Thread by @SafeSchools_UK

THREAD

Inclusion & inclusive language: Balancing the rights of all.
This morning we have seen a lot of confusion in the education community regarding sex & gender, when children should & shouldn’t be separated by sex & ‘inclusive’ language.

#edutwitter #WomenEd #UKedchat

‘People who menstruate’ is not ‘inclusive’ language. It is offensive & dehumanising. When used in public health campaigns it excludes many women. Women with LD’s, women with EAL, women with poor literacy skills. The @educationgovuk is clear that it is girls who menstruate.

As well as being offensive (it is akin to the old fashioned misogynistic slur ‘bleeders’) ‘people who menstrate’, ‘cervix havers’, ‘uterus owners’ & all the other appalling euphemisms used for women & girls. It is politically motivated language & as such has no place in school.

Language like this is being pushed by political lobby groups. Proselytising about a particular political ideology in schools is illegal under the 1996 education act. This could not have been re-iterated more clearly by latest @educationgovuk guidance.

gov.uk/guidance/plan-…

Whilst @educationgovuk guidance is clear that “teachers should always seek to treat individual students with sympathy & support.” Gender identity ideology is a political belief system that should not be imposed on all pupils. ‘Gender identity’ is not a protected characteristic.

Girls & boys should both learn in biology about the physical changes both sexes will go through. This does not mean that single sex groups should never be used. They are helpful for reasons of privacy & dignity & facilitating discussion.
@MenAtWork_MC
menatworkcic.org/2021/03/21/10-…

Schools also need to be mindful of the cultural needs of their particular communities. Before changing single sex to mixed sex they should consult with parents & carry out equality impact assessments. Once again inclusion of males could mean exclusion of females.

There are nine protected characteristics, Age, Disability, Gender Reassignment, marriage & civil partnership, maternity & pregnancy, Race, Religion & belief, Sex, & sexual orientation all are equal in law & all most be considered in equality impact assessments.

Most of all, teachers & school leaders must remember their #safeguarding training at all times. Nothing trumps safeguarding, including inclusion, equality & diversity’. Obfuscating language is known to be a barrier to children making disclosures.

Failure to remember & apply #safeguarding training & consider the needs of all members of the school community, leads to horrifying situations such as this, where girls are erroneously told they have no right to male free spaces.

https://mobile.twitter.com/SafeSchools_UK/status/1387874796051083265

We are working on more resources to deal specifically with these issues. In the meantime please see our website for factsheets & template letters.

safeschoolsallianceuk.net/resources-2/fa…

If schools are undermining #safeguarding, misrepresenting the law or using politically motivated or incorrect language, parents should follow this procedure.
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safeschoolsallianceuk.net/2021/04/16/how…