English teacher tells class that JKR is transphobic

[QpopTYUIop9]

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 .

[SweetPetrichor]

But JKR is transphobic...it’s her gimmick right now. I don’t see anything wrong with telling the truth...

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

@Viviennemary, here's the piece. Read it for yourself and see what you think. I can't see a transphobic word in it. www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/

[Precipice]

I struggle to think of any views that nobody has criticised.

JKR's "transphobia" is very simple. She believes that those who are female should have their own label/name (women) and be able to organise on that basis. That's the basics of it, and that is what some people are baying against.

[donquixotedelamancha]

But JKR is transphobic...it’s her gimmick right now. I don’t see anything wrong with telling the truth...

It's a political viewpoint that (presumably) feels JKR supporting single sex spaces is transphobic. No teacher should be telling Y7s what to think about politics.

No so long ago any support for women's rights was not the majority view. You really do not want teacher being allowed to tell kids the 'truth' just because you agree with that particular opinion- the government will dictate plenty of views you don't support.

[RainingBatsAndFrogs]

@SweetPetrichor

But JKR is transphobic...it’s her gimmick right now. I don’t see anything wrong with telling the truth...

She has specifically says she supports trans people's rights, etc.

How is it 'transphobic' to say that under certain circumstances the difference between sex and gender is important to some women?

Do you consider it homophobic to state a fact of biology such as 'a same sex couple cannot have a biological child together' ? And think that the definition of 'biological child' should be stretched to include 'adopted' or 'IVF and surrogate' etc, because after all they parents 'feel' that the child is their biological child?

JK seems to be Gender Critical.

That is not the same thing as Transphobic.

It simply means that you recognise that sex is a fact, and that women have as much right to identify with their sex as transwomen have to identify as gender.

[GNCQ]

But JKR is transphobic...it’s her gimmick right now. I don’t see anything wrong with telling the truth...

Her... Gimmick??
So standing up for women against the onslaught of gender ideology is a gimmick now?

[Chicchicchicchiclana]

Absolutely complain. This person should not be teaching.

[IdblowJonSnow]

I would complain about this too. My 10 year old recently said the same about jkr and we spoke about it. She's very intelligent but I'm not sure it was a conversation she, or I, was quite ready/prepared for.

Very poor that a conversation wasn't held, rather than just presented as a fact - and incorrectly imo.

[GreyhoundG1rl]

A fucking gimmick???

[toffeebutterpopcorn]

@JustTurtlesAllTheWayDown

I can also imagine it coming up quite easily in an English class. All they'd have to do is talk about favourite books and it's likely Harry Potter would come up.
I can imagine a gender enthusiast would be more than eager to rush in and 'educate'.

Not really. Why would a teachers personal bigoted views have any relevance in any class?

I would complain to the head. I’ve had enough of this nonsense. I’d also say the teacher needs to explain to the class why she was talking mince. But then, like I said, I’ve had enough of this poison.

[Erkrie]

But JKR is transphobic...it’s her gimmick right now. I don’t see anything wrong with telling the truth...

Are you actually able to explain why you think she's transpohobic? Or is this just a dump and run gimmick?

[ChristinaXYZ]

@QpopTYUIop9

Believe me I'd love to (and still might) but my child is terrified of the fallout on them - they are all like sheep and now the whole class believes the narrative.

Complain and invoke GDPR - tell which ever senior member of staff you complain to that the complaint is being made on a need to know basis and it is confidential - mark the envelope confidential and only to opened by X. Tell them that that they don't have your permission to reveal the compliant came from you via your child nor to may they tell your child you've written and that the data should be managed on those terms. Add that you'd like this senior member of staff to have a quiet word with the teacher on the subject of balance and politics and then some kind of balanced follow -up lesson with your Y7's class on JKR to be delivered either by that teacher or under another guise by someone else ie PSE. Point out you know this is awkward for the school but this would not be necessary had the teacher done a good job of balance in the first place. You could ask that they confirm that all staff will be reminded of their responsibilities on the next training day.

