University of Edinburgh has fallen

[MsF1t]

The forthcoming Research Seminar: Schools and Gender Diversity has been 'postponed' (as in cancelled) by the University after being pressured by the usual suspects. The event information is below:

The Institute for Education, Teaching and Leadership at the University of Edinburgh invites you to a research seminar on schools and gender diversity. Everyone is welcome, and the seminar may be especially relevant to academics, teachers and student teachers, education policy makers, politicians and parents. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion, with all viewpoints welcomed.

Issues around gender diversity and supporting gender-nonconforming and transgender-identifying pupils in schools are complex, sensitive and often controversial. The Scottish Government is currently working on amended guidance for schools on supporting gender non-conforming children and young people, in the context of wider debates on gender diversity. What should that guidance look like? What understandings of sex and gender should inform it? How should we develop curricula, pedagogies, pastoral care and safeguarding practices that will enable all children and young people to interrogate gender norms whilst ensuring that gender-nonconforming and transgender-identifying pupils are safe, supported and included in schools? This research seminar will critically examine some of these questions, and aims to inform and support the ongoing public debate in Scottish education.

Speakers:
Professor Michele Moore: Head of Centre for Social Justice and Global Responsibility, London South Bank University
Stephanie Davies-Arai: Founder of Transgender Trend
Dr Shereen Benjamin: Senior Lecturer in Primary Education, University of Edinburgh

So depressing. I genuinely thought they were better than this, after they stood firm and supported the 'Women's Sex Based Rights' event where Julie Bindel spoke to go ahead.

(Please excuse any dodgy typos, on phone/knackered/fed up.)

It sounded really valuable too, what a shame

It is a shame they can’t continue to hold it but independently of the university.

Disgusting lack of backbone.

Birdsfoot sadly the event was only about three weeks away, and venues of that size in December are like hens' teeth. Especially within budget.

If anyone feels like firing off an email of protest to the Principal and Secretary of the University, though..?

The details are: Peter Mathieson (university principal) on [email protected] and Sarah Smith (university secretary) on [email protected]

You might also suggest they remove this blog which is full of unsubstantiated allegations and distortions. https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/staffpridenetwork/2019/11/14/committee-statement-re-schools-gender-diversity-event/

Oh FFS. That is ridiculous. I really hope there is some sort of official backlash over this - universities are exactly the place where different views should be heard, even controversial or offensive ones (which this talk isn't)

How long until universities stop teaching biology?

MsF1t that might be true but as an ‘unofficial’ day the numbers would unfortunately drop so a smaller venue might suffice? More of a problem would be getting people to still attend as their conference travel funding might no longer be granted.

On what basis has the university cancelled this? They have legal obligations to secure freedom of speech within the law.

What’s the problem with the event? It sounds trans friendly to me, talking about being inclusive and supporting all students?!? What am I missing?

Genuine question, by the way. I mean, that agenda sounds woke enough to put me off going if it were being held at my university

@InionEile Michele Moore

FFS.. I'll send an email to complain later today.

Thanks, Literally. She seems like a perfectly rational, clear-thinking woman with a lot of professional experience in safeguarding of children - so I can see why transactivists would hate her for all of the above reasons.

'DIE TEEEERRRRRRRFFFFF SCUM!!!!!' etc

Part of the statement from Uni of Edinburgh's Staff Pride Network says:

"We understand LGBT Youth Scotland and Scottish Trans Alliance were also invited to that event and that they declined to participate over concerns for the safety of their staff and that they would not share a platform with speakers who do not accept trans identities as valid. We agree with this stance and declined to participate in any event with these speakers."

and goes on to say:

"We believe that having these speakers with these beliefs at a University of Edinburgh sanctioned event contravenes the University’s commitment to Dignity and Respect(2) and Trans Equality(3) and these speakers should not be allowed this space. It does not “create a positive culture for our trans and non-binary students and staff where they feel supported and respected to live as their true selves”. Indeed, staff and students have told us they are considering leaving the University due to management appearing to endorse speakers such as these."

Concerns for the safety of their staff ?? Ffs.

Us women, with our words... who knew we had such power?

Some of us even tut.

Lol how do they expect to convince people of their position if they are always hiding from debates and discussions?

concerns for the safety of their staff
More like concerns for the egos of their staff.

Indeed, staff and students have told us they are considering leaving the University due to management appearing to endorse speakers such as these."

Oh well, can’t lose those fees and take a hit in the retention rates. Follow the money...it was ever thus.

And “fears for the safety of their staff”...what a load of utter bollocks. They keep perpetuating this bullshit narrative but it still doesn’t make it true. Truly, we are in the Upside Down.

I’ll send an email. That’s absolutely appalling, particularly as my son will probably be going there next year! Pretty sure he has his head screwed on straight, though.

At the moment it is still showing up on Eventbrite. Is there a link to something stating it has been postponed/cancelled?

I'll look out for an announcement and link to it when one appears. Those of us who had booked for it have received emails telling us it has been 'postponed'. However if you look at the blog I posted and a lot of the associated activity on Twitter, it's very clear what has happened.

Thanks, I really do want to protest this!

I'll be emailing the Principal.
I graduated from there in 1999. With a philosophy degree ironically enough.
So disappointing.

Didn't the staff pride network talk a load of nonsense around the time of the last event when Julie Bindel spoke?

Just read the blog link and saw:

.”Due to the refusal of the organiser to host a different event, we are at initial stages of planning an event to explore the imminent Scottish Government guidance, to counteract misinformation, to include speakers who affirm trans people’s existence, not advocate the rolling back of hard-fought legal rights.”

OK, so this event can’t take place because Pride disapprove but they think they should be able to hold their own entirely one sided event?

I can’t believe we are all sitting here watching the demise of free speech.

Hyperventilation is a terrible thing, Superloud.

Wasn't it that same staff PRIDE network who refused to condemn Tattletown's attack on Julie Bindel?

The whole network resigned because of a female (Bindel) speaking out for women's rights:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/06/06/edinburgh-universitys-lgbt-network-resign-en-masse-amid-row/

In addition, while Julie praised security at that event, she had this to say re university staff:

^ He was standing waiting for me ready to attack. However, I blame the academics & the rest of the woke Stasi at Edinburgh Uni that whipped this up into a frenzy, calling us Nazis and bigots and terf scumFor talking about women’s sex-based rights. It ’s just misogyny."

She's bang on. You often have staff and academics stirring the pot, knowing full well that a certain element will seize on their words and take direct action.

And then they'll wash their hands of the effects of it. Like the cowards that they are.^

From the piece by Michael ferns in the times below

This is not to condone bullying or harassment [but] this form of hypothetical protection is ultimately harmful. When you want people to be less afraid, you make them braver . . . you don’t attempt to make the world safe.

“A university’s place is not to shield you from inevitable controversy but to both teach and facilitate debate.”