What are my rights ad a teacher?

[BetterBee]

Hello, I was wondering if fellow teachers or those with knowledge on the subject could help me. I'm just wondering if I must follow the school’s guidance relating to trans rights, pronouns etc.

I had to teach a 15 minute session to my form on using preferred pronouns and had guidance on the pre prepared powerpoint that basically was telling the kids it's okay to forget but basically you must use them. I didn't deliver it exactly as they planned!

I would also want to refuse to use a child's preferred pronouns if I believed it wasn't in their best interest.

I basically wondering if I'd lose my job over it.

Safeguarding:: Keepingchildrensafeineducation_2023

'all practitioners should make sure their approach is child centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.'

'In all cases, if staff are unsure, they should always speak to the designated
safeguarding lead or a deputy.'

'Emotional abuse: 'may feature age or developmentally inappropriate
expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond a child’s developmental capability as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning or preventing the child from participating in normal social interaction.'

'46. Only appropriately trained professionals should attempt to make a diagnosis of a mental health problem. Education staff, however, are well placed to observe children day-to-day and identify those whose behaviour suggests that they may be experiencing a mental health problem or be at risk of developing one. Schools and colleges can access a range of advice to help them identify children in need of extra mental health support, this includes working with external agencies.'

'47. If staff have a mental health concern about a child that is also a safeguarding concern, immediate action should be taken to follow their school or college's child protection policy, and by speaking to the designated safeguarding lead or a deputy.'

'74. All staff and volunteers should feel able to raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice and potential failures in the school or college’s safeguarding provision and know that such concerns will be taken seriously by the senior leadership team.'

'75. Appropriate whistleblowing procedures should be put in place for such concerns to be raised with the school or college’s senior leadership team.'

'76. Where a staff member feels unable to raise an issue with their employer, or feels that their genuine concerns are not being addressed, other whistleblowing channels are open to them'

Political impartiality:

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

• '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

And also a teacher must consider the impact on other children.

Good work!

That's where it's most problematic @AllProperTeaIsTheft, if the children in the class are themselves believers.

Which is why the whole thing needs to be reigned in for under 16s completely.

Th rest of your approach is how we always were taught to approach challenging discussions and debates and is good teaching practice.

It defies belief that teachers have been instructed to abandon all the requirements for political impartiality. To impose queer theory dogma on children that's promoted by organisations where just a quick google will demonstrate safeguarding breaches (eg Mermaids & Stonewall).

I've huge admiration for teachers who are managing to resist this. But things will change following the banning of puberty blockers for children by the NHS. This allows for parents and teachers to legitimately challenge why groups promoting the sterilisation of children are in schools. They all nailed their colours to the mast in recent weeks that safeguarding children is the least of their concerns compared to the desirability of selling sex change to them.

Makes it easier when they tell us who they really are.