 50 years ago, then I would certainly expect to see thread like this debating that issue. And I'd be angry with the racists, not the person who provoked a civil discussion about it.