Time for Inclusive Education

Time for Inclusive Education (TIE)

Time for Inclusive Education logo
Formation 28 June 2015 (2015-06-28)
Founders Jordan Daly
Liam Stevenson
Type Campaign
Purpose LGBT rights
Region served
Scotland
Website www.tiecampaign.co.uk

Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) is a campaign group which has a stated aim of addressing issues of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) visibility within the Scottish education system. The group put their case to the public petitions committee of the Scottish Parliament, however, despite finding some support their petition was rejected in January 2016. At their 2016 Spring conference, the Scottish National Party moved a resolution to support the campaign.

History

Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) was co-founded by Scottish campaigners Jordan Daly and Liam Stevenson, after the pair met following the Scottish independence referendum.[1] It was launched on the 28 June 2015,[2] the 46th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, with assistance from Jimmy Reid Foundation project Common Weal.[3]

On 5 August 2015, Daly submitted an online petition to the Scottish Parliament on behalf of TIE, calling for the statutory inclusion of LGBT issues within all school curricula, arguing that "The current Scottish Education Curriculum allows schools to opt-out of progressive teaching programmes that discuss topics relating to the LGBTI+ community, such as the Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) framework. This is unproductive."[4]

As the campaign progressed, TIE altered their initial aims and were joined by diversity campaigner and Knightswood Secondary School teacher John Naples-Campbell.[5]

In October 2015, TIE released its first publication - Time for Inclusive Education - which consisted of the personal stories and testimony of individuals across Scotland, and outlined statistics uncovered by Stonewall Scotland in 2012.[6] The publication was delivered to all 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament and featured contributions from various organisations, campaigners and individuals - including Equality Network, LGBT Youth Scotland, Stonewall Scotland, RISE - Scotland's Left Alliance and the Vale of Leven Academy LGBT committee.[6]

TIE campaign Scottish parliament.
Campaigners at the Scottish Parliament.

On 27 October 2015, Daly, Stevenson and Naples-Campbell appeared before the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee to give evidence to MSPs Kenny MacAskill, Hanzala Malik, Jackson Carlaw, Michael McMahon, John Wilson, David Torrance and Angus MacDonald.[7] TIE proposed that every school have a teacher trained in how to teach LGBT issues.[8] The committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government and relevant educational institutions, including the Educational Institute of Scotland and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.[9] The committee showed interest towards the proposals.[10]

Support

Emma Thompson backs TIE.
Emma Thompson backs TIE.
Nicola Sturgeon will work with TIE.
Nicola Sturgeon stated that the SNP would work with TIE.

The campaign has gained support from various figures across Scotland and internationally; including Welsh international rugby union referee Nigel Owens,[11] CEO of Ditch the Label, Liam Hackett,[12] human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, American activist Alicia Garza,[13] Patrick Harvie, Willie Rennie, Johann Lamont, Jean Urquhart, Pat Nevin, David Torrance (journalist), Jonathon Shafi and Cat Boyd.[14]

The campaign has received the backing of the Scottish National Party's affiliated youth organisations, the Young Scots for Independence (SNP Youth) and Federation of Student Nationalists (SNP Students). Speaking after the decision was made, Rhiannon Spear - convenor of SNP Youth - claimed that "...the TIE campaign's values are directly in line with those of the Young Scots for Independence (SNP Youth), and we have made a commitment to campaign against all forms of discrimination and prejudice."[15]

At their Spring conference in March 2016, the Scottish National Party moved a resolution from SNP Youth and SNP Students in support of TIE and the campaign's calls for inclusive LGBT education. Youth delegates spoke personally, all of whom cited statistics in the area which highlight higher rates of suicide and self-harm amongst LGBT school pupils. As a result, the party has committed to improving LGBT inclusivity within the Scottish education system should they form the next government. TIE's campaigners called the move "historic".[16]

In March 2016, actress Emma Thompson backed the campaign, stating that: "The time for homophobia is long gone. It's over. Any young person indulging in homophobic bullying is a teenage dinosaur who should just go and sit coughing over a sherry in an old white men’s club."[17]

First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, expressed her support for TIE during the 2016 Scottish Parliament election campaign, stating that the group's work was "very impressive" and vowing to work with the campaigners should the SNP form the next Scottish Government.[18]

In April 2016, the Scottish Green Party launched an LGBT+ manifesto, in which they expressed their support for TIE, and committed to pushing for many of the campaign's aims within the Scottish parliament - including LGBT+ specific teacher training.[19]

Trade Union Support

Jordan Daly TIE campaign UNISON.
Jordan Daly at UNISON conference.

