New batshit NAHT guidelines on trans in schools

[pisacake]

www.naht.org.uk/_resources/assets/attachment/full/0/77719.pdf

Rules:

Don't tolerate complaints about trans people: "Forbidding complaints (or fear of complaints) from parents, governors or staff members "

But complaints about transphobia should be encouraged, low numbers means you are secretly transphobic

"Careful records should be kept of the number of complaints made by any staff member (and pupils) that relate to transphobia and the outcomes of these complaints
• Low levels of complaints may suggest individuals have little faith that their complaints will be taken seriously or addressed satisfactorily. An increase in complaints can suggest workers trust the complaints process and trust that the school’s leadership team will take steps to improve conditions"

It's important to teach people about transgender from the earliest age, so that more kids can learn it's totally normal and Stonewall can earn shedloads of money

"Stating clearly to all staff members that it is appropriate and encouraged to cover trans issues in an accessible and appropriate way as part of their curriculum"

" ensure trans students and children with trans parents feel included in their learning, and trans staff members feel positively represented in lesson content and welcomed in the school environment. Primary
school leaders may want to ensure books featuring trans parents or celebrating gender identity and difference are included in the curriculum"

"Ensuring relationships and sex education (RSE) is inclusive of trans people and their experiences"

"ensure the school celebrates diversity by inviting external speakers"

"mark events that celebrate diversity, for instance, Trans Day of Visibility on 31 March "

Trans people can go where they like, if anyone doesn't like it they can fuck off:

"Trans individuals should be able to use the gendered facilities that align with their gender identity
• "it is never appropriate to require trans workers to use unisex toilets or facilities unless these are the only facilities available (or are the facilities preferred by the trans person)
If any member of school staff does not wish to use the ‘ladies’ or ‘gents’ toilets or facilities with a trans person then it is they, not the trans person, who should be asked to use alternative facilities
• Consider making gender-neutral toilets and/or changing facilities available as an alternative to the ‘ladies’ or ‘gents’ facilities. These may be particularly important for individuals who do not identify as either (or exclusively) a man or woman.
"

Don't ask for GRCs and assume everyone has one:

"Not having a GRC must not be used to disadvantage a trans person. Asking to see a GRC is not allowed and may be regarded as harassment. It is best to treat all known trans and non-binary people as though they have the protection of a GRC."

But then follow the part of the GRA www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/7/section/22 which says you shouldn't disclose knowledge of GRC application obtained in official capacity as a scare tactic:

"Under GRA s22(4), if a member of staff discovers in the course of doing their job that a colleague has a trans history and shares that information with another person without obtaining the trans person’s consent, this could be considered a criminal act"

Never mind that if you never find out/ask about GRCs when hiring etc, then you can't be in violation of s22!

[guardianfree]

Presumably Science departments MUST now teach about pink and blue brains (as it's transphobic not to).
Schools will have to stop teaching biological facts about sex differences - we know some TG activists believe biologically correct language like pregnant women. breast feeding, FGM et are transphobic. Without any definitions of transphobia in the guidelines, it means that scientific facts can and will be defined of as transphobic by some. And no one will be able to challenge it.

[thecompletenonsequitur]

Guardianfree yes, definitions and examples of transphobia are needed. What is also needed are guidelines and rules about how to deal with detransitioners - nothing seems to have been put in place for them. I'd call that detransphobic.

[thecompletenonsequitur]

#detransphobic

[QuarksandLeptons]

I think that ultimately these types of guidelines would make any prospective employer not want to go near employing a trans identifying person.

This document effectively details the huge and complicated legal risks an employer opens themselves up to by having a trans identifying person as a staff member.

It shows that you could end up being sued, having your name dragged through the mud and also having to waste valuable work time doing bureaucratic gymnastics trying to fit in with all of these (passive aggressive) recommendations.

The fact is most of these recommendations actively conflict with current legislation (as I understand it) regarding the equality act and that sex is a protected characteristic and that there is a right to sex segregated spaces. Also, Gender recognition certificates were invented so that they could be shown, so surely saying that no one should ever ask for one goes against current law too.

[CertainHalfDesertedStreets]

For those people saying this is illegal - please complain. I think we're all talking to each other but - judging by that post earlier in the week from the dw of an MP the word isn't getting out. The NAHT need to know this breaks safeguarding guidelines and legislation. So I'd say email and tweet if you have arguments that out that forward.

[WTAFisthisshit]

If the NAHT can't work out for themselves that those guidelines contravene both safeguarding and legislation this country is fucked. Headteachers job is to implement effective safeguarding and apply the equalities act!

But yes everybody reading this thread needs to raise these issues whenever and wherever they can.

[CertainHalfDesertedStreets]

Well yeah. Clearly!

