The Times on Scottish school guidance

[enoughisenough12]

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/record-tally-of-scottish-children-with-gender-issues-38zkf95sb?shareToken=33e7d012b01734fa23a95214e6fd9d6d

Apparently the Scottish government has now said that it doesn't formally endorse the guidance. Frankly it's unbelievable that any organisation can endorse guidance with this type of anti - safeguarding approach .

It's odd that it's taken 7 months and after the guidance has been sent to schools, that anyone's realised that the Scottish government is supportive of it but does not endorse it.

Does that mean that school aren't forced to follow the guidelines, but can if they want?

Also, 63 referrals in 2014, to 222 in 2017, with the average age falling, are worrying trends.

Thanks for this enough Good to see supportive comments so far.
My local health authority wrote a guidance pack for my regions schools largely based on the ' government endorsed' LGBT Scotland guide. It was truely dreadful. I emailed the HA and they sent me the usual bullshit reply but assured me safefuarding would always come first. Not what the pack said. Also wrote to EHRC about it who were supposed to be reviewing it. No reply. Also wrote to local msp about it. Questions ignored. Wondering if the pack will now be withdrawn from schools

James Morton was praised by transadvocates for avoiding public conversation and meeting in private rooms with decision makers to get policy changed.

My favourite comment so far is Aye Right!
Thanks for posting.

Not sure what the times circulation is in Scotland ....

Comments are great

The guidance advises schools on measures to support transgender pupils, including advice that teachers should allow primary school pupils to switch gender identity without seeking parental consent. It also suggests that staff should inform councils about parents who “struggle” with their child’s transgender identity, and says parents should not be told if their children are sharing rooms on residential trips with transgender pupils.

When I read this -a year ago? - in the guidance I was alarmed that these measures seem to have been so casually waved through into Scottish schools with no examination or debate.

I am a parent with three children in schools in scotland and this Guidance - including recommendation that the school should not disclose to me that my child wants to change gender at PRIMARY SCHOOL, no indication that the authorities might want to ask my child why, ask if something has happened to them to make them feel this way, no obligation to share this about my child with me, the parent - is ‘supported’ by the Scottish Government.

Again - did no one with a brain read it before it was sent out?

"It suggests staff should inform councils about parents who struggle..."
Did Scotland push through the child guardianship / named person scheme or was it slung out by the courts?
The undermining of parents is very depressing as well as frightening.
Also it is ridiculous to suggest a child could change identity without informing the parents - will they be one thing at school and then change back at home? Can't see that little secret staying secret for long.

Schools, don't forget to inform on parents! Straight out of the old Maoist playbook, that is.

In terms of the government just not having noticed this and oh it was just a small oversight, I'm with donalddhu - aye right!

Just thought I'd copy in this comment. Silver Lady seems to be a regular sensible contributor to the comments too.

Fratercula arctica 2 hours ago
I don't get it. Grown ups can claim to be the opposite sex without hormones and/or surgery solely based on how they feel inside, and we have to accept the beardy bloke in the dress is a woman just like a genetic woman, but young children should be put on puberty blockers followed by cross sex hormones the moment they utter some doubt about how they feel about themselves.
If James Morton of the Scottish Trans Alliance could explain this to me, I'd be grateful.

Mimmymam
Is that a transcript from the recent social policy forum?

thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3268237-Westminster-Social-Policy-forum-today-Next-steps-for-transgender-Equality-WSPFEvents

Yyy👍

It’s interestimg isn’t it that these conversations were deliberately had face to face with the ‘decision makers’ and not the public.

Oh yes! Also interesting that they are proud of it. There's no shame there that they deliberately didn't talk to service users i.e. Women.

Does anyone know how much money the government has given to the Scottish Trans Alliance.

I was struck by this from the Economist:
"Vic Valentine is the policy officer for the Scottish Trans Alliance, which has been funded by the Scottish Government’s Equality Unit since 2007"

It's not just Scotland. In Wales, the Welsh government recommends using Transgender Guidance for Wrexham Schools in schools across Wales.

gov.wales/docs/dsjlg/publications/equality/160314-transgender-action-plan-en.pdf

According to the Welsh government, the Wrexham Schools document was "informed by good practice in Cornwall". It contains much of the same dubious information as the Scottish document, such as children using changing rooms according to their "gender identity" and parents not being informed about a child's "transgender status".

NonSuchFun named person was pulled apart by the supreme court
no2np.org/tag/uk-supreme-court/

This is really interesting. I think it’s clear all political parties are realising this is a hornets nest.

The Achilles heel of the trans movement is children. People care more about children than silly old women rights. And this will be the downfall of it all, with our children paying the price.

We are in a unique position in the UK as the mess of this policy in USA and Canada a few years on, can clearly be seen.
I support trans rights and I do support safe spaces for trans. However natal sex must also be protected and Women’s spaces/ places/ sport/ etc etc preserved.

I am sure there is a way to do this. If only the discussion was allowed.

Oh shoulda said all political parties apart from Lab-bro.

Thanks Waddle. I wasn't sure. There's still that desire to report parents who "struggle" instead of engaging with parents and school pastoral services suggesting an underlying authoritarian attitude to parents.

Well, and the Greens, I predict them realizing that they've backed the unelectable horse about 10 years or so after everyone else does.

NonSuchFun oh yes. They rolled it out before it was law & some places still push it without making it clear it is now only voluntary.

They had so many groups telling them it was bad law from social workers, child protection charities, home education groups to religious groups but they pushed it through regardless.
Thank goodness for judges!

'Partnership with parents' has been a mantra for schools for decades to try to reverse that old patronising ' school knows best' attitude.

Even when a school refers a child with allegations of physical abuse, they are told to tell parents that they have made the referral, (unless they think this might put the child in danger). That's how strong the principle of openness and working in partnership is.

Yet this movement is busy unpicking evidenced child safeguarding 'rules' with abandon and nobody says anything. Schools MUST affirm and keep serious concerns 'confidential' from parents. They are repeatedly funded by government in various guises despite promoting behaviour that is dangerous to children. What will it take before those in power in social care, medicine etc have the courage to say stop?

How do we push the government to recall/reject the advice (MSPs) or is it better at a school level? PTA/school council/governors?
(Sorry my kids dont go to school so i am never sure if I make sense about schools )

Thanks for that link Waddle, I've just had an interesting wander round that site and came across this:
no2np.org/edinburgh-city-councils-comments-transgender-children-remind-us-fought-insidious-scheme/

“Edinburgh Council… said under-16s should be able to legally change their gender with parental consent. However if parents did not support the move, the child’s Named Person should be able to provide consent instead.”

And there we have it: basic parental rights are being taken over by the state.

'Partnership with parents' has been a mantra for schools for decades to try to reverse that old patronising ' school knows best' attitude.

Even when a school refers a child with allegations of physical abuse, they are told to tell parents that they have made the referral, (unless they think this might put the child in danger). That's how strong the principle of openness and working in partnership is.

Yet this movement is busy unpicking evidenced child safeguarding 'rules' with abandon and nobody says anything. Schools MUST affirm and keep serious concerns 'confidential' from parents. They are repeatedly funded by government in various guises despite promoting behaviour that is dangerous to children. What will it take before those in power in social care, medicine etc have the courage to say stop?

All of this. It's unbelievable this has been able to get as far as it has. What went wrong?