In a United Kingdom Church of England school, a teacher faced backlash for calling a 13-year-old girl “despicable” after she questioned a classmate who identified as a cat. The incident occurred during an eighth-grade “life education” class at Rye College in East Sussex. According to reports, the teacher scolded the students and threatened to report them to the school administration for expressing the view that there are only two genders.
During a recording of the exchange, the teacher became upset when the student questioned the classmate’s identification as a cat. The teacher claimed that gender is not linked to biological sex and stated that there are more than two genders, including transgender individuals and those who don’t identify with any gender. However, the students disagreed and firmly asserted that biological sex determines gender.
The teacher, raising their voice, criticized the students for considering cisgender as the norm and labeled their viewpoint as “despicable.” The teacher also accused the girls of being homophobic or confused, which they vehemently denied. In response, the teacher suggested that the students find another school if they couldn’t accept the lesson on equality, diversity, and inclusion.
While some parents acknowledged the teacher’s intent, they expressed concerns about the teacher shutting down the debate in an aggressive and threatening manner. They believed that an educational setting should encourage open discussions and the exploration of diverse perspectives, rather than promoting indoctrination.
Earlier this year, Church of England schools reportedly instructed teachers to use alternative language and avoid phrases deemed negative or stereotypical.
The incident at Rye College prompted the school to review its processes and ensure that similar situations are handled differently in the future. The school emphasized its commitment to providing an inclusive education where students’ views are listened to, questions are encouraged, and answers are provided sensitively and honestly.