My Experience of Transitioning MtoF as a School Teacher in 1999
6/12/99
If someone had told me a few months ago that I would be in my present situation I would never have believed them. Yet here I am undergoing a steady transition and still working at my school.
How has this come about?
I always thought I’d have to at the worst leave teaching, or at the best move schools in order to transition. I had often imagined transitioning at my school but it just didn’t seem possible; there were too many obstacles to overcome and I’ve always been told that the easiest way to transition is to move areas and start afresh. It must be true that you can pass more easily with strangers.
I had to decide whether I could tell the senior management. I felt reasonably safe from the sack as recent legