There is a call on the Department of Education, teaching unions and child welfare experts to sit down with parents and try and formulate clear and practical guidelines for schools around the issue of ‘pronouns’.
That’s according to Aontú Cllr Emer Tóibín, who says she has been contacted by a number of teachers seeking guidance on how to respond if a student requests to be addressed by ‘preferred’ pronouns.
Cllr Tóibín said:
“Several teachers have approached me because they are concerned about how they might be expected to handle these requests in the classroom. Teachers are increasingly finding themselves in a very difficult position around the issue of students’ use of ‘pronouns’, with no clear or consistent direction from the ASTI (The Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland).
I contacted Kieran Christie, the General Secretary of ASTI, to ask if there was any formal guidance for teachers, but his response was that the organisation can only discuss this matter directly with its members. This has left many teachers without the clarity they are looking for.
Some teachers are simply not comfortable using anything other than a student’s given name and biological pronouns, and they would appreciate clear direction, so they are not left to navigate this sensitive issue alone.
We are living in a very polarised time, and people who raise questions or concerns often feel shut down rather than heard. This is not healthy for democracy or for our schools.
Teachers already have so much on their plates, from managing class sizes to supporting student welfare and delivering the curriculum. They need space to focus on these core responsibilities, not to be left worrying about whether they are going to be caught on the ‘wrong side’ of a contentious debate.
More and more constituents are telling me they feel frustrated at being told how to think on sensitive cultural and social issues.
We are supposed to live in a pluralist democracy, where open discussion is encouraged and differing opinions are respected. If the Government truly values diversity, then it should also value diversity of thought, including the views of teachers and parents who hold a different perspective on these issues.
Teachers need to know where they stand, and students deserve consistency and respect. Open dialogue and collaboration, not division, are the only way forward on issues like this.
CRIOCH
