A primary school teacher who was fired for refusing to call an eight-year-old transgender student by a male name has promised to continue fighting against classroom ‘injustice’
Yesterday, her request for a court review regarding safety concerns at her old school was denied.
However, the Christian woman vowed to continue raising awareness of the ‘danger’ associated with harmful ‘trans affirming policies,’ which she claims put children ‘in grave risk.
The mother, who goes by the pseudonym Hannah to protect the identity of the child, stated that the verdict is “not the end” of her fight.
She is appealing internally against her school’s decision to remove her after she suggested that its transgender attitude could damage children, despite losing her landmark judicial case.
If denied, a full employment tribunal will be initiated.
Hannah stated, after her request for a judicial review was denied by a High Court judge, “Injustice has not been done to me, but to all the children in our schools.”
“How else am I supposed to highlight the risk of the damaging trans affirming policies in our schools?”
She continued, “Teachers are prevented from questioning trans affirming policies, despite evidence indicating that the strategy puts children’s welfare at grave risk.”
More must be done to protect the nation’s most vulnerable children from the long-term mental, emotional, and irreparable physical harm caused by this destructive worldview.
The educator had sought permission to initiate a judicial review on the unwillingness of her school’s governing body and local authority to address her transgender protection concerns.
Judge Honorable Mrs Justice Farbey, sitting at the Birmingham civil and family justice centre, ruled that the application “failed to take into account the private life of the young and vulnerable Child X.”
The public is divided on the issue of transgenderism in schools, and there is no consensus on the approach, she added.
In September of last year, the teacher was informed that one of her students desired to change gender.
Hannah from the East Midlands refused to call the student by a male name or use male pronouns, stating that doing so “went against her Christian beliefs.”
She was initially suspended and then fired for gross insubordination after arguing that the school’s “transgender affirming” policies could be harmful to children.
She argued that it would be detrimental to the young pupil known as Child X if they were unquestionably encouraged to believe they were “in the wrong body.”
Richard O’Dair, the teacher’s attorney, informed the court that his client was acting in the “best interests” of Child X and had correctly raised safeguarding concerns – a duty shared by all staff.
He stated that schools also have a responsibility to ensure a balanced treatment of political issues, but staff members who attended a seminar where they were given resources that were not evaluated for ‘impartiality’ were in violation of this obligation.
Mr. O’Dair added, ‘My contention is that the material supplied to teachers was merely a confirmation of transition.
‘In the transition session, where numerous documents were provided, there was nothing to alert staff to the potential danger of transitioning, for instance under parental pressure.
‘And we say that was inappropriate because transgender issues are highly political.
‘When teaching the children or teaching the teachers teaching the children the material has to be balanced.’
However, the court heard the teacher was sacked after ‘obsessively’ accessing Child X’s personal information and fears she would ‘out’ the pupil.
Representing the local authority, Aileen McColgan KC, said: ‘The duty of safeguarding points goes to all staff – from the groundsmen to the dinner staff.
‘The claimant is driven ideologically and not by the best interest of the child.’
Hannah has been reported to the Teaching Regulation Agency, and in the future she could be permanently barred from teaching.
Her case was supported by the Christian Legal Centre, the legal branch of the evangelical group, Christian Concern. It will now look into options for appeal.
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: ‘We are disappointed by this decision but are resolved to keep standing up for the well-being of children.’