December 11, 2009
Schools told to act on 'transgender bullying'
Greg Hurst, Education Editor
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/school_league_tables/article6952378.eceChildren who engage in "transphobic" bullying in the playground or classroom could be guilty of a hate crime and investigated by police under new government guidance. Pupils could be expelled and their parents forced to attend counselling if they refuse to accept that such behaviour is wrong.
The detailed guidance, running to 46 pages, tells schools how to deal with transphobic bullying, defined as bullying stemming from a hatred or fear of people who are transgender — an umbrella term for people whose sense of gender or gender identity is seen as different from typical norms.
The document also deals with sexist and sexual bullying, giving all three equal significance, even though it admits "incidences of direct transphobic bullying are relatively rarely identified in schools". The Department for Children, Schools and Families was unable to provide figures on how many transgender pupils there are, although the guidance also covers bullying relating to family, friends and school staff.
