Halton school board prepares for backlash over trans teacher

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The Halton District Faculty Board is “standing behind” an “accepted” transgender trainer who has gone viral in social media video posts.

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As well as, HDSB Chair Margo Shuttleworth tells the Toronto Solar that employees are “going via creating a security plan” to make sure the Oakville Trafalgar Excessive Faculty trainer’s safety as they put together for potential protests when the varsity opens for courses Monday.

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Defending any individuals “gender rights” is “the stance the varsity board is taking and they’re standing behind the trainer,” stated Shuttleworth.

Pre-transitioning the trainer was recognized to college students and school as a male and glided by a person’s title. However the trainer now identifies as a girl and is referenced with a feminine title.

The college board says it sees her merely as a superb trainer.

“This trainer (who teaches store) is a particularly efficient trainer,” stated Shuttleworth. “All the youngsters actually love being within the class.”

However movies posted to social media displaying the Oakville industrial arts trainer, who started figuring out as feminine final yr, showing in school with giant prosthetic breasts whereas working a round noticed has created a lot commentary.

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In consequence Shuttleworth stated she articulated to those that run the board’s day-to-day operations that “we are able to’t simply wait round and see what occurs as a result of I’m fairly assured it received’t be a traditional return to highschool Monday,”

Already, because of movies recorded by college students, the varsity has been receiving feedback on the matter.

“There’ll the protesters and the anti-protesters,” stated Shuttleworth. “I do know there have been telephone calls made to the varsity that haven’t been essentially the most nice in nature.”

She stated her place to HDSB Director of Training Curtis Ennis is to “be certain she (the trainer) is protected” and “make sure that all people stays protected.”

The Solar has reached out to the trainer for remark however to date has not acquired a response.

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The trainer, who the Solar has determined to not title at this level, has not had any earlier points which have come to the eye of the board.

“We’ve got had no telephone calls previous to this, saying something about it,” stated Shuttleworth.

However having stated that, Shuttleworth acknowledges “there needed to be some disconnect as a result of one of many college students created this video.”

A few of that concern has been expressed on social media, together with one pupil taking to Twitter to write down “the youngsters right here most positively don’t suppose it’s regular… however realistically we are able to’t say something. Final yr, the trainer was a person. I don’t suppose the varsity can fireplace him.”

In reality, Shuttleworth stated the worker shall be supported, including “the trainer is totally accepted and welcomed into the varsity group so far as the employees is anxious.”

— With recordsdata from Brad Hunter

jwarmington@postmedia.com