Meanwhile, I was invited to contribute to Intrepid Ed News – the online magazine of OESIS and they have published two of my pieces.
Here is the first one if you want to take a look: Do No Harm: Navigating Gender Identity Theory in Schools
The follow-up article is Operation Pied Piper: Lessons from History on Childhood Trauma and Resistance. It’s about the mass evacuation of British children in WW2, mental health, and child development. It manages to link the work of psychoanalyst D.W. Winnicott with Monty Python and a children’s story by Michael Rosen. It’s about the responsibility of schools and adults to support young people through what Winnicott called “the doldrums” of adolescence.
How does the work of Winnicott and Erikson inform the thinking about the trauma of our own time?
Consider their work in the light of the teenager who declares a gender identity.
Independent schools have been working on how to remain sustainable in a time of fluctuating enrollment, changing demographics and the pressure stay affordable. One solution is merger and consolidation.
You may remember my mention of Weyward Academy and its neighborhood rival St. Etheldreda’s School in my discussion of school Mission statements. Well, now this: A joint press release from the two boards of trustees:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Weyward Academy and St. Etheldreda’s School Announce Exciting Merger
Weyward Academy and St. Etheldreda’s School are thrilled to announce an upcoming merger that will bring together two exceptional institutions to create an even brighter future for our students, families, and communities.
After months of careful consideration and planning, the boards of trustees for both schools have unanimously agreed to merge effective July 1st. This union will combine the strengths, challenges, and traditions of two renowned educational institutions, positioning us to provide an unparalleled educational experience for generations to come.
The merged entity will operate under the name “Weyward Etheldreda Academy” honoring the legacies of both schools. The merger brings together our diverse shared values, commitment to academic excellence and equity, progressive traditions, and dedication to fostering well-rounded individuals prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century in all corners of the world.
Key highlights of the merger include:
Mr Timothy B. Endibel, current head of Weyward, will serve as the new head of school. We are particularly delighted that Miss Marjorie Hazelbrow – fondly known to one and all as Midge – has graciously agreed to defer her retirement and serve as co-head to ensure a smooth transition. She has served the Etheldreda community for over three decades and is as much a part of the institution as the stone lions that grace the school entryway.
Both Weyward and St. Etheldreda have long histories of excellence in education. This merger represents a significant milestone in a shared commitment to providing the best possible educational experience for our students.
We look forward to the endless possibilities this merger will bring, and we are confident that Weyward Etheldreda Academy will continue to be a beacon of educational excellence in our community.
For more information, please visit the website.
Media should contact John Swadeley, Orchestrator in Chief for Marketing, Outreach, and Communications. (OCMOC).
A personal note: Here at Rattlebag and Rhubarb we have an inside scoop on this important educational enterprise. We will report in from time to time on all the thrills and spills of life in school. So keep those eyes to the ground and ears peeled.
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I'm with Sir Walter Scott..or he/she Scott ?..or just plain Walter Scott will do ..
Some interesting observation in comments...
Out of a population of 67 million in the latest census in the UK, 48,000 identified as trans men and 48,000 identified as trans women. That is around 0.15% of the population. A further 165,000 felt their sex and gender identity were different, but aren’t transitioning, a total of 0.4% overall. Just trying to put the noise around it in context.
So interesting to think about those numbers when considering the disproportionate impact on institutions and policies. Something is out of joint.
As if growing up is not confusing enough. Laying all this other nonsense on adolescents is plain cruel. It is unfortunate to have a parents who are homophobic but they need to learn to accept their child's persuasion and support it. It is sickening to think what children are subjected to.
Many interesting thoughts. Thank you Josie.
I argue with myself on these topics!
Most recently, I wondered how people would have reacted over the years if pronouns depicted other categories, such as race or ethnicity.
What if we said "White Chris" rather than "Mr Chris", or just "Chris".
What journeys does the language take our subsconcious on, as it's formulating our thoughts and responses?
There are times when gender may be relevant. For example specific surgeries.
But we appear to distinguish at many times when it's not (or shouldn't be) relevant.
Oh for a time machine to see the future solutions...
Thanks for the thoughts Keith.
The first thing to do is to differentiate between sex which is a material and biological reality and gender which is a belief. Some people think they have a gender. Many do not.
We all have a sex- male or female. No one ever changes sex and sometimes what sex you are makes a difference. (Medicine would be a good example.) Sometimes sex really matters as in competitive sports that depend on speed, strength, and stamina where male bodies have physical advantages. And sometimes it doesn't as in who should run the country, drive the bus, own the house, wash the dishes.
Men and women also criminally offend and sexually offend at very (extremely) different rates so some same-sex spaces are essential for women's privacy and safety.
But the "pronoun" issue is interesting because it seems - superficially at least - to be a simple matter, even a courtesy and matter of politeness. But thinking or implying or teaching that people can change sex is actually both dangerous and delusional. It's not just a matter of good manners and this is especially so when it comes to children and young people as they experiment with identity as a normal part of growing up.
About pronouns, we do have to be careful about when and where we use them. For example, how do we tell a man we've been calling 'she/her' that we don't want him sharing women's facilities with women and girls? How do we tell a man we call he/him that he can't use the women's facilities, whilst we allow a man in whom we refer to as 'she/her'? How do we tell a man we refer to as 'she/her', who we've been letting share women's spaces that we no longer want him in there, because some women and girls are uncomfortable/intimidated by his presence, or his behaviour is making some women and girls feel uncomfortable, or feels intimidating? How we refer to people in our own informal social and family circles is up to us, but it's dicey to bring that into the public or workplace sphere.
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!" (Sir Walter Scott, 1808)
I so enjoy your blogs Josie. It reminds me that in this world of fake news, alternative truths and plain denial of factual evidence, there are still some people who see clearly. I always agree with you instinctively but until I read your words I’m never quite sure why. Thanks for that.
Gosh! Thank you, Mike.