Schools socially transitioning children in secret from their parents

[MrsOvertonsWindow]

A brilliant article that covers so many issues faced by parents. Numerous parents and Bayswater, Safe Schools Alliance, Transgender Trend all interviewed. Good to read such an informative article, especially given the thousands of parents battling schools about this arrogant and professionally dangerous approach to children's psychological development and wellbeing.

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-11646881/I-asked-daughters-teachers-not-call-boy-reported-social-services.html

Wow! I find it absolutely horrifying that schools and teachers with no medical or psychological training will go against the wishes of parents and qualified professionals and encourage a child down a path that often ends up with them taking cross sex hormones.

It seems that some schools have activist teachers who are very keen to expand their LGBT clubs and I’ve heard of a number of children who start at the club straight and happy in their body but maybe socially challenged or bullied who end up identifying as trans after being in these clubs.

Schools influencing children behind the backs if parents and encouraging them to keep secrets from their parents is safeguarding 101 red flag.

Unfortunately Gillian Keegan seems to lack an understanding of childhood psychology and what is safe for children. She needs to make it crystal clear that schools cannot override parental wishes and socially transition their children and keep secrets from them but unfortunately I doubt she will.

It's a real worry isn't it? As a lesbian teacher I'd never in a million years run a group in school for children based on sexuality. Imagine what would happen if Mr Simms ran a group for Yr 8 heterosexual girls to meet with him and older student to discuss their emerging sexuality? He'd have been out of the school by lunchtime!
And yes, schools are dabbling in issues way beyond their knowledge and skill set. So pleased to see such a comprehensive article pulling together all the issues. Shame the Guardian doesn't have journalists able to write such an article as this needs sharing widely.

I find this terrifying.

Has there ever been a risk assessment done of the potential issues with changing a child's name and gender on school records? Of course Cass notes that it's not a neutral act, but that doesn't actually spell out the potential effects and implications.

The journalist also tweeted this:

twitter.com/journalistjill/status/1615611837470609409?s=46&t=0TXFOsdaPO7ObIDrJNgGgw

"During research for latest story, I discovered a school management system that monitors whether a child's different pronouns should be used ONLY in school. Indicating poss safeguarding failure. I asked the @ educationgovuk if they were aware. They did not want to comment"

This was mentioned in the Scottish Government non-binary working group, I think. Using Seemis for school only pronouns and different pronouns for comms with parents. I'll see if I can find it.

If anyone is in any doubt as to the issues with schools deliberately falsifying children's records and hiding those changes from parents; they shouldn't be working with vulnerable groups.

Exactly!!

There shouldn’t be sex-themed groups in schools, there just shouldn’t.

"There shouldn’t be sex-themed groups in schools, there just shouldn’t".

The fact that so many teachers, all trained in safeguarding, don't appreciate this is such a worry. No wonder they then go on to think that children sex changing is not a problem and that adults over keen on children changing sex should be welcomed in schools with open arms. And pointing this out makes you a transphobic bigot.

I can't now find the full discussion of Seemis on the Non-binary working group. There was discussion of how to adapt it to non-binary pronouns and identities, I recall, but the minutes are scant, apparently only identifying as minutes when most people would call them a short bullet point list.

They also often don't name who's making a point, which I find slightly odd.

www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-government-response-recommendations-working-group-non-binary-equality-july-2022/pages/6/

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/news/2022/non-binary-working-group-scottish-government-response/

'We are glad that the Scottish Government is committing to ... their commitment to work with SEEMiS, the system which holds pupil information in school to make this more inclusive of, and safer, for non-binary and other trans people.'

What does 'safer' mean, in this context?

mediabiasfactcheck.com/daily-mail/

No they aren't. I have been a teacher for many years also safeguarding lead.

They will listen to the child and put them in touch with relevent support eg mental health , social services etc also involve the parents (unless the child is at risk from them )

This is from the Scotgov's guidance for dealing with trans pupils:

'2. Consider information sharing carefully:

Do not disclose the transgender identity history or any sensitive information about a transgender young person to anyone inside or outside the school, without considering the young person's view and what is in the best interests of the young person'

www.gov.scot/publications/supporting-transgender-young-people-schools-guidance-scottish-schools/pages/5/

Here's the pertinent bit:

'Article 16 ensures a child's right to privacy. If a young person comes out as transgender there is no immediate need to inform their parents or others. See more on confidentiality and information sharing on page 35.'

