School LGBTQ+ staff survey

[BlackAlys]

The secondary school I work in has had a huge drive towards LGBTQ+ matters for about 2 years now. We have rainbows and flags everywhere, our PSE lessons are heavily weighed towards trans issues and now, a staff survey has arrived asking us how comfortable we are with challenging homophobic and transphobic behaviour.

It also asks whether we understand what deadnaming is and whether we feel confident to address the issue with pupils, would we quietly deal with it or would we report pupils officially on the school system.

Its final 2 questions are about our awareness of the term cisgender and assesses our confidence to discuss these terms with pupils.

I'm really unhappy with the heavy emphasis on this whole issue. I'd have no problem tackling homophobic/transphobic behaviour but I see cis and cisgender as offensive, made up terms that are slowly being shoe-horned into normality. There isn't a space to comment neither so my only option is to not fill it in.

I am anticipating the large (and growing) group of LGBTQ+pupils to want more PSE lessons on trans issues. Id like to be able to say my piece succinctly and to the point but I'm lost for words.

First I would forgot to fill it in. Second, be very careful about challenging your pupils. Not saying don’t, but do it carefully and in a considered way. Eg just as you don’t want to be misgendered, you cannot impose the label cis on others. Keep bringing it back to higher authorities - the law, EHRC guidance, the NHS etc.

I already have to be very careful.
The pupil group here are a large bunch of teenagers who talk obsessively about the whole movement. All of their parents are 'transphobic' and they loathe JKR with a passion. They are extremely vocal. They are an inclusion group who have pushed for LGBTQ+ to be included in lessons so all of our departments have to include it - our French, Spanish, Tech, Humanities, Science - have to submit schemes of work to include LGBTQ+.

This staff survey follows the 'what's your pronoun' email signature drive, which I not only ignored, but was heard by SMT to say "sod off, not your business to ask".

I think I'm already noted for such views as after the above event (last year), some colleagues have already asked pointedly whether I've filled in the latest survey. I honestly don't want to be seen as the transphobic staff member - I'm most certainly not homophobic - but the transgender push in schools is incredibly divisive. How do I stick to my guns AND gently point out the enormity of this 'let's be kind' movement?

If you elevate a small number of your pupil cohort above the others - calling them special, letting a boy play sport and get changed with the girls, constantly talking about how important it is not to be transphobic, rather than calling out all bullying -

• why are you then surprised if lots of the kids start saying they are trans?

www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/social-contagion-not-biology-is-causing-transgender-surge

They are an inclusion group who have pushed for LGBTQ+ to be included in lessons so all of our departments have to include it - our French, Spanish, Tech, Humanities, Science - have to submit schemes of work to include LGBTQ+.

WTAF?!
I heard some Open University students complain a year or so ago about it being shoehorned into maths (or something similarly irrelevant) courses. But across the high school curriculum?

Surely this goes directly against what the government has said recently? Maybe you should anonymously send this survey to Braverman with the Head's contact details? And include details from the above paragraph.

In the meantime I'd be tempted to hold my nose and fill it in with the answers you know they want. You presumably need to keep your job. I think it's abhorrent, but unless you can actually afford the repercussions(not only financially) of standing up to this, I don't think you should.

If you are in a Union I would see a Union solicitor about the need to fill it in. The whole thing about cisgender etc can of course be challenged on scientific grounds anyway - there is no such thing. Sounds as f your school has gotten in with Stonewall or some other Barney extremist group.

How the hell an you teach Spanish and French where there are gendered nouns if you can't say things are male or female?

It’s your senior leadership’s fault for letting this situation get to this point. Pupils shouldn’t be elevated to a point where they’re dictating lesson plans or content to this extent.

It’s what happened during Mao’s cultural revolution, and look where that led for teachers who weren’t ‘pure’ enough (and the subsequent consequences for the rest of China and its economy).

I agree with you all.
The situation is nuts.
Other pupils have been overheard complaining about the incessant inclusion into all lessons.

The languages unit are using 'they' but even then, the gendered nouns are causing issues.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can say about the cisgender questions? I'm happy enough to fill in the rest of the survey - any form of bullying or harassment is abhorrent and I'd always tackle it head on - but I don't believe in 'cis' and I resent having to acknowledge it.

The students are taking the teachers what to teach.

Yup. This is going to end well.

