Regulators in Britain have banned a Christian teacher from the profession for life for “misgendering” a student, in what is believed to be the first case of its kind in the country.
The Education Regulation Authority (TRA) ruled that Joshua Sutcliffe, 33, formerly of Cherwell School in Oxford, should be banned from the teaching profession for failing to use so-called preferred pronouns of a female student who identified as a boy, which they they claimed amounted to not providing the student with “dignity and respect”.
Sutcliffe admitted that there was one instance where he praised a group of students by saying “well done girls” during a math class, which was apparently enough to make one student feel bad. Regulators claimed that there were likely to be other instances of the professor not using preferred pronouns, however Sutcliffe denied these accusations, the telegraph reported.
In addition, the TRA also found the former math teacher guilty of misconduct for expressing his religious opposition to gay marriage and for showing students at a different school a video with “inappropriate comments” about the problems of declining masculinity in the world. modern.
“The panel was satisfied that Mr. Sutcliffe fell significantly short of the standard of behavior expected of a teacher,” the regulators’ decision stated.
Alan Meyrick of the TRA, who made the decision to impose the ban on the teacher, said: “In my view, it is necessary to impose a banning order to maintain public confidence in the profession.”
“You are encouraging these students to take a really dangerous and serious path.”
This teacher says he is ‘heartbroken’ after being banned from the profession for not using a student’s preferred pronouns.@StigAbell | #TimesRadio pic.twitter.com/0KrP77nzN6
— Times Radio (@TimesRadio) May 23, 2023
The chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which supported Sutcliffe’s case, Andrea Williams, said: “This is a sticking point. The government needs to step in and restore some sanity to the teaching profession. Similar action needs to be taken in relation to the Teaching Regulation Agency.
“I am very concerned about the way regulatory bodies are now punishing Christian teachers simply for stating the truth.
“The Christian viewpoint on sexual ethics and morality is no longer tolerated in the classroom and teachers who openly express it are having their ability to teach removed by the governing body. This is serious and sinister.
For his part, Sutcliffe said: “I am devastated by the panel’s decision and will appeal.
“Based on this decision, every teacher is at risk if they share their beliefs and views in the classroom. If a professor had shown or recommended a video from a liberal YouTube platform, would he have been treated like me?
“I believe that asserting gender-disabled children in the classroom is psychologically harmful to them. I refuse to go against my conscience and harm a child and I cannot apologize for that.
“Indoctrinating children across the country to celebrate and promote Pride, to fly the Pride flag is celebrated, but if Christian beliefs are raised or expressed in the classroom, you risk having your career and life torn apart.
“I was bullied and harassed and had every part of my life scrutinized for expressing my Christian faith and biological truth.”
As a result of the ruling, Sutcliffe will be banned from teaching for life, however, he can request that the ban be lifted in 2025.
LGBT1984: UK Parliament officials told to police use of ‘preferred pronouns’ – Report https://t.co/UaWzhleUhp
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) May 15, 2023
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