Page 35 in guidance:

'A transgender young person may not have told their family about their gender identity.
Inadvertent disclosure could cause needless stress for the young person or could put them at risk and breach legal requirements. Therefore, it is best to not share information with parents or carers without considering and respecting the young person’s views and rights.'

And a footnote takes you to:

'The UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) together with the Data Protection Act 2018105 provides the legal framework for the processing of personal data. They regulate the processing, including the collection, use and disclosure of personal data, and gives [sic] individuals certain rights in relation to their personal data. Children have rights in their own regard where they have sufficient maturity and understanding to do so, which they are presumed to do from age 12. This means that schools should ensure that transgender young people’s rights to processing of their personal data including, where relevant, consent should be met, and that their rights in relation to appropriate use of data within schools should be upheld.'

My bold.

Safe Schools Alliance says legal action may be the way forward.

Yes. Schools & LAs need to be sued, any staff withholding information from families need to be investigated, and if necessary disciplined. This is absolutely unacceptable.

Let's hope so, Polly. It's appalling. And in fact it's maybe the Scotgov who need sued, as I know many LAs rejected or were reluctant to accept that particular guidance.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11457489/It-safeguarding-risk-schools-not-tell-parents-child-questioning-gender.html

'The Ofsted chief has said that it is a 'safeguarding risk' for schools to keep parents in the dark if their child is questioning their gender and warned that urgent guidance is needed for teachers on transgender issues.'

What if a deeply Christian teacher felt compelled to baptize and give a new Christian based name to a Muslim or Sikh or Pagan student, and meet them in small groups to teach why they need to accept Jesus as their lord and savior? But all without telling the parents? We'd all rightly think this was a massive overreach. Yet, somehow, secretly teaching the belief of gender is laudable.

It's a very good comparison, Delphinium.

I've often thought of the same analogy.
I bet the people that go along with trans ideology would absolutely not be OK with their kid being indoctrinated into a religion. I can't see how it's different though.

Sorry. I am confused.

maddy68 are you saying that this isn’t happening? Because I have two friends who have told me separately and two years apart that their school has transitioned their daughters without them, the parents, knowing at all.

And no. Nothing like the process you suggested happened. At all. So either you are wrong, you are idealistically believing that schools are only ever following best safeguarding practice or there are numerous parents around the UK lying.

Which is it?

Plus, What is the point of your link?

Thanks for the real life example of the problem maddy68.

I know that there are a number of parents who have seriously considered suing a school for transitioning their child without parental involvement / consent. But as the article points out, it's their children that would suffer so they don't.
Sadly in the absence of a responsible government & clear guidelines & with the DfE captured by so many trans groups, it won't be until a school is dragged through the courts that this will change.

I have mentioned this in several previous threads, but all the staff at my school were emailed transgender guidance from our LA, updated September 2022.

It was compiled with reference to Sex Matters and makes it very clear that no student should be socially transitioned in school without careful liason with parents and medical professionals.

Amongst other things, for instance stipulating that children should only use changing rooms and toilets of their biological sex; boys who identify as girls should not be representing their school as girls on sports teams ; we should not be teaching that trans women are women or compelling anyone to use pronouns that are counter intuitive ; and it states, very clearly that free speech on this issue is legal and in fact should be policy.

Obviously this guidance is very new and not widespread but I think we are early adopters of clear, sex based guidance.

from the article

”We were advised to “watch and wait” and see how things develop and that seemed like a very sensible approach, after all she was still only 14,’ says Sally. ‘We rang the school and told them what the clinical psychologist had said and were shocked by their response.”

I have a friend who was in this position. She forced a meeting with the school in the end, not only was her daughter undergoing psychological care at the time and this the school did this counter to the care, but my friend is also a health care professional and had researched this and was well armed with information. The school backed down on that case.

Not so for my other friend’s child though.

On top of the stresses and risks to the family relationships with a court case while the child is still in school, is the time period for such a case to be pulled together, presented in court and judgement made. It’s a long period for a child to have their gender identity embedded by staff supporting their social transition (while likely being given the message that the school is on the child’s side, not the parents).

Even just going through the internal complaints process at our former school took an entire academic year thanks to the school being in charge of the process and timescales.

That sounds fantastic, rabbitwoman. I wonder if Sex Matters are sending this to LAs everywhere?