Thread by @sos_scotland

We’ve been contacted by teachers about the recent briefing from EIS.

They have expressed concern about the lack of evidence, nuance and context within the briefing, and are worried about the impact this will have on children, families & teachers.

Poll at end of 🧵

You can access the full briefing here:

eis.org.uk/Content/images…

One of the concerns they have is the reliance of EIS on the EHRC Technical Guidance for schools, via the Supporting Transgender Pupils guidance by @scotgov

They told us they know this guidance is out of date due to the evolving policy area around this issue, and is under review/

yet there was no context, or even acknowledgment, of this within the EIS briefing.

Indeed, this very issue formed an integral part of our petition to remove the Supporting Transgender Pupils guidance, with the Committee progressing it & deciding to follow up with EHRC.

https://twitter.com/sos_scotland/status/1648649202115780613

Some of the teachers told us that many of their colleagues, including senior leaders, lacked even a basic understanding of the issue.

One teacher had to explain to her HT that a ‘trans boy’ was in fact a biological girl, when discussing the following EIS statement: 👇

“So, if a school activity is divided between boys and girls, a transgender boy should as standard, be with the rest of the boys.”

Once aware, the HT recognised the potential #Safeguarding risks associated with this.

Should it be left to teachers to have to explain this?

Here is an excellent thread from @michaelpforan explaining the legalities of the EIS position:

https://twitter.com/michaelpforan/status/1648059458436714518

And further context provided by KC Aidan O’Neil commissioned by @ForWomenScot

forwomen.scot/tag/aidan-onei…

We have been asked to conduct a poll on behalf of the teachers who reached out to us.

So, if you’re a member of EIS do you share the concerns expressed by these teachers, and ourselves, on the briefing issued to you?

@threadreaderapp unroll please