Teacher Banned for Misgendering and Anti-Gay Statements Warns of Risks for Educators

[Social Media]

 

Joshua Sutcliffe, a Christian former math teacher, has raised alarms about the potential risks for educators who share their personal beliefs in the classroom after he lost a High Court appeal against a decision to ban him from teaching. Sutcliffe was barred from the profession in 2023 after the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) concluded that he breached safeguarding duties by refusing to use a transgender student’s preferred pronouns and telling students that homosexuality was a sin.

 

This case, the first of its kind to reach and be dismissed at the appeal stage, underscores the challenges at the intersection of personal beliefs and professional conduct in education. Mr. Sutcliffe expressed his dismay at the ruling, stating, "I still stand by my Christian convictions that it is harmful and detrimental to affirm gender-confused children." He claimed that he had been targeted ever since he "dared to express [his] Christian beliefs in a school" and made public appearances in the media. He argued that the TRA had been intent on making him recant his views, punishing him severely for his refusal.

 

 

Despite this setback, Sutcliffe vowed to continue his fight for justice and to reclaim his career. He lamented the lack of guidance for teachers on such issues during his early years in the profession, noting that schools were more likely to follow advice from organizations like Stonewall rather than the government or other experts.

 

Sutcliffe's attempt to overturn the prohibition order from May 2023 was rejected. The TRA had found him guilty of "unacceptable professional conduct" while he was employed at The Cherwell School in Oxford from 2015 to 2018. The misconduct panel determined that Sutcliffe had repeatedly failed to use a pupil’s preferred pronouns, referring to the student in class, in an email to staff, and during an appearance on ITV’s This Morning. The panel also found that he had failed to safeguard students' wellbeing by telling them that God had stopped someone from being gay because it was wrong, and by expressing his disapproval of equal marriage.

 

In his defense, Sutcliffe’s lawyers argued that the teaching ban represented an "unjustified interference" with his rights to freedom of speech and religion. They contended that the decision was "unsafe" and based on "perverse" findings, maintaining that Sutcliffe had a right "not to believe in gender identity belief." However, Mr. Justice Pepperall, in a written ruling, dismissed these arguments. The judge concluded that Sutcliffe "fails to understand or accept the harm that he caused vulnerable children in his class," asserting that there was "no merit" in his claim that the ban infringed on his religious expression.

 

Justice Pepperall clarified that the case was not about a teacher who accidentally failed to adhere to a school's policy on pronouns or who tried to reconcile personal beliefs with such policies by avoiding pronouns altogether. Instead, it concerned a teacher who intentionally used female pronouns for a transgender male student, both in the classroom and on national television, thereby causing significant distress to a vulnerable child. The judge also condemned Sutcliffe for his comments implying that homosexuality was a sin that could be cured by God, noting that these remarks showed "no regard for the gay and lesbian children in his class" and made them feel "worthless."

 

Additionally, Sutcliffe faced allegations of showing inappropriate videos to students while working as a math teacher at St Aloysius College in Islington, north London, from 2018 to 2019. The TRA found it "more likely than not" that he had shown students a video about masculinity, which suggested that women were only attracted to "real men" and not "a passive man who looks to her to be his provider, protector, and leader."

 

Credit: Daily Telegraph 2024-07-27

 

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[Chomper Higgot]

Which branch of mathematics requires any discussion on homosexuality, let alone sin?

 

As for a math teacher students videos on the subject of ‘masculinity’?!

 

Of course he thinks it’s acceptable because he’s ‘a Christian’.

 

I think the term creep fits better.

[JonnyF]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Which branch of mathematics requires any discussion on homosexuality, let alone sin?

 

As for a math teacher students videos on the subject of ‘masculinity’?!

 

 

You'd be fine with it if he was preaching extreme leftist Woke ideology in his maths class.

 

[soalbundy]

The man behaved foolishly, he shouldn't have pushed his religious beliefs down children's throats. As for pronouns I also wouldn't call a trans person by their preferred pronouns but one can get out of that by simply using their names in place of a pronoun. Don't fight a woke establishment, they are too scared and cowardly to go against the loud minority, one has to bypass them, not identify as a bigot and demand recognition of his status as such, that only works by identifying with an incorrect gender.

[spidermike007]

I do agree with him on the pronoun thing. I consider it ridiculous. His statement about gays was a mistake. Love is love. Who cares what form it takes? 

 

This is a rich topic. Personally, I despise PC. And social justice authoritarianism. I think it represents alot of what is wrong with contemporary culture, and especially America today. It is a major form of weakness, when you allow yourself to be easily offended, and take everything personally. Granted, there are things that can be perceived as offensive, but allowing yourself to be offended by tiny little things people say and do is a bit much! But, the people who are offended daily, by things others say, are just weak, and would benefit by growing thicker skin. Life can be rough and caustic at times, and for those of us who have grown thick skin, it is like water off a ducks back. No big deal, at all. Think what you want to think. It just does not mean anything to those with self esteem, and a sense of who and what they are. Granted, these are just my opinions, and some will take offense to them. LOL. 

