Advice please GC views leading a non GC dept

mamaofbears · 2023-08-30T15:33:29+00:00

Hi all, Hoping for some advice. I am a head of English department for a 6th form college. I have overhead my colleagues talking about their gender units and 'shutting down' students who believe xx = female and xy = male. How do I approach this topic without being combative? Thank you in advance!

MidCent · 30/08/2023 16:42

"Gender units"?

Slothtoes · 30/08/2023 16:46

I believe there is government guidance for teachers you could point them towards but hopefully posters with an education background will be along shortly. It’s not OK for your colleagues to behave in this way. You sound like a thoughtful and conscientious Head of Department, best of luck.

Original poster

mamaofbears · 30/08/2023 16:46

Literary criticism relating to gender, masculinity, femininity, feminism, queer theory etc.

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Original poster

mamaofbears · 30/08/2023 16:48

Slothtoes · 30/08/2023 16:46

I believe there is government guidance for teachers you could point them towards but hopefully posters with an education background will be along shortly. It’s not OK for your colleagues to behave in this way. You sound like a thoughtful and conscientious Head of Department, best of luck.

This is not in the uk so government no help.

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whathaveiforgottentoday · 30/08/2023 16:49

How long have you been in post? Is there anybody you think maybe sympathetic in SLT?

BlackForestCake · 30/08/2023 16:49

You have to be combative, I think. You're in charge. You need to make clear that teachers bullying students is unacceptable.

whathaveiforgottentoday · 30/08/2023 16:52

BlackForestCake · 30/08/2023 16:49

You have to be combative, I think. You're in charge. You need to make clear that teachers bullying students is unacceptable.

I would tread carefully as the staff may feel they are in the right, and many students may support they view. You can't underestimate how nasty it could become. If you had SLT backing, I would challenge though, but I'd want to know my back is covered.

MrsColinRobinson · 30/08/2023 16:52

I'd be wondering about their suitability to teach if they're unable to encourage a range of views, particularly if they teach science.

Is it generally considered acceptable to "shut down" perfectly acceptable questions?

donquixotedelamancha · 30/08/2023 16:53

BlackForestCake · 30/08/2023 16:49

You have to be combative, I think. You're in charge. You need to make clear that teachers bullying students is unacceptable.

Sadly, I tend to think this. It's completely unacceptable for a teacher to talk about 'shutting kids down' for perfectly normal views.

LonginesPrime · 30/08/2023 16:55

To start with, what does the law say about expressing GC views in your country?

I'm not saying keep quiet, but it's worth being aware of where you stand legally (and where the department/school stands in terms of shutting students' views down) before working out the best way to deal with it.

BCBird · 30/08/2023 16:55

I'm.a teacher in.the UK and dread this cropping up. I would try snd speak to.SLT or any union?

Original poster

mamaofbears · 30/08/2023 16:59

LonginesPrime · 30/08/2023 16:55

To start with, what does the law say about expressing GC views in your country?

I'm not saying keep quiet, but it's worth being aware of where you stand legally (and where the department/school stands in terms of shutting students' views down) before working out the best way to deal with it.

The curriculum has a strong emphasis on not enforcing gender stereotypes and for me this is exactly what GC is about. It's a country that has recently very much restricted gender 'affirming' pathways.

No laws about hate speech!

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FrontEnd · 30/08/2023 16:59

I might focus on elimination of sexist stereotypes and promoting individualism (which I personally think would solve most related issues) pretty sure that's unarguable without risking being seen as combative. Maybe!

Original poster

mamaofbears · 30/08/2023 17:01

whathaveiforgottentoday · 30/08/2023 16:49

How long have you been in post? Is there anybody you think maybe sympathetic in SLT?

In the current post for 5 mins but I've done this role for over 10 yrs.

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Original poster

mamaofbears · 30/08/2023 17:09

FrontEnd · 30/08/2023 16:59

I might focus on elimination of sexist stereotypes and promoting individualism (which I personally think would solve most related issues) pretty sure that's unarguable without risking being seen as combative. Maybe!

Thank you this is a really useful way of framing it!

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Slothtoes · 30/08/2023 17:14

Unfortunately if you are not allowed to ‘see’ sex then you can’t see sexism

Maybe safe schools alliance or transgender trend would have some resources for you OP?

PaterPower · 30/08/2023 17:14

You’re the head of department so you need to set the tone.

If there’s unlikely to be a legal challenge to saying so, I would bring it up in your next team meeting. Say that your guiding philosophy is to encourage questioning from students and that you’re ‘reminding’ your colleagues that there are very few (outright racism or sexism aside) views that can be considered out of bounds. You don’t have to confront them, but they need a steer from you on what you’ll expect from them.

I would keep a careful eye on how they’re marking essays and other student work - they shouldn’t be marking down for ‘wrongthink.’

Slothtoes · 30/08/2023 17:18

if there are any organisations for detransitioned people where you are, you could use their resources too.

Original poster

mamaofbears · 30/08/2023 17:21

Slothtoes · 30/08/2023 17:14

Unfortunately if you are not allowed to ‘see’ sex then you can’t see sexism

Maybe safe schools alliance or transgender trend would have some resources for you OP?

I totally agree with you and I'm familiar with the websites you mentioned in just concerned they are too uk focused for my context.

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Original poster

mamaofbears · 30/08/2023 17:21

PaterPower · 30/08/2023 17:14

You’re the head of department so you need to set the tone.

If there’s unlikely to be a legal challenge to saying so, I would bring it up in your next team meeting. Say that your guiding philosophy is to encourage questioning from students and that you’re ‘reminding’ your colleagues that there are very few (outright racism or sexism aside) views that can be considered out of bounds. You don’t have to confront them, but they need a steer from you on what you’ll expect from them.

I would keep a careful eye on how they’re marking essays and other student work - they shouldn’t be marking down for ‘wrongthink.’

This is extremely helpful thank you!

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Original poster

mamaofbears · 30/08/2023 17:33

Thank you all for your well considered replies. I'll definitely take so much of your responses into consideration!

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Coyoacan · 30/08/2023 18:33

I think students should even be able to make outright racist and sexist arguments in the context of a classroom discussion. It's not as if there are not sound arguments to be made against those points of views.

I went to a Christian secondary school and we were allowed to argue with our Religious Studies teacher.

Original poster

mamaofbears · 30/08/2023 19:03

Coyoacan · 30/08/2023 18:33

I think students should even be able to make outright racist and sexist arguments in the context of a classroom discussion. It's not as if there are not sound arguments to be made against those points of views.

I went to a Christian secondary school and we were allowed to argue with our Religious Studies teacher.

Totally agree with you. The difficult part is creating a course without your personal biases

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Coyoacan · 30/08/2023 19:08

So, @mamaofbears, that would be the argument I would put forward in your shoes. That teachers should not be shutting down students' opinions in the context of a classroom discussion.