Christian pressure gets teachers’ code of conduct watered down
The General Teaching Council — the regulatory body that registers teachers — has watered down a proposed new code of conduct after pressure from Christian activists who objected to gay children being protected from bullying and the need to support and approve of children from unmarried mothers. They also objected to having to express approval of other religious traditions.
We reported on this campaign previously and now, after a consultation during which an orchestrated campaign by evangelical groups — which was subsequently taken up by the Church of England and the Catholic Church — resulted in 600 letters being received by the GTC objecting to aspects of the code, the code has been changed to accommodate their prejudices.
The controversy revolves around section 4 of the code which covers “diversity and equality”. The Christian Institute decided that this meant that Christian teachers would have to “promote” homosexuality. The paragraph originally required (changes in italics):
Registered teachers
• Act respectfully towards all children and young people, parents, carers and colleagues, regardless of their socio-economic background, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion or beliefs
• Take responsibility for understanding and acting on their obligations under legislation and school policies relating to equality and diversity, bullying and inclusion and access, seeking clarification if necessary
• Proactively challenge discrimination, stereotyping, and bullying, no matter who is the victim or the perpetrator; promote equality and value diversity in all their professional relationships and interactions
• Contribute to the creation of a fair and inclusive school environment by taking steps to improve the wellbeing, development and progress of those with special needs, or whose circumstances place them at risk of exclusion or under-achievement
• Help children and young people to understand and appreciate different views, perspectives, and experiences and develop positive relationships both within school and in the local community
• Are sensitive to the socio-economic and cultural context in which they are working and issues in the local community that may impact on the wellbeing, development and progress of children and young people. [this paragraph completely deleted]
This, the Christian Institute decided, was a threat to “religious liberty” in the sense that Christian teachers might have to express “support for lifestyles of which they disapprove”. They subsequently orchestrated a dishonest and panic-mongering campaign among their fellow evangelical Christians, and now the GTC has watered down the protection for gay and non-Christian children and those from “unconventional” backgrounds to this:
Registered teachers
• Act respectfully towards all children and young people, parents, carers and colleagues, whatever their socio-economic background, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion or belief.
• Take responsibility for understanding and complying with school policies relating to equality of opportunity, inclusion, access and bullying Address unlawful discrimination, bullying, and stereotyping no matter who is the victim or the perpetrator
• Help create a fair and inclusive school environment by taking steps to improve the wellbeing, development and progress of those with special needs, or whose circumstances place them at risk of exclusion or under-achievement
• Help children and young people to understand different views, perspectives, and experiences and develop positive relationships both within school and in the local community.
Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said: “This is a truly disgraceful capitulation on the part of the GTC to religious bigotry. Gay children — and even those perceived to be gay because they might be effeminate or tomboyish — now have a level of protection removed from them. Most teachers will be compassionate and recognise when children are vulnerable and suffering bullying because of perceptions about their sexuality or because of their religion. But the very people who are likely to be disapproving and to make the situation worse — that is to say, bigoted evangelical teachers — have now been given carte blanche to add their own disapproval to the bullying.
Research from the Stonewall gay rights group shows that bullying of gay children is a big problem in schools.