 

The US is by far the most tolerant country in the world when it comes to the whole trans, non-binary, amorosexual, decide whatever you want today, if it fits mentality. No other country is as loose, driftless, and as silly as the US. Perhaps the UK is not far behind. 

 

The notion that political correctness has “gone mad” is familiar to anyone who follows even vaguely any aspect of modern political or cultural life. The phrase, ostensibly referring to language or action that is designed to avoid offence or harm to protected groups, has become a sharp criticism. It is synonymous with a sort of cultural McCarthyism, usually committed by the left.

 

https://www.economist.com/open-future/2018/09/10/has-political-correctness-gone-too-far

 

A Rasmussen poll found that 71 percent of Americans think political correctness is a problem today. When is being politically correct more about civility and politeness? When when does it veer into censorship? When is it justified? When is it not justified?

 

https://www.jacksonville.com/opinion/2016-09-30/has-political-correctness-gone-too-far

 

University of Connecticut officials sent out a campus wide email advising its students that the school would provide counseling sessions in response to political commentator and Harvard Law alum Ben Shapiro’s slated speaking event at the university. The ironic part is that the counseling sessions were offered before Shapiro even stepped foot on campus. When I was in law school, Bill Clinton came and spoke. While I wasn't traumatized, I wonder whether the administration would have provided counselors for all the women in attendance.

 

https://clclt.com/charlotte/pc-culture-10-times-its-gone-too-far/Content?oid=16059883

[harryviking]

This is sick! Stupidity and insanity has taken over. Now we have to respect screwed up people where some of them tells us men can get pregnant?? NO WAY! This has to stop! 

[john donson]

people can ask to be called x,y,z

 

but other people are not obliged to follow their insanity demands

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

You'd be fine with it if he was preaching extreme leftist Woke ideology in his maths class.

 

Thank you Jonny for inventing points of view for me which I myself have never addressed.

 

Feel free to continue by arguing with the points of view you yourself invented.

[stevenl]

14 minutes ago, john donson said:

people can ask to be called x,y,z

 

but other people are not obliged to follow their insanity demands

Depends what your employer expects of you.

[Chomper Higgot]

18 minutes ago, harryviking said:

This is sick! Stupidity and insanity has taken over. Now we have to respect screwed up people where some of them tells us men can get pregnant?? NO WAY! This has to stop! 

Clearly not, the screwed up math teacher and his insanity have been removed.

[mikebike]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

The US is by far the most tolerant country in the world when it comes to the whole trans, non-binary, amorosexual...

😂😂😂😂 You MUST be being factitious 😂😂😂😂

[Celsius]

This is why Trumpster will win. There are a lot of liberal woters who do not like this chit and even me as an Atheist who never liked anything religious is starting to feel sympathy for the christians.

[Chomper Higgot]

4 minutes ago, Celsius said:

This is why Trumpster will win. There are a lot of liberal woters who do not like this chit and even me as an Atheist who never liked anything religious is starting to feel sympathy for the christians.

 

Nothing wrong with Christians, so long as they aren’t indoctrinating other people’s kids.

 

 

[Celsius]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

Nothing wrong with Christians, so long as they aren’t indoctrinating other people’s kids.

 

 

 

But Trans and Muzziea are allowed to do it

[stevenl]

9 minutes ago, Celsius said:

This is why Trumpster will win. There are a lot of liberal woters who do not like this chit and even me as an Atheist who never liked anything religious is starting to feel sympathy for the christians.

His hard core fans will not like these things. But the swing voters won't care too much.
This specifi case being in the UK they won't even know about it.

[cjinchiangrai]

1 minute ago, Celsius said:

 

But Trans and Muzziea are allowed to do it

Examples please. 

[Chomper Higgot]

15 minutes ago, Celsius said:

 

But Trans and Muzziea are allowed to do it

That’s what’s known as a non sequitur.

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

In front of the headline should be "UK".

Normal, not woke people, don't do that.

[Baht Simpson]

It's amazing but perhaps not surprising that most of the commentators here are appalled by the censure of a teacher but care less about the abuse of a schoolchild. 

 

Religious beliefs are what you personally believe and not what you

proselytize to others. If religion is taught it should be in a broad curriculum, otherwise it becomes indroctrination.

 

Clearly the issue here is that this man has sought to push his beliefs onto his class, including his perverse and outmoded views on homosexuality and transgender. This was no mistake, he deliberately and wilfully misgendered a vulnerable child opening her up to possible scorn and abuse by other kids. 

 

The judge summed it up perfectly.

[James105]

42 minutes ago, Baht Simpson said:

It's amazing but perhaps not surprising that most of the commentators here are appalled by the censure of a teacher but care less about the abuse of a schoolchild. 

 

Religious beliefs are what you personally believe and not what you

proselytize to others. If religion is taught it should be in a broad curriculum, otherwise it becomes indroctrination.

