Trans training at work

[Debroglie]

The trans train has arrived (with stonewall help) at my workplace (a secondary school) and we are having training on using things like ‘assigned at birth’ and ‘cisgender’ can I refuse to participate on the basis that it is in opposition to my beliefs?
I know I probably can’t but my blood is boiling! Especially for all my lovely gay and lesbian students who will be vulnerable to this crazy brainwashing.
I don’t know what I’m asking but I feel so completely powerless. As a science teacher I have spent my career fighting the idea of ‘lady-brain’ only to find myself now compelled to preach the exact opposite message!

@Megan1992xx

That the two situations were not comparable, that you could self identify your gender but you could not self identify your race, skin colour.

To me the 'appropriation' in each is essentially the same although I find the appropriation of sex more offensive.

What utter nonsense when it's actually the other way around. Sex is a plain biological fact whereas there's very little about "race" that isnt socially constructed. I believe biologists openly deride the idea of "race" in humans given that there is so little difference between human groups in genetic terms. Whereas on the social construction side you've got the "one drop rule", colourism among minorities, etc etc. I believe Italian immigrants to the U.S. originally weren't considered "white"? Also the really appalling use of a term such as "Caucasian" which is deeply rooted in obscure mid-19th century racist ideology and really quite close to terms like "Aryan". (FWIW actual Caucasians, meaning people from the Caucasus, tend to get denigrated as "eti chernye" or "those blacks" in Russia- actually witnessed that myself once).

@Debroglie

We’ve got loads of trans and non binary students. According to our 6th formers the biggest issue in school is teachers not using the correct pronouns or avoiding using pronouns / new names altogether. The training is taped because COVID.

How many have changed names? What years. Are there very many different pronouns? How do your ember them?

Loads? Loads? For goodness sake...

@KittenKong

Loads? Loads? For goodness sake...

I’m just wondering how many is loads. Is it 20% of a class. Is it more girls than boys. Just wondering in percentages how far this has spread. My children had no trans anything at school (Ireland) there were gays and lesbians. But I’d say not even 1%.

I’m not senior enough to have access to the data but I can say for the students I teach there are groups so for eg in year 10 there is a form with 5 non binary students (all transitioned in year 9). Pronouns they/them and changed names in every day use but not all changed on their school records. In my year 13 there are 2 out of a class of 13 so 15%. I have no idea if there is school wide data on this. I know of 2 trans students in year 7. These are just some cases I know of but there are more.
I learn their names like I learn all students names.
If I had a gnc girl at the school I work in I would be very worried about her.

More girls than boys I think but there are both. Some trans girls have a campaign to be allowed to do pe with the girls but so far have not been allowed afaik

I like the idea of an anonymous email to the head. Am going to think carefully about that.

I like the idea of an anonymous email to the head. Am going to think carefully about that.

It seems a nice idea initially but I would definitely think carefully.
Isn't it giving notice that there is a non-believer among the staff? Depending on the Head's views it may give rise to a determination to winkle out the identity of the heretic.
You will have to observe appropriate obeisance to put him/her off the trail.

I don't understand why you wouldn't want to do the training? It's obviously a huge issue with kids these days. You can ask questions, find out more. Even if you disagree, you can clarify your arguments.

@Doona

I don't understand why you wouldn't want to do the training? It's obviously a huge issue with kids these days. You can ask questions, find out more. Even if you disagree, you can clarify your arguments.

You’re right that it’s very important that teachers know how to support students who are unhappy in their bodies or with the sex they have been born but sadly Stonewall are likely not the right people to be advising on this.

But I would definitely go to the training, as would love to hear from the horse’s mouth how a boy can be a girl or vice versa. And I would ask questions as per a PP’s suggestions.

I can understand why the OP wouldn’t want to go in the same way that an atheist would not want to attend training on how to be a good Christian.