Post by Ayla on Mar 27, 2016 7:16:11 GMT 8
www.smh.com.au/victoria/parents-of-transgender-kids-call-for-compulsory-safe-schools-program-for-primary-schools-20160325-gnr1k5.html
Parents of transgender kids are calling on the Victorian government to make Safe Schools compulsory for primary schools – a period when many transgender students want to transition, and may consider taking hormone blockers as part of the process.
They are calling for school staff to be trained by the Safe Schools program, warning many teachers and principals still don't know how to properly support transgender kids.
Under pressure from the Coalition's conservative wing, Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham ruled last week that the Safe Schools program would be banned from primary schools.
Victorian Education Minister James Merlino staunchly defended the program, and upheld a promise to make Safe Schools compulsory for all secondary state schools by the end of 2018.
But the minister has fallen short of making it compulsory for state primary schools.
"We trust in our school leaders to use age-appropriate resources that best meet the needs of their community," Mr Merlino said.
The Safe Schools Coalition promotes acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in schools. It offers training for primary school teachers, and a resource advising how to make primary schools more inclusive.
Parents of Gender Diverse Children group spokeswoman Karyn Walker, pulled her transgender child out of a primary state school in the eastern suburbs after the principal refused to refer to the child as a girl and use her new name.
"It gave rise to a situation where some of the other kids saw it as an opportunity for teasing," she said.
"1.4 per cent of students equates to 45 000 students across the Australia. When you put it into number terms, that's a lot of kids - certainly enough for one in every primary school."
Transgender Victoria chair Brenda Appleton said primary schools should do all they can to support transgender students early on, to avoid the risk of mental illness and suicidal thoughts.
Research indicates almost half of young LGBTI people were depressed, and nearly 40 per cent had thoughts about suicide.
The Australian Primary Principals Association's president Dennis Yarrington said making the program compulsory risked "enforcing upon school communities a decision which they may not wish to make for their school".
Thirty primary schools and 44 combined schools in Victoria have signed up to the Safe Schools Coalition.
Parents of transgender kids are calling on the Victorian government to make Safe Schools compulsory for primary schools – a period when many transgender students want to transition, and may consider taking hormone blockers as part of the process.
They are calling for school staff to be trained by the Safe Schools program, warning many teachers and principals still don't know how to properly support transgender kids.
Under pressure from the Coalition's conservative wing, Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham ruled last week that the Safe Schools program would be banned from primary schools.
Victorian Education Minister James Merlino staunchly defended the program, and upheld a promise to make Safe Schools compulsory for all secondary state schools by the end of 2018.
But the minister has fallen short of making it compulsory for state primary schools.
"We trust in our school leaders to use age-appropriate resources that best meet the needs of their community," Mr Merlino said.
The Safe Schools Coalition promotes acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in schools. It offers training for primary school teachers, and a resource advising how to make primary schools more inclusive.
Parents of Gender Diverse Children group spokeswoman Karyn Walker, pulled her transgender child out of a primary state school in the eastern suburbs after the principal refused to refer to the child as a girl and use her new name.
"It gave rise to a situation where some of the other kids saw it as an opportunity for teasing," she said.
"1.4 per cent of students equates to 45 000 students across the Australia. When you put it into number terms, that's a lot of kids - certainly enough for one in every primary school."
Transgender Victoria chair Brenda Appleton said primary schools should do all they can to support transgender students early on, to avoid the risk of mental illness and suicidal thoughts.
Research indicates almost half of young LGBTI people were depressed, and nearly 40 per cent had thoughts about suicide.
The Australian Primary Principals Association's president Dennis Yarrington said making the program compulsory risked "enforcing upon school communities a decision which they may not wish to make for their school".
Thirty primary schools and 44 combined schools in Victoria have signed up to the Safe Schools Coalition.