English teacher tells class that JKR is transphobic

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Just that really.
I'm absolutely fuming.
30 kids now "hate" JKR apparently.
This is an abuse of influence surely, not to mention a worrying lack of critical thinking.
I've printed out the "transphobic" tweets so my Y7 child can make up their own mind. With a lot of ranting from me in the background .

If you call their work and get them into trouble, are you lowering yourself to the level of the no platformers?

I don't think you can compare the two. A teacher shouldn't be viewing their position as a "platform" from which to air their politics or opinions. They have a responsibility towards those children and should be providing neutral, balanced and relevant information, and helping children to understand the context. They absolutely should not be presenting their opinions as facts and giving biased, inflammatory snapshots of a topic that isn't appropriate, especially without providing any context whatsoever. It's not about getting the teacher punished or silencing her; she is perfectly free to spew her poison on Twitter or TikTok as a private individual on her own time. It's about ensuring that she is prevented from using her position of trust to attempt to manipulate other groups of children in the same way, and ensuring that she is monitored and reminded of her responsibilities as someone who people trust to educate their kids.

Short version: This isn't her platform. It's her job.

She is.

@PolytheneHam

She is.

Lol. I see this claim contains the usual amount of evidence.

Definitely report. Repeating random abuse toward women from social media is not ok.
This

This shit is a parallel pandemic.

How did such nonsense take hold?

Scary

@eurochick

I'd be inclined to play dumb. Contact the teacher. Say your child came home saying JKR was transphobic. You were curious so you went and found her essay online. You couldn't find anything transphobic in it. Could the teacher please point you to the transphobic statements so you can discuss them with your child?

It might make the idiot actually read the stuff.

This is perfect. And if you don’t get a decent response, then escalate. This is terrible.

@eurochick

I'd be inclined to play dumb. Contact the teacher. Say your child came home saying JKR was transphobic. You were curious so you went and found her essay online. You couldn't find anything transphobic in it. Could the teacher please point you to the transphobic statements so you can discuss them with your child?

It might make the idiot actually read the stuff.

I think this approach is a good one.

@PolytheneHam, what has she written that is transphobic? Genuine question as I can’t find anything and no-one has ever been able to show me when asked.

100% complain.

[quote crumpet]@PolytheneHam, what has she written that is transphobic? Genuine question as I can’t find anything and no-one has ever been able to show me when asked.[/quote]
Id like to know this to. Usually when I ask I get told "you just don't want to see it" or "well its obvious"

I’m a coward having once emailed my child’s school about the lack of homework and my email was read out in the class with the teacher telling my child’s class that my email is the reason he is handing out homework. Thankfully they didn’t say my names but my kids knew it was me.

So I would complain anonymously - I would send a letter to the governors copied yo the HT.

That has made me giggle out loud!

@Coffeeandcocopops

I’m a coward having once emailed my child’s school about the lack of homework and my email was read out in the class with the teacher telling my child’s class that my email is the reason he is handing out homework. Thankfully they didn’t say my names but my kids knew it was me.

So I would complain anonymously - I would send a letter to the governors copied yo the HT.

That is a shitty thing for the school to do but also quite funny. I bet school pick up that day was interesting

@PolytheneHam

She is.

She isn’t

(Im assuming this is how it works...if it is then im gonna be awesome at this evidence based discussion malarkey)

I'm an English teacher, who line manages other English teachers.

I'm also a KS3 parent.

& generally, I'm team teacher on here, tbh.

This one?

Complain? Holy crap, I'd go bloody nuclear. It's libel & it's ignorant.

I think there is a big difference between running to people's employers about things they say OUT of work and complaining about things they say in work whilst doing their job. Its completely different.

I don't have a problem with a teacher expressing an opinion, especially with older kids, but it should be presented as an opinion not fact. And ideally backed up with supporting evidence. Not just "such and such is a bigot".

If you call their work and get them into trouble, are you lowering yourself to the level of the no platformers?

No. The wokestazi attack people when they have no involvement in the situation, about matters completely irrelevant to their jobs and without any nuance or context the offending remarks.

I'm a teacher. If a colleague screwed up like this I'd want to know so I could set them straight- not least so they don't get themselves in bigger trouble next time.

It is not on teachng opinions to students.

I've got colleagues who would definitely say things like this, and would LOVE to see them pulled up on it. Definitely contact the school, OP.

I would go straight to the teacher, engage them in a conversation about it. Also ask them if the school library has any JK Rowling on the shelf. Even if the teacher or the librarian find the JK Rowling problematic, her books are not.

Yes. I would be raging at this and want to bring it up with the HoD or head. It's not at all like dobbing someone in for airing their opinions on twitter or similar, outside of their work - this teacher has been a) propagandising to a class of children while at work (and breaching the government guidelines on politicisation in doing so), b) slandering JKR publicly, and c) very likely upsetting many of the children in the class by abusing a much-loved author of their favourite books like this.

I would actually want some sort of correction/apology given to the class, and reassurance that they aren't doing anything wrong if they are HP fans and are still free to wear their favourite T-shirts etc. Some of them are probably feeling awful now and it may have spoiled the books for them permanently

I think the ‘prevent’ agenda covers extreme views being taught in schools- might be worth looking into that.
Maybe worth emailing the Head and Chair of Governors to ask them to explain to you in writing if the school’s policy is in accordance ie that women’s rights are transphobic and hate-worthy. Perhaps asking them to justify how their position or at least what was said in the lesson, fits with the new legislation.

I thought she was. Other people have spoken out and criticised her views.

I thought she was. Other people have spoken out and criticised her views.

Why do you think she was?