Scots schools could ban teachers from calling pupils ‘boys and girls’

SCOTS teachers could be banned from calling pupils “boys and girls” as schools plan to introduce new gender-neutral rules.

Moray coun­cil confirmed that plans are being drawn up to bring in new guidelines for schools.

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The Tory-led council explained that the proposals would ban teachers from referring to pupils by their sex, The Sunday Mail reports.

And Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, who was previously a councillor with the local authority, hit back and said that council chiefs were unaware of the plans.

The plans were first discovered by The Sunday Mail in a survey of all 32 local authority areas after teachers and parents raised concerns that schools were blocking the use of male and female terms.

But Kathleen Robertson, the Tory council leader for Moray, said she was unaware of the future plans.

Mr Ross, who has previously been critical of the SNP’s push for gender reform, said that officers will review the guidance.

He added: “These proposals are being looked at by officers and it’s been confirmed to me that councillors have not even been informed about this, let alone taken a decision.

Pan­der­ing to this anti-sci­entific ideo­logy is far more dam­aging to chil­dren. Guid­ance for schools needs to be urgently revised but not in such a way that rein­forces this dan­ger­ous claptrap

Susan Smithfrom children and women’s right campaign group For Women Scotland

“I expect the review of guidance will confirm that teachers and staff should continue to refer to pupils as boys and girls.”

The new proposed guidelines have been met with a furious backlash from people calling for them to be axed.

Susan Smith from children and women’s right campaign group For Women Scotland told The Sunday Mail: “No schools should be think they need to protect children from biology.

She added: “Pan­der­ing to this anti-sci­entific ideo­logy is far more dam­aging to chil­dren.

“Guid­ance for schools needs to be urgently revised but not in such a way that rein­forces this dan­ger­ous claptrap.”

In the survey, most Scottish councils said that they plan to continue following the advice and guidance that the Scottish Government issued in Agust 2021.

This national guidance set out how schools and teachers could help transgender pupils and those who have preferred pronouns.

Teachers are being told to avoid calling kids ‘girls and boys’ is ridiculous. Children are children and should not be afraid to be the gender they are

Anonymous teacher

One primary school teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Sunday Mail that not referring to pupils as “boys and girls” is ridiculous.

They said: “Councils follow advice from the Scottish government and we have an SNP government who will not stop obsessing about gender ideology which is now seeping into schools.

“Teachers are being told to avoid calling kids ‘girls and boys’ is ridiculous.

“Children are children and should not be afraid to be the gender they are.

“There are rumours across councils about plans to ban ‘boys and girls’ and if Moray Council brings this in, it won’t be long before the rest follow. It’s a dangerous precedent to set.”

A Moray council spokeswoman said: “Discussions around this are ongoing and updated guidance is currently under consideration which will provide advice on good practice.”The Scottish Government declined to comment.

Moray Council have been approached for comment. The Scottish Government declined to comment.