You are dealing with kids.
Treat it the same way you'd question any group of them becoming overly passionate about anything.

Imagine it was a group on climate change advocating to suspend school bus services on all routes. What would you do? Do that.

I would be pointing out the DFE is bringing out new schools guidelines on this and you are waiting to see what they say.

The fucking head teacher needs to sort the power trip from this overindulged student group asap.

They need to be told to cis off.

The survey has been sent by a middle management teacher who heads this group.

It's via Microsoft forms which carries staff's names and ID's. I'm not sure if I'll be asked why I haven't completed it, but I want to be ready with an answer. Any suggestions?

If asked just say that you are not doing it.

Awful situation to be in OP. My instinct is to pick your battles? This is a trite and pointless questionnaire that reflects badly on an adult pushing queer theory and with limited insight into child psychology / development .

Your first priority is to yourself and your teaching career. Until there's some professional back up, I'd be looking to move schools and keep absolutely silent in school about your concerns. This is an ideology that is hysterically policed with intimidation and bullying being the tools. There are too many casualties amongst adults trying to centre safeguarding and schools are going to need compassionate insightful adults in the future who can see the impact of social contagion and adult grooming on teenagers so it's important that we all stay in the system as far as possible..

Sorry not to be more constructive as you're right to be concerned - but I'd just ignore it and perhaps invest some time in the numerous other equality / inclusion issues facing schools and students?

In answer to your quastion about what you say, I'd casually answer with a "Oh I've been so caught up with the underacheivement of group project / young carers initiative / peer support training / anti bullying / analysing data of attainment of group etc, it must have passed me by...."
Smile and off you go.

I would just say - oh yes, it’s on my to do list. Will aim to do it tonight. And repeat.

"Other pupils have been overheard complaining about the incessant inclusion into all lessons."

This is promising to hear

Teens tend to push back against their parents & find their opinions irrelevant / daggy

If they keep pushing this agenda in schools hopefully the youth will start to speak up about it & push back!

@GeriSignfeld Yes, our cohort in general are pretty tolerant and very accepting (large city centre comprehensive, high volume of asylum seekers and refugees) but there's a feeling that the rainbow and flag are overused. One Pupil bitterly said in class that his disabled ex-serviceman uncle and others like him, never get the same attention and social support. Many agreed with him.

I wouldn’t fill it in. Tell them you’re working through some personal things and having seen some of the questions, you’re finding it all very triggering. Not really a lie.

I’m presuming you’re female, wear some ‘man’ clothes for a couple of weeks, they’ll be so confused and scared you’re on the verge as coming out as trans they won’t query you.

I don't work in a school, but the majority of my colleagues are pretty young and pronouns are everywhere. Yesterday was a day for intersex inclusion, apparently, with that nasty circle being added to that horrible flag.

I am inclined to declare myself trans and then be triggered by all the work so I never have to do any. And nobody would be able to say anything. What do you think? Could you do similar?

I know the suggestions here are well intentioned, but I really don't want to have to go down this route to avoid it. I'm 55, at the top of my scale, a well established member of staff and hacked off with this bollocks.

I'd like to be able to say my thoughts in a thoughtful but thought-provoking way to challenge it.

<sigh> I don't know. Maybe I won't be feeling quite so brave when asked. IF I'm asked.

Just utterly sick of this dictation. OFCOURSE I'd challenge bullying of any kind - it's just incredibly ironic that those writing and sending these questionnaires fail to see that it's quite bullying and intimidating to send them in the first instance.

Can you just fill in the sections you’re happy to answer? And the questions you don’t want to answer either leave blank for say you’re waiting for DfE guidance as the term “cisgender” is political and as teachers you aren’t allowed to support (or be seen to support) one side of a political issue in school.

Thats been my stance so far. Challenging where I have the support to do so and saying “that’s political” when necessary.

@FacebookPhotos I may just do that. It won't allow me to leave it blank.

Actually, I think it's a yes/no choice so I may not be able to comment

and I really want to comment

To update, I didn't complete the questionnaire and just before end of day yesterday, we received an email to say that we will all be having essential training on LGBTQ+ on our INSET day scheduled for November.

So now, I'll have to sit through a 2hr training session on the world of 'Cisgender' which I don't believe in.

Not sure how to keep my mouth shut in all of this. It's tiresome.