Transgender London

For the Teacher

You have this student, he is quiet and doesn't socialize well with the other students but he is getting the needed grades. There is something not quite right but you cant quite put your finger on it. A few times he was targeted by bullies but that situation has been resolved. He seems to gravitate more to the girls but they shun him and the boys do the same. So, he spends a lot of time alone except for maybe one or two classmates who will talk to him. It isn't normal, you know this but neither is it uncommon. His parents have not given you any indication that anything was wrong once the bullying stopped.

The other scenario is that the parent(s) of one of your students has approached the school informing them that Billy will no longer be attending but Suzy will. Billy has declared himself as a girl and they are supporting that along with the doctors. Now the parents want the school to not only respect that but protect that decision. The implications are enormous for everyone. Not only does this whole concept repulse you, but you are now being told you have to respect and enforce the issue.

You have some soul searching to do. So here are a few questions you should ask yourself.

What are the bases for my prejudice? Are they founded in erroneous fact, emotion or elsewhere?

Knowing your prejudices and the reasons for them will allow you to view the situation with a clear mind. If you are unsure, you need to talk to people who are qualified and in the know about transgender and transgender children in particular. This doesn't mean the board psychologist but others who are active in the transgender community and associated resources. Look for a diversity agency who deal with transgender. They will be a good resource for you and your student.
How does this child's identification as transsexual affect me directly?

It shouldn't other than if the situation comes to the fore, you may have to deal with her classmates. Again, a good diversity trainer can help. In this type of situation though, you should never undertake any kind of action without the total participation of all vested interest parties.
Does this impede my abilities to do my job?

If your job is to judge then it enhances your job description. If your job is to teach then teach. If you have to deal with social issues, see point 2 above.
Do I have to treat this child any different than any other? How and Why? Where? Under what circumstances?

You shouldn't have to treat this child any differently. Washroom usage could become an issue but if handled properly by ensuring the girls washroom is empty before she uses it, then stand guard, there shouldn't be an issue. The same holds true for gym classes unless an exemption is given. Beyond that, ensuring that she isn't a victim of bullying is the only remaining task and that is universal for all students.

Your best course of action is to be proactive and learn as much as you can, as quickly as you can. Then arrange to get more information from the parents. It must never be lost from sight that the overarching responsibility of the school is to the child's education and welfare. Part of that education is also socialization. Helping the student socialize within his or her identified gender will help immensely. All else, including your own feelings are moot.

You must ensure that you treat the student according to his or her identified gender role and reinforce the standards of that role. This means using the correct name and pronouns. It will mean ensuring the student is included in group efforts in accordance with the gender role.

The student who is at the age of puberty may pose some additional challenges. While there is much debate about this, some in the medical community are in favour of delaying puberty for the child until s/he is around the age of 15 to 16. This approach provides a very good basis for early adult transition and extremely successful physical changes. However, the downside to this is that the student's classmates will be developing normally and socializing accordingly while the transgendered child will not. This can place tremendous socialization pressures on the student.

For the student who is not restrained from puberty another set of challenges emerge and prime among them is sexual activity. It is essential that all students recognize the dangers of this but the trans child will be more susceptible without proper guidance and support both at home and in school. Again positive reinforcement is essential.

There is no doubt that a transgender student can present some different challenges, but if approached with a positive attitude and within a nondiscriminatory milieu, everyone can benefit; the child, classmates, and you.

This site was last updated 08/11/10