New guidelines for schools on LGBT bullying

wonderfulname

NEW GUIDELINES for school principals on measures to counter homophobic bullying and to include lesbian, gay and bisexual students in school policies were launched yesterday

Research in Ireland has shown that young students who are or who are perceived to be lesbian or gay experience very significant levels of homophobic abuse in schools.

In launching the new guidelines, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said, “The 21st century school should be one that is safe and supportive of all students, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people”.

He continued, “I am considering the establishment of a working group comprising all the relevant sections of my department, along with the NGOs involved in this area and the education partners, to help draft a road map towards the elimination of homophobic bullying from our schools.’’

Sandra Irwin-Gowran, director of education policy at the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (Glen) said the launch marked the first occasion a Minister for Education has addressed the issue of supporting lesbian, gay and bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students in schools. “It sends out a strong signal of the need to make schools safe and supportive environments for young LGBT students.”

Clive Byrne, director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), who jointly developed the guidelines with Glen and the Department of Education and Skills said: “Respect and tolerance must be at the heart of every school. NAPD believes strongly that the school leader sets the tone and must preside over a school climate which recognises and encourages tolerance and diversity and is both a happy and inclusive environment where students can thrive.”

Senator Averil Power, Fianna Fáil Seanad spokesperson on education and skills, welcomed the new guidelines.

“Every young person should feel safe and supported at school. However, the reality is that homophobic bullying is causing many lesbian, gay and bisexual students to feel threatened and undermining their ability to learn.”

From The Times

Can anybody find the actual guidelines? I'd imagine they are something like last years ones for youth sector workers with "youth sector" crossed out and "schools" pencilled in? I'd like to see this making an actual difference, but knowing how Irish schools work will the reality be that they are ignored? It does seem to be but a first step though, so it will be interesting to see where it winds up and if that "working group" is in fact formed, and if it comes to anything.

deirdre_dub

NEW GUIDELINES for school principals on measures to counter homophobic bullying and to include lesbian, gay and bisexual students in school policies were launched yesterday

...

"However, the reality is that homophobic bullying is causing many lesbian, gay and bisexual students to feel threatened and undermining their ability to learn."

As a trans person, all I can say is :mad:

wonderfulname

This is why I want to see the actual guidelines, the other ones I mentioned were described in the media as a "gay" thing but covered trans youth as well, and I doubt any organisations involved would be able to blinker themselves into addressing solely sexuality.

hare05

deirdre_dub wrote: »

As a trans person, all I can say is :mad:

Did you read it all?

In launching the new guidelines, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said, “The 21st century school should be one that is safe and supportive of all students, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people”.

Annasopra

wonderfulname wrote: »

This is why I want to see the actual guidelines, the other ones I mentioned were described in the media as a "gay" thing but covered trans youth as well, and I doubt any organisations involved would be able to blinker themselves into addressing solely sexuality.

The document is only 6 pages long and mentions transgender 4 times.

http://www.glen.ie/attachments/Including_LGB_Students_in_School_Policies.PDF

The guidelines suggest that school policies
should expressly include reference to lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students

Each school is required to have in place a policy which
includes specific measures to deal with bullying behaviour.
Inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
students

Homophobic bullying is bullying that
is motivated by a dislike or fear of someone because of
the real or perceived lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender
identity of the individual being targeted.

The Guidance Plan provides an ideal opportunity for the
school to address its response when students ‘come out’
as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

The original guidance document (the one launched yesterday seems to be a summary of the one published 2 years ago) has no specific mention of transgender

http://www.glen.ie/attachments/schools_guidance.PDF

Chuchoter

I'm nearly sure we already had guidelines for principals but if I'm honest, I hate guidelines. All they do is make it seem like the education system actually gives a damn but nothing gets put into practice.

deirdre_dub

The guidelines suggest that school policies should expressly include reference to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students

The guidelines in question are those published in 2009 which, as you said, do not have reference to transgender students.

Each school is required to have in place a policy which includes specific measures to deal with bullying behaviour. Inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students will be facilitated by the following suggestions:

The suggestions in question are all relating to sexual orientation.

Homophobic bullying is bullying that is motivated by a dislike or fear of someone because of the real or perceived lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender identity of the individual being targeted.

That actually isn't true - homophobic bullying is related to sexual orientation only. There are plenty of heterosexual transgender people.

The Guidance Plan provides an ideal opportunity for the school to address its response when students 'come out' as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

Again, the guidance plan doesn't address gender identity.