Write that you appreciate hard working teachers, difficult job, etc., etc. but that you'd appreciate this sorted quickly and quietly. Point out how mild and reasonable your request is considering that the teacher broke the guidance on political neutrality and libelled a public figure in front of a whole class. Infer that you will take this further but you know such a well managed school that your fortunate that you know already you won't have to! You hope to hear confirmation of te=he above and you'll let the matter drop. Bla, bla...

this gives them a way to reverse ferret fairly painlessly. That way your child is not embarrassed (you don't even have to tell him or her you've written) and the teacher gets to teach another day with no humiliation but a lesson learned.

If you don't know which member of senior staff is most likely to be sympathetic pick on one who you know how is belt and braces on GDPR type things and/or the oldest female science or female history teacher from the senior management team - most likely to either get the biology or get the long view of feminism. Bit of generalisation but I'd avoid heads of year / pastoral staff as they'll be dealing with the gender fluid kids and might be too involved with strong personalities amongst the kids.

Just remember you have data rights as well as parental ones. I have done the above successfully on a different subject.

[QpopTYUIop9]

Thanks for all the comments. I’m still not sure what I will do. It seems it was a throwaway comment by the teacher in that they weren’t specifically studying JKR or transphobia. The reason it came up at home (and that I found out) is because my child asked me what the word “transphobic” meant - and then explained where they had heard it.

[gardenbird48]

@ahagwearsapointybonnet

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

good point. Some people are determined to drag children into their ideology.

Harry Potter and JK's books have got so many children into reading - many of the kids in that class will be fans and it is absolutely disgusting that they are being told that it is bad to like her.

Definitely agree re. correction and apology and reassurance. You send your children to school to learn the basics, not be indoctrinated.

[Zinco]

No so long ago any support for women's rights was not the majority view. You really do not want teacher being allowed to tell kids the 'truth' just because you agree with that particular opinion- the government will dictate plenty of views you don't support.


Yep. Ordinary rules of free speech in the adult world don't apply to teachers giving their personal propaganda to children who are too young to critically assess viewpoints and come to their own conclusions.

I mean, yes, force Christianity on kids in school, (if I had to dress up for nativity plays then the next generations can put up with it also), but personal politics of teachers is going too far...

[MissLucyEyelesbarrow]

Just to say that, if anything, it's slander, not libel and that it probably isn't either as it would be unlikely to meet the 'serious harm' threshold required.

I would stay away from this sort of accusation, which weakens your case, if anything, because it sounds overblown and isn''t really a worry for the school - slander is a civil matter, and JKR is hardly likely to sue the school.

[Helmetbymidnight]

The 'JKR is transphobic crowd' are just so....inarticulate aren't they.

There's about three of them here and their arguments amount to:

she is. someone told me she is. She really is.

It's the whole movement all over: no evidence, no logic, no critical thinking.

What happened to people?

[DialSquare]

I always take the TWAW believers version of the truth with a pinch of salt.

[Erkrie]

What happened to people?

I know. It's very sad.

[sangrias]

It would be worth finding out what the teacher actually said. I'm surprised an English teacher would say anything resulting in kids not reading Harry Potter!

If my DC came home saying this, I would want some info (probably from the head of department or head of year) as to what what said in context. 'Transphobia' is a big subject to be bringing up in year 7, isn't it?

[ValancyRedfern]

Please complain. There are a lot of GC teachers willing you on! It shouldn't involve your child at all; she doesn't even need to know.

[Beamur]

I think I would ask the Head of Year to clarify exactly what was said. If the teacher did say this and if so, what relevance it has to the curriculum.
A mean throwaway comment by the teacher about a much loved author like that is pretty unkind...

[nevernotstruggling]

@SushiYum

Sections 406 and 407 of the 1996 Education Act prohibit the promotion of partisan political views in schools. Teachers cannot actively promote their views in the classroom.

Im screen shotting this it's so useful!!!

[timeisnotaline]

I too would complain and add I’m concerned about the failure to demonstrate evidence based or critical thinking in an English class, and even more so in the current environment concerned re seeing prominent women being shot down in this manner and the way having that as an example of normal acceptable behaviour is influencing our young people.

[moofolk]

Definitely flag this. Lazy thinking and virtue signalling is not appropriate behaviour for an English teacher