A hearing is going down this week into the case of a Christian teacher who claims she was unfairly dismissed after raising safeguarding concerns in regards to the school’s affirming policy towards a transitioning child in her class.
The teacher, who’s going by the pseudonym of ‘Hannah’ attributable to court-imposed reporting restrictions, says she was told by the college that she must address the kid by their latest name and pronouns, and that they were to be allowed to make use of the toilets and changing rooms of the other sex.
Hannah objected to the policy, arguing that it puts children in danger, but says her concerns were ignored. She then sought a judicial review to challenge the college’s policy and was dismissed after sharing information in regards to the case along with her lawyers that the college argued was confidential.
She is suing Nottinghamshire County Council, which runs the college, for victimisation for whistleblowing, unfair dismissal and discrimination on the grounds of her Christian beliefs. Lawyers for Hannah are also petitioning the tribunal to lift reporting restrictions on her identity.
The case was presupposed to be heard last 12 months however the hearing collapsed after it was discovered that a panel member had made anti-Christian comments online, resulting in a proper rebuke and his removal from the panel. The latest hearing gets underway on Tuesday at Nottingham Justice Centre.
Speaking ahead of the hearing, Hannah said, “Teachers are being bullied to not query trans affirming policies but evidence shows they put the welfare of youngsters at serious risk.
“I used to be informed by my conscience as a Christian to live right before my God and likewise by the body evidence I had researched which informed me clearly that social transitioning young children is harmful.
“I’m determined to pursue justice over how I actually have been treated because my primary concern and motivation is to guard this child and other children on this country from harm.”
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: “Hannah’s story exposes the confusion and untruths which have been embedded in primary schools over human sexuality and identity. This has developed into an education crisis which must be stopped.
“Society has lost its moral compass. How did we ever determine that it might be helpful for young children to be taught that they is likely to be born within the mistaken body? How is it helpful for distressed children to encourage them down a path of ‘changing gender’ with all of the associated social and medical intervention?
“Schools and teachers are fearful of being accused of being ‘transphobic’ and even reported to regulators as a safeguarding risk, a danger to children or at the same time as a criminal. At the Christian Legal Centre we’re seeing this occur. It must stop.
“For years, parents and teachers who’ve raised safeguarding concerns over these issues have been ignored and disbelieved despite clear expert evidence demonstrating the harm trans affirmation causes.
“This is an untenable situation, and we now hope and pray for an impartial panel to rule on this case.”