As I said - :mad:

deirdre_dub

hare05 wrote: »

Did you read it all?

In launching the new guidelines, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said, “The 21st century school should be one that is safe and supportive of all students, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people”.

So the minister is saying that schools should be safe and supportive for, amongst others, transgender people. Well, as I think I've shown above, he really isn't doing a good job of meeting that aspiration.

Endymion

We'll lets save the "You've failed" until he actually starts enacting policy. These things take time.

byhookorbycrook

Endymion wrote: »

We'll lets save the "You've failed" until he actually starts enacting policy. These things take time.

Therein lies the problem, it's a set of guidelines, not an actual policy and there is no onus on any school legally to put a policy together.

Endymion

Well I was thinking more in terms of political policy to bring in guidelines. Still guidelines have a way of becoming the way of things. I'd imagine the reason for a great many schools failing to have proper internal procedures in the places is that there is a lack of guidelines from the department on the matter. Lots of people have strange ideas about how to help LGBT kids and students.

Annasopra

deirdre_dub wrote: »

The guidelines in question are those published in 2009 which, as you said, do not have reference to transgender students.
The suggestions in question are all relating to sexual orientation.
That actually isn't true - homophobic bullying is related to sexual orientation only. There are plenty of heterosexual transgender people.
Again, the guidance plan doesn't address gender identity.

As I said - :mad:

Is homophobic bullying related to sexual orientation only? what i mean is a boy who acts effeminate could be a trans girl - regardless of his sexual orientation he in the identity of a boy with effeminate characteristics could be called names related to being gay; queer, ******, bender etc. As such I would consider that homophobic bullying. Even is this boy is cisgendered and heterosexual with effeminate characteristics he could still be called names associated with the negativity of being gay.

Endymion

Johnnymcg wrote: »

Is homophobic bullying related to sexual orientation only? what i mean is a boy who acts effeminate could be a trans girl - regardless of his sexual orientation he in the identity of a boy with effeminate characteristics could be called names related to being gay; queer, ******, bender etc. As such I would consider that homophobic bullying. Even is this boy is cisgendered and heterosexual with effeminate characteristics he could still be called names associated with the negativity of being gay.

Good point. You're talking about pre-adults where labels have even less meaning than they do for adults. It doesn't really matter if the kid being called a gender bender is transgendered/gay/straight. I remember when the word ****** was first introduced into my primary school experience. I had no concept of what a homosexual was at that time.

The bullying doesn't make these distinctions we might so why should the solution?

Annasopra

Endymion wrote: »

Good point. You're talking about pre-adults where labels have even less meaning than they do for adults. It doesn't really matter if the kid being called a gender bender is transgendered/gay/straight. I remember when the word ****** was first introduced into my primary school experience. I had no concept of what a homosexual was at that time.

The bullying doesn't make these distinctions we might so why should the solution?

my point really is that straight kids can be victims of homophobic bullying as can trans kids. Overall though I understand where Deirdre is coming from - the guidelines are not adequate for trans children

Endymion

I followed.

Question, is it better to wait until the guidelines are prefect before introducing them, or go a head with whats proposed and fix what's needed later?

AndrewJD

Endymion wrote: »

I followed.

Question, is it better to wait until the guidelines are prefect before introducing them, or go a head with whats proposed and fix what's needed later?

Are we not blowing up the significance of this? Guidelines to headteachers? No doubt buried in the textbook sized volume on bullying policies?

At the crux of the matter is the school administration and staff, if they don't really take to heart the deeper ideals of dealing with homophobic bullying then there's no point. Hammering out specifics in a set of guidelines isn't going to change that. Teachers, not politicians, have the power to put an end to this.

wonderfulname

They are pretty poor guidelines compared to what I'd imagined. And they are pretty bad at addressing gender identity in all fairness, although as has been said the same schoolyard taunts apply across the board.

I'd just like to point out that guidelines in general are not useless; most school staff are pretty stumped as to how they should deal with LGBT kids, and the rule makers are equally stumped as to incorporate them into rules. A little prompt in the right direction can go a long way - that is, if those being prompted want to hear it.

I do think these guidelines will do some benefit where certain patrons are impeding progress. It is unfortunately necessary that they point out "schools are required to teach all aspects of the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) programme, including sexual orientation". Perhaps pointing out the Equal Status Act beside this will see them heard. I think knowledge itself is the greatest weapon anyone has when combating prejudice. Ensuring it is not withheld, whilst a very small thing to do, is also a very important thing.