News
NUT survey of teachers in Salford, Oldham and Liverpool highlights presence of homophobia in schools, and how they plan to tackle it.
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) North West have published a report of a number of areas including Liverpool, Salford and Oldham highlighting the endemic presence of homophobia within schools in the area.
The Prevalence of Homophobia Survey, has gathered information about the presence of homophobia within schools and what they plan to do to combat it.
Salford:
NUT Salford has said that the new report is a startling document that suggests that the culture of homophobia in many of the local schools is endemic despite a number of excellent initiatives.
The report that surveyed nearly one hundred classroom teachers from primary and secondary schools throughout the city found that, 65% of teachers hear homophobic abuse weekly.
The NUT Division Secretary for the City of Salford Lesley Auger said; "Salford teachers are rightly proud of our work and collective ambition to educate; addressing and correcting ill informed views, ignorance and bigotry."
She later added that she was concerned about the results of the survey that suggested that homophobia was still present in schools. Before adding that the message from their members was that they wanted to effectively challenge the discrimination and abuse of both their students and colleagues was great news.
Professor Martin Hall who hosted the launch of the report on International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia said that homophobic bullying is a hate crime that sadly was still a reality in schools, and said it was their determination to address this and look deeper into the root causes of homophobia.
He later added; "Our children are not born prejudice; they acquire their assumptions and attitudes from those around them. Unless we get to grips with homophobia in this broader sense, homophobic bullying will continue to be prevalent in our schools."
Oldham:
Oldham NUT also launched their own Prevalence of Homophobia Survey on IDAHO, which suggested that despite a number of initiatives homophobia still appears to be deeply embedded into many of the local schools.
The Oldham NUT committee said they were aware that tackling homophobia in schools still had a long way to go after Stonewall published their school report in 2007 that said 'almost two thirds of young lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have experienced direct bullying.'
The Oldham survey data was collected from 85 secondary school teachers, and found that nearly 99% of the teachers that responded said they had overheard or observed homophobic abused in their school on at least a termly basis, and 76% said they hear homophobic abuse in their schools on a weekly basis.
More than 77% of the teachers said that homophobia was a serious issue that demanded attention and 75% said they would welcome whole school training to help address homophobia more accurately at their school.
The report concluded that homophobia in schools needed to be recognised along with a willingness to challenge the homophobia that was present; it also said that training was required to help equip schools to tackle homophobia.
Oldham Councils Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families said that the report had the Councils full support and co-operation, saying that bullying was unacceptable and the Council would seek to improve the situation.
Liverpool:
The Prevalence of Homophobia Survey was also issued from the NUT's Liverpool division on IDAHO day, which showed that homophobic bullying was endemic in Liverpool schools as well.
The report found that 65% of teachers hear homophobic abuse weekly in Liverpool secondary schools.
Liverpool NUT divisional secretary Julie Lyon-Taylor said that they were upset by the findings that homophobia still had a grip on schools, but said it was great news to hear how the members needed help in order to challenge the discrimination that was present.
On the same day as the findings of the survey were revealed, gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell announced a five year plan to tackle the homophobic bullying of young people in Liverpool.
The anti-homophobic bullying strategy is backed by local church leaders, representatives from the lesbian, gay and bisexual community and the National Union of Teachers.
The strategy was drawn up following research carried out in 2006 that showed the need for co-ordinated action for school pupils in Liverpool.
The research found seven out of ten young lesbian and gay people said homophobic bullying affected their studies, and one in ten bullied said someone's sexuality was a reason for targeting victims.
Research has also shown that one in three gay and lesbian young people feel they cannot be themselves, and those who experience homophobic bullying in school are more likely to under achieve and leave at age 16. Homophobic bullying can also lead to poor attendance, low self esteem which its self can lead to self harm and even suicide.
Councillor Joe Anderson of Liverpool City Council said that this plan "shows we are committed to tackling the issue of people being picked on because of their sexuality" and that they were going to "support gay and lesbian young people who are being bullied, and educate others that it is wrong to discriminate against them."
The aim of the strategy is to build a culture of acceptance and inclusion of gay, lesbian or bisexual young people and dispel myths, stigma and stereotypes.
The strategy included a hard hitting DVD entitled Denial and would be used alongside lesson plans and workbooks.
Along with this Project Triangle which is produced by Homotopia is also being rolled out to 20,000 school pupils across the city.
It is expected that reports of homophobic bullying will increase during the first two years due to increased awareness, but will drop in later years as the plan is implemented.
