Quick school one

[Penguinpairs]

I've been into my dd school this evening and seen a 'Protect Trans Kid's poster in the English department. The teachers were discussing course content and said one of the topics is whether our use of language is gendered. How can a GC child join in that debate with that poster on the wall? I'm going to speak to the school. I'm sure I've something about guidance saying posters like that shouldn't be put up but I don't know where. Can anyone help me? Thanks

Might it have been here?

sex-matters.org/take-action/school-check/

Bumping, I know there’re lots of people with good knowledge/experience around this

Are you in England? This sounds like it goes against political impartiality. In which case either raise directly with the teacher, or with the head or governors, or go to your MP or Ofsted:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools

www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools#discussing-political-issues

Schools should ensure that any pupil-led activity is conducted sensitively, this means that it:
• is not targeted at specific groups of pupils or staff
• does not create an atmosphere of intimidation or fear for other pupils and staff
• avoids pupils feeling that they would be stigmatised for holding or sharing alternative views

And:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools#public-displays-and-communications

There is no reason that schools cannot have public displays and communications, to mark significant awareness-raising or community events or for other reasons, provided they do not promote partisan political views.

Some general points:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools#the-law

Existing statutory requirements on political impartiality cover all schools, regardless of type or funding arrangement. This includes independent schools.
These legal duties mean schools:
• must prohibit the promotion of partisan political views
• should take steps to ensure the balanced presentation of opposing views on political issues when they are brought to the attention of pupils
For maintained schools, these legal duties are set out in Section 4066 and Section 4077 of the Education Act 1996. Most academies will also have a specific clause in their funding agreement which requires adherence to the same provisions.
For independent schools, the legal duties are set out in Part 2 of the Schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 20144_. These requirements also apply to academies.
Legal duties on political impartiality do not supersede schools’ other statutory requirements. Schools should take a reasonable and proportionate approach to ensuring political impartiality, alongside their other responsibilities.
This includes legal requirements under the:
• Equality Act 2010 (including the Public Sector Equality Duty for state-funded schools)
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Prevent duty
Schools are also required to actively promote the fundamental British values of:
• democracy
• the rule of law
• individual liberty
• mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Excellent post from ResisterRex.

Thank you so much all. I knew I knew this stuff I just couldn't remember where I had seen it. Will get email fired off to them now

Good luck 🐧

Apart from the political aspects, it's also concerning from a medical/psychological point of view. The belief that some children just 'ARE "trans" (whatever that even means) directly flies against the evidence that almost all dysphoric children desist by the end of puberty, unless put on blockers first (which will hopefully now become more rare due to the Cass report, though I don't think private clinics are addressed...). So "trans kid" really means "kid currently describing themselves as the opposite sex, but overwhelmingly likely to have stopped doing so in a few years". But by labelling them as such and allowing no questioning, never mind in some schools bundling the poor kid into the opposite-sex changing rooms, sports etc and insisting to the world that they are a girl (or boy) really, they are making that natural process of recovery from dysphoria much harder and more awkward, if not impossible - and at the same time making it likely that other issues that child may have, that could be contributing to their dysphoria, are overlooked and not treated. I believe the term is "foreclosure" - "bring trans" is seen as the cause of/answer to everything. So a school viewing children in this way is quite concerning.