 

Clearly the issue here is that this man has sought to push his beliefs onto his class, including his perverse and outmoded views on homosexuality and transgender. This was no mistake, he deliberately and wilfully misgendered a vulnerable child opening her up to possible scorn and abuse by other kids. 

 

The judge summed it up perfectly.

 

Abuse?  His crime was saying "well done girls" to 2 girls, one of whom is currently pretending to be a boy and if allowed to get through puberty and grow up into adulthood would likely be a happy and fulfilled adult human female, just like the many thousands, maybe millions of girls who used to be 'tomboys' in a time when confused teenagers were not indoctrinated into the trans cult.    

 

Anyway, would be interesting to see the judges response and lefties response should this ever occur to a teacher of a certain different religion who never seem to be considered to have perverse and outdated views due to the bigotry of low expectations.   He would be in fear of his life if he tried that kind of summation with a certain religion.   

[Chomper Higgot]

26 minutes ago, James105 said:

Anyway, would be interesting to see the judges response and lefties response should this ever occur to a teacher of a certain different religion who never seem to be considered to have perverse and outdated views due to the bigotry of low expectations.   He would be in fear of his life if he tried that kind of summation with a certain religion.   

Unable to come to terms with the outcome subject case you invent a new one to feed your need for grievance.

[Baht Simpson]

1 hour ago, James105 said:

 

Abuse?  His crime was saying "well done girls" to 2 girls, one of whom is currently pretending to be a boy and if allowed to get through puberty and grow up into adulthood would likely be a happy and fulfilled adult human female, just like the many thousands, maybe millions of girls who used to be 'tomboys' in a time when confused teenagers were not indoctrinated into the trans cult.    .   

That's not your decision and it's certainly not the decision of this teacher. It's not about beliefs, yours mine or his, it's about his actions toward this pupil, which were humiliating.

[wwest5829]

Only had this happen one time in 41 years of teaching. A student of mine entered class visibly upset. I approached him personally to inquire the reason. His music teacher in the class preceding mine, had told him the pendant on his necklace represented the “devil”. That was all I needed to hear, I was in the Principal’s office shortly demanding he read the riot act to this “Christian” imposing her personal beliefs on students. Having been raised on the multiethnic U.S. East Coast, they needed me as an educator in “Bible Belt” western Kentucky, whether they recognized it or not. Yes, with my field being history, I am most certainly “woke”.

[wwest5829]

5 hours ago, harryviking said:

This is sick! Stupidity and insanity has taken over. Now we have to respect screwed up people where some of them tells us men can get pregnant?? NO WAY! This has to stop! 

Confused by your assertion that, “ … some of them tells us men can get pregnant”. Do give us a creditable source citation.

[Chomper Higgot]

Let’s parce this;

 

Strong anti gay views.

Talks about homosexuality being a sin.

Shares his collection of videos promoting masculinity.

 

…
 

 

[stoner]

19 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Let’s parce this;

 

Strong anti gay views.

Talks about homosexuality being a sin.

Shares his collection of videos promoting masculinity.

 

…
 

 

 

he is more than likely gay himself but too ashamed to do anything about it. reminds me of the politician caught in the airport toilet. 

 

his gay remarks are vile. however the forced language is unacceptable. as another poster pointed out i try and do the same. address people by their name not a pronoun. easy no conflict. 

[JonnyF]

10 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

Nothing wrong with Christians, so long as they aren’t indoctrinating other people’s kids.

 

 

 

Yes, in your socialist utopia only the extreme leftists are allowed to indoctrinate other people's children with their woke, lgbtq+++, trans nonsense.

 

Christians must stay away from "your" children.

 

Sick puppies that's for sure.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

6 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Yes, in your socialist utopia only the extreme leftists are allowed to indoctrinate other people's children with their woke, lgbtq+++, trans nonsense.

 

Christians must stay away from "your" children.

 

Sick puppies that's for sure.

 

 

You’re doing well on the ‘imaging opinions on my behalf’ front these days Jonny.

 

Now you’ve completely fabricated an opinion on my behalf, feel free to argue with it.

 

Let’s see how long you can rant before it dawns on you that you are ranting against yourself.

 

 

[Luuk Chaai]

What were the first 7 things God created?

 

 

Here are the things created on each day: day 1 - light and darkness; day 2 - sky and sea; day 3 - land; day

                                                                             4 - sun and moon;        day 5 - birds and fish; day 6 - animals, man, and woman;

                                                                                                       day 7 - God rests.

Now compare day 1 with day 4, day 2 with day 5, and day 3 with day 6. 

no mention of them,they, ze, zir,

[stevenl]

3 minutes ago, Luuk Chaai said:

What were the first 7 things God created?

 

 

Here are the things created on each day: day 1 - light and darkness; day 2 - sky and sea; day 3 - land; day

                                                                             4 - sun and moon;        day 5 - birds and fish; day 6 - animals, man, and woman;

                                                                                                       day 7 - God rests.

Now compare day 1 with day 4, day 2 with day 5, and day 3 with day 6. 

no mention of them,they, ze, zir,

I have seen more sensible posts here.