In February 2016, UNISON became the first trade union to officially back the campaign following a speech from Daly at the union's Scottish council conference. Delegates pledged their continued support and gave a financial donation of £1000 - which TIE stated would be used to directly train groups of teaching staff in how to tackle LGBT-phobic behaviours and attitudes in their schools.[20]

Following this, the Scottish Trades Union Congress, which represents 39 affiliated trade unions and around 630,000 trade unionists, unanimously voted to endorse TIE. Willie Docherty of UNISON spoke in support of the campaign, stating: “A real education can only be in place when young people can be themselves and not have to worry about being bullied, ridiculed or just ignored because of who they are.”[21]

Aims

TIE's campaigners have claimed that the current lack of LGBT education in Scottish schools is a "national disgrace",[8] holding that "education is an absolutely vital tool to tackle LGBT-phobic behaviours, and discrimination, and it must be utilised."[22] It lists its primary aim as ensuring that all Scottish schools offer an education that is inclusive of LGBT topics, and have outlined various methods to achieve this.

We recommend that a working group be established within the Scottish Parliament that can directly seek to address this, with the ultimate goal of LGBTI+ inclusion in all school curricula and pastoral care resources. School reviews should henceforth be carried out, to evaluate whether individual institutions are creating an LGBTI+ inclusive schooling environment.

Teachers can play a key role in eradicating LGBTI-phobia and creating an inclusive learning environment for their pupils, and so we believe that teacher training should be highly prioritised.

Further, we hold that all trainee teachers should receive LGBTI+ training as part of their required qualification.[23]

TIE have argued that LGBT specific training should be made available to all Scottish schools - including faith schools - and urged parties to commit to this during the 2016 Scottish parliamentary election period, claiming that: "it is vital that the next strategy to tackle LGBT-phobia in Scottish schools is the right one - for too long we have dealt with a Section 28 hangover, the next Scottish Government must tackle this properly." TIE's campaigners have consistently argued that teachers must be trained specifically on LGBT issues.[24]

Response

Scottish LGBT organisations have expressed their support for TIE's aims, with LGBT Youth Scotland writing to the Scottish Parliament's petitions committee, outlining that: "Improvements in LGBT students’ educational experiences have not been consistent within Scottish schools and there are still high levels of prejudice and exclusion."[25]

Stonewall Scotland, in their written response, outlined their support for improved teacher training, holding that: "We would agree with the TIE campaign that there is significant inconsistency in the approach schools and local authorities take to addressing LGBT issues. Whilst we are delighted to see more schools addressing LGBT issues in a proactive way, they must be the rule and not the exception. We would welcome a clear strategy from the Scottish Government as to how they will systematically address the bullying and lack of support and experienced by LGBT young people in Scotland."[26]

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), whilst in agreement that teachers must have knowledge of equalities issues, expressed concern regarding teacher training: outlining that "...this is a busy time for trainee teachers and that there are lots of other demands on their time", and that a teacher's understanding of human rights issues is "...likely to be gained and kept updated through information provided by their schools and through career-long professional learning."[27]

The teachers' union, Educational Institute of Scotland, furthered this argument in their response: "...the EIS is of the view that practitioners are skilled in identifying their own professional learning needs."[28] Following their submission - which expressed concerns for the rights of religious parents and teachers - the EIS came under scrutiny on social media from many of its own members, leading the union to publish a clarification of their position, outlining that they "share the concerns of TIE".[29]

The Scottish Government responded to TIE's calls, stating that: "The Scottish Government is clear that there is no place in Scotland for prejudice or discrimination, and that everyone deserves to be treated fairly regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or sexual orientation. We must continue, unrelentingly, to tackle prejudice and discrimination and promote equality and diversity; and we must begin this work early in schools."[30] They outlined that they have taken specific action to tackle homophobic bullying in the past, with the creation of a teaching toolkit - and claimed that their next steps in tackling this would be to assess whether the current toolkit should be updated to provide teachers with the confidence to tackle homophobic bullying after the revised National Approach is published in 2016.