The Prevalence of Homophobia Survey, has gathered information about the presence of homophobia within schools and what they plan to do to combat it.
Salford:
NUT Salford has said that the new report is a startling document that suggests that the culture of homophobia in many of the local schools is endemic despite a number of excellent initiatives.
The report that surveyed nearly one hundred classroom teachers from primary and secondary schools throughout the city found that, 65% of teachers hear homophobic abuse weekly.
The NUT Division Secretary for the City of Salford Lesley Auger said; "Salford teachers are rightly proud of our work and collective ambition to educate; addressing and correcting ill informed views, ignorance and bigotry."
She later added that she was concerned about the results of the survey that suggested that homophobia was still present in schools. Before adding that the message from their members was that they wanted to effectively challenge the discrimination and abuse of both their students and colleagues was great news.
Professor Martin Hall who hosted the launch of the report on International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia said that homophobic bullying is a hate crime that sadly was still a reality in schools, and said it was their determination to address this and look deeper into the root causes of homophobia.
He later added; "Our children are not born prejudice; they acquire their assumptions and attitudes from those around them. Unless we get to grips with homophobia in this broader sense, homophobic bullying will continue to be prevalent in our schools."
Oldham:
Oldham NUT also launched their own Prevalence of Homophobia Survey on IDAHO, which suggested that despite a number of initiatives homophobia still appears to be deeply embedded into many of the local schools.
The Oldham NUT committee said they were aware that tackling homophobia in schools still had a long way to go after Stonewall published their school report in 2007 that said 'almost two thirds of young lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have experienced direct bullying.'
The Oldham survey data was collected from 85 secondary school teachers, and found that nearly 99% of the teachers that responded said they had overheard or observed homophobic abused in their school on at least a termly basis, and 76% said they hear homophobic abuse in their schools on a weekly basis.
More than 77% of the teachers said that homophobia was a serious issue that demanded attention and 75% said they would welcome whole school training to help address homophobia more accurately at their school.
The report concluded that homophobia in schools needed to be recognised along with a willingness to challenge the homophobia that was present; it also said that training was required to help equip schools to tackle homophobia.
Oldham Councils Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families said that the report had the Councils full support and co-operation, saying that bullying was unacceptable and the Council would seek to improve the situation.
Liverpool:
The Prevalence of Homophobia Survey was also issued from the NUT's Liverpool division on IDAHO day, which showed that homophobic bullying was endemic in Liverpool schools as well.
The report found that 65% of teachers hear homophobic abuse weekly in Liverpool secondary schools.
Liverpool NUT divisional secretary Julie Lyon-Taylor said that they were upset by the findings that homophobia still had a grip on schools, but said it was great news to hear how the members needed help in order to challenge the discrimination that was present.
On the same day as the findings of the survey were revealed, gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell announced a five year plan to tackle the homophobic bullying of young people in Liverpool.
The anti-homophobic bullying strategy is backed by local church leaders, representatives from the lesbian, gay and bisexual community and the National Union of Teachers.
The strategy was drawn up following research carried out in 2006 that showed the need for co-ordinated action for school pupils in Liverpool.
The research found seven out of ten young lesbian and gay people said homophobic bullying affected their studies, and one in ten bullied said someone's sexuality was a reason for targeting victims.
Research has also shown that one in three gay and lesbian young people feel they cannot be themselves, and those who experience homophobic bullying in school are more likely to under achieve and leave at age 16. Homophobic bullying can also lead to poor attendance, low self esteem which its self can lead to self harm and even suicide.
Councillor Joe Anderson of Liverpool City Council said that this plan "shows we are committed to tackling the issue of people being picked on because of their sexuality" and that they were going to "support gay and lesbian young people who are being bullied, and educate others that it is wrong to discriminate against them."
The aim of the strategy is to build a culture of acceptance and inclusion of gay, lesbian or bisexual young people and dispel myths, stigma and stereotypes.
The strategy included a hard hitting DVD entitled Denial and would be used alongside lesson plans and workbooks.
Along with this Project Triangle which is produced by Homotopia is also being rolled out to 20,000 school pupils across the city.
It is expected that reports of homophobic bullying will increase during the first two years due to increased awareness, but will drop in later years as the plan is implemented.
The Statistics
80% of UK schools are aware of homophobic bullying incidents
6% of schools have policies targeting homophobic bullying
About 1 in 3 young LGBTs self-harm or attempt suicide
More facts >>