In a shocking incident at a Church of England school in the U.K., a 13-year-old girl was harshly reprimanded and branded “despicable” by her teacher. The student dared to ask a classmate a simple question: “How can you identify as a cat when you’re a girl?”
The incident reportedly occurred during a “life education” class at Rye College, an institution part of the Aquinas Trust, a Church of England network of 11 schools. The students have been informed, “Be who you want to be and how you identify is up to you.” The lesson intended to “promote inclusivity and acceptance,” but how it was conducted has left many questioning the methods of modern social engineering.
Student called ‘despicable’ by teacher after challenging peer who identifies as a cat https://t.co/VulR8fJYTF pic.twitter.com/BdlpRwgcp5
— New York Post (@nypost) June 19, 2023
In a recording of the heated classroom exchange, the teacher admonishes the student for “questioning their identity” and daring to voice a belief that only boys and girls exist. The student countered with the basic biological assertion, “If you have a vagina, you’re a girl, and if you have a penis, you’re a boy.” The teacher retorted that this view was “despicable.”
Interestingly, the teacher suggested that the student was either homophobic or confused, a claim she immediately refuted. One of the students stated her mother would be on her side, to which the teacher responded, “Well, that’s very sad as well, then.” The message was clear – agree with the teacher’s viewpoint or face the consequences.
Teacher @ryecollegeuk Has Meltdown At Year 9 Student Who Questions Why Another Student Is Identifying As A Cat.
Disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/k1vbpVdBLB
— Turning Point UK 🇬🇧 (@TPointUK) June 17, 2023
Instead of fostering an open debate and discussion environment, the teacher threatened to report the students in her class. “If you don’t like it, you need to go to a different school,” she declared.
The response from parents and other observers has been predictably one of shock and outrage. A parent of another student who received the same lesson expressed dissatisfaction over the teacher’s methods, stating, “Regardless of the subject, education should build awareness of differing points of view to widen the understanding of a subject. It shouldn’t be a case of indoctrination.”
A spokesman for Rye College assured that they are committed to providing an inclusive education and strive to answer students’ questions sensitively and honestly. The school claims it is reviewing its processes and working with relevant individuals to ensure “such events don’t occur in the future.”
The issue at stake here isn’t the acceptance of different identities. Instead, it’s the aggressive shutdown of a young student’s attempt to question, understand, and debate, which is the cornerstone of any worthwhile education.