Impact

In 2016, following the unanimous passing of a motion in favour of TIE at the SNP's conference, Nicola Sturgeon announced proposals to train teachers on equality issues in an effort to tackle homophobia in schools - in what the SNP described as a "leap forward" for LGBT equality.[31] However, TIE argued that this "does not go far enough" as Sturgeon's proposals were not reflective of the expectations of the SNP membership and called for the party to commit to LGBT specific teacher training, as opposed to general equality training.[32] Commentators also noted that there was no specific commitment to funding for the training proposals, with leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie agreeing with TIE in arguing that the SNP should go further than their pledge.[33] Following the launch of their election manifesto, the party committed to working with TIE.[34]

Co-convener of the Scottish Green Party, Patrick Harvie, claimed that TIE has "been a really important new voice in the landscape of people campaigning on these issues" and outlined that "during the next session of the Scottish Parliament we have to see real progress. We wouldn’t even be in that position, of understanding how that progress had to happen, if it hadn’t been for the TIE campaign getting the ball rolling. It really is inspiring, the work they have done." He stated that he, along with other members of the next Scottish parliament, would hold the SNP to account on their commitment to adopt TIE's proposals for LGBT inclusive education.[35]

In March 2016, during a leaders debate which focused on LGBT issues, all Scottish party leaders gave their support for LGBT inclusive education, with leader of the Scottish Labour Party Kezia Dugdale stating: "Teachers aren't given enough time outside of the classroom to train on these issues. We've got to give them the confidence to teach LGBT issues."[36]

Public Petition

On 12 January 2016, the petition put forward by TIE was unanimously rejected by the Public Petitions Committee.[37] Ministers expressed sympathy with the campaign.[38] Committee Convener Michael McMahon explained that the petition called for LGBT education to be engrained in statute, and that the school curricula are not statutory, with the exception of Religious and Moral Education.[39]

Crowdfunding Appeal

On 12 February 2016, TIE launched a crowdfunding appeal, setting a target of £5000 which they plan to use towards training Scottish teaching staff in how to tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia within schools.[40]

Criticism

The campaign has been criticised by Reverend David Robertson of the Free Church of Scotland, who claimed that its aims were in breach of the rights of Christian parents. Writing to the Scottish Parliament, Robertson expressed his concern that TIE's petition was a "Trojan horse to impose an ideological perspective on all pupils, whether they want it or not".[41]

John Deighan, the chief executive of anti-abortion group SPUC Scotland and notable spokesperson for the Scottish Catholic religious lobby, criticised TIE and stated that: "There is a promotion of homosexuality at every turn. Typically it’s framed the way that things were so bad for people that they had to consider suicide. Frankly I think that’s usually a rhetorical device to gain sympathy." He claimed that the campaign was "an attack on traditional sexual morals in our society" and refused to support the cause.[42]

Responding to the announcement that TIE's proposals for teacher training were to be adopted by the SNP, Michael McGrath - director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service - stated “If it means promoting homosexual activity then that is not the job of a government—to be promoting any form of sexual activity" and highlighted that he did not expect that Catholic schools would be involved.[43]

Writing in the Scottish Catholic Observer, former school teacher Hugh McLoughlin claimed that "war was openly declared on our Scottish catholic education system" as a result of party leaders' supporting TIE. He further argued that, by discussing his suicidal convictions as a young gay teenager, Daly was "shamelessly" deploying an emotional tool to "affect political and public sentiment" to achieve an agenda of LGBT inclusion within the education system. He dismissed TIE's claims that homophobia is a problem in schools and stated that poverty and discrimination against Catholic youth were bigger issues.[44]