But it obviously has escaped them for dome reason. What are their lawyers doing?

[LangCleg]

Is anybody a parent school governor? Or know one? This could be a way of getting the issue heard in school management.

[WTAFisthisshit]

It is governors jobs to read through crap like this and question it! Governors are the biggest group of volunteers in this country, I really, really hope they are all taking their roles seriously and challenging this. It is a safeguarding issue and ultimately if anything goes wrong on their watch it will be their responsibility.

In fact safeguarding is the responsibility of ALL adults and every single adult reading this post his the responsibility to challenge crap like this that contravenes basic safeguarding each and every time they encounter it. That is what I am doing and nobody has disagreed with me or called me a TERF in RL yet.

[LangCleg]

I've been a parent governor in the past and certainly we would have had to put the stamp of approval on any new policies such as this. I don't know if it's all changed now we're in the era of academy chains, but if it's still the case, I'd urge anyone here who does know parent governors, to ask them to consider what's happening in their schools.

[WTAFisthisshit]

Doesn't have to be a parent governor ANY governor needs to be very, very concerned about this. They WILL be responsible if they they allow policies to be implemented that contravene safeguarding and equalities that result in safeguarding incidents in their schools and ultimately academy chains will be sued.

[iseenodust]

Why not get ask to have this thread moved to education board on here?

[iseenodust]

Sorry for the extra get !

[Thelilywhite]

My DCs no longer at school but I would like to do something. There is stuff in the guide which looks very similar to a guide( I have just written to complain about) written by my local health authority for schools. It looks like the dame old sh** is being passed around schools in the UK without any critical thought of the content. Its particularly horrifying that intelligent people like head teachers are subscribing to it when they are in charge of childrens education. Dysptopian indeed!

[IrkThePurist]

I think this needs to be seen on the other boards. I dont know which part concerns me more; the fact that safeguarding and existing legal protections for girls have been ignored, the worrying paragraph on 'not enough complaints means your organisation is transphobic', or the fact that Head teachers have accepted this as a working document.

[Gacapa]

I'm a school governor. I'll be raising this.

[Margoletta]

One of our governors is trans, so awkward for ours to discuss!
The person concerned has been through surgery and fully transitioned, but I wouldn't feel comfortable asking them to contribute to making policies about how trans-identifying pupils could be catered for (it's a single-sex school). Or indeed, pupils that identify as pan-gender, or fluid/no gender.

[WTAFisthisshit]

Margoletta your trans governor should be extremely concerned about the implications of all this to themselves. As a Governor their responsibility is to the institution they represent and the safeguarding of the children in that institution, regardless of their personal circumstances. If they're not able to perform this role they should not be in it.

If you don't feel comfortable advocating for the safeguarding of children you should not be in that position either.

I am sorry to be harsh but this is call to arms time. ALL adults have a responsibility to safeguard all children.

[Nyx1]

Margoletta, a lot of transsexuals have no sympathy for the "transgender pink feelz" arguments.

[JessicaEccles]

Don't tolerate complaints about trans people: "Forbidding complaints (or fear of complaints) from parents, governors or staff members

Does this mean that you can't make any complaints about a trans person? No sexual harassment complaints for instance? Is there any other group of people you are not ALLOWED to make a complaint against?

[hipsterfun]

worrying paragraph on 'not enough complaints means your organisation is transphobic'

Lots of complaints: Your organisation is transphobic.

Too few complaints: Your organisation is transphobic.

[CertainHalfDesertedStreets]

I'm not sure how this gets raised with governors if the school doesn't adopt any aspect of it. Or whether it should be?

At present neither our safeguarding policy nor our equality policy contain any references to trans stuff iirc and I'm quite keen to keep it that way!

[WTAFisthisshit]

If it doesn't come up at a governors meeting for goodness sake don't encourage it! But if it does you challenge on how it fits in with safeguarding and equalities act.

[WTAFisthisshit]

Though your equality policy should recognise that gender identity is a protected characteristic.

[WTAFisthisshit]

Don't tolerate complaints about trans people: "Forbidding complaints (or fear of complaints) from parents, governors or staff members

To be entirely fair schools SHOULDN'T be tolerating complaints about trans kids any more than they should be tolerating complaints about SEN kids, LAC kids or any other vulnerable student.

I.e. I want that trans kid expelled they're a freak no more acceptable than wanting the kid with severe behavioural issues caused by DV expelled

HOWEVER either child assaults your child then how are you safeguarding my child perfectly valid.

The minute a school overrides the safety of the 99% for the 1% they are leaving themselves wide open to litigation and being sued by the 99% is far worse than being sued by the 1%.

Schools are going to have to find a way to manage this and I don't envy them. Challenging the batshit would be best in the long run even if it's uncomfortable in the short term.