References

  1. ↑ Rodgers, Hannah (17 September 2015). "The Independence Referendum finally gave us a voice". Evening Times. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Time for Inclusive Education - About". Time for Inclusive Education (TIE). Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "TIE Campaign: The Story So Far". Scottish Left Project. leftproject.scot. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "PE01573: Statutory teaching of LGBTI+ issues". The Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  5. ↑ Naples-Campbell, John (12 October 2015). "TIE: John Naples-Campbell Discussed LGBTI+ Education". KaleidoScot. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  6. 1 2 Jamieson, David (28 October 2015). "The shocking reality of LGBTI+ experiences in Scottish schools revealed". CommonSpace. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  7. ↑ Rodgers, Hannah (27 October 2015). "LGBT education campaigners to go before Holyrood committee". Evening Times. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  8. 1 2 MacNab, Scott (27 October 2015). "Lack of classroom support for gay pupils slammed". The Scotsman. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  9. ↑ "Public Petitions Committee Minutes - Tuesday 27th October 2015" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  10. ↑ Lennon, Holly (15 December 2015). "Scots take petition to help LGBTI+ students to Parliament". The Scotsman. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  11. ↑ "Nigel Owens Backs TIE Campaign for LGBTI+ Education". www.tiecampaign.co.uk (Press release). Time for Inclusive Education (TIE). Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  12. ↑ "Liam Hackett Adds His Support to TIE". Time for Inclusive Education (Press release). Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  13. ↑ Withey, Josh (1 September 2015). "TIE campaign gains support from Black Lives Matter". Gay Times. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "TIE Supporters". Time for Inclusive Education (TIE). Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  15. ↑ Jamieson, David. "Nationalist youth organisations back LGBTI+ inclusive education". CommonSpace. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  16. ↑ Gray, Michael (13 March 2016). "‘End the bigotry’: SNP backs ‘Time for Inclusive Education’ campaign for LGBT teaching". CommonSpace. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  17. ↑ "Emma Thompson backs campaign to tackle homophobia in schools". STV News. 2016-03-31. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  18. ↑ Torrance, David (31 March 2016). "Last night's LGTBI Holyrood hustings shows how far Scottish politics has come". Politics.co.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  19. ↑ Learmonth, Andrew (12 April 2016). "Greens lay out plans to tackle fracking". The National. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  20. ↑ Jamieson, David (9 February 2016). "Unison Scotland first Scottish trade union to back LGBTI+ education". CommonSpace. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  21. ↑ Scotland, UNISON (20 April 2016). "TIME FOR INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AND AN END TO HOMOPHOBIA IN SCHOOLS". UNISON. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  22. ↑ Daly, Jordan; Stevenson, Liam. "Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) Campaign". www.in2teaching.org.uk. General Teaching Council for Scotland. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  23. ↑ Quoted on TIE official website "http://www.tiecampaign.co.uk/#!aims/fyarj".
  24. ↑ Cardwell, Paul (31 March 2016). "Nicola Sturgeon reveals new LGBT policies". Third Force News. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  25. ↑ "Consideration of Petition PE 15673 (Statutory Teaching of LGBTI+ Issues) Submission to Public Petitions Committee, December 2015 LGBT Youth Scotland" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. LGBT Youth Scotland. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  26. ↑ "CONSIDERATION OF PETITION PE1573 (Statutory teaching of LGBTI+ issues), Stonewall Scotland" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. Stonewall Scotland. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  27. ↑ "Clerk to Public Petitions Committee, Room T3.40, The Scottish Parliament" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. COSLA. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  28. ↑ "The Educational Institute of Scotland, Statutory Teaching of LGBTI+ Issues, Scottish Parliament" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. EIS.
  29. ↑ "Clarification Of EIS Position On Statutory LGBTI+ Curriculum". www.eis.org.uk (Press release). Educational Institute of Scotland. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  30. ↑ "CONSIDERATION OF PETITION PE1573" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. Ann Milović, Policy Advisor.
  31. ↑ Ross, Jamie (1 April 2016). "Sturgeon’s "Leap Forward" On LGBT+ Education Dismissed By Campaigners". Buzzfeed. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  32. ↑ Williams, Martin (1 April 2016). "Nicola Sturgeon's strategy for LGBTI equality doesn't go far enough, say campaigners". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  33. ↑ Jamieson, David (1 April 2016). "Nicola Sturgeon dodges commitment for inclusive education funding". CommonSpace. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  34. ↑ Megarry, Daniel (21 April 2016). "Nicola Sturgeon promises to tackle anti-LGBT bullying in SNP manifesto". Gay Times Magazine. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  35. ↑ Jamieson, David (31 March 2016). "Patrick Harvie: A coalition of MSPs will hold SNP to account on LGBT+ inclusive education". CommonSpace. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  36. ↑ Coburn, Rachel (1 April 2016). "Party leader consensus at LGBTI hustings". BBC News. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  37. ↑ Ross, Jamie. "Scottish Parliament Rejects Call For Compulsory LGBT Lessons In Schools". Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  38. ↑ Rodgers, Hannah. "Campaigners vow to continue LGBT education fight after Holyrood petition is rejected". Evening Times. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  39. ↑ Jamieson, David. "Scottish Parliament petitions committee reject calls for LGBTI+ inclusive education". CommonSpace. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  40. ↑ Jamieson, David. "LGBTI+ education campaign launches teacher training crowd-funder". CommonSpace. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  41. ↑ Ross, David (26 October 2015). "Free Kirk pleads with MSPs to reject LGBTI appeal". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  42. ↑ Gray, Michael (23 March 2016). "‘Criminalise abortion and ditch condoms’ says senior Scottish catholic". CommonSpace. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  43. ↑ Harkins, Daniel (8 April 2016). "LGBTI teacher training under scrutiny". Scottish Catholic Observer. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  44. ↑ McLoughlin, Hugh (15 April 2016). "Fight for Scottish Catholic school system". Scottish Catholic Observer. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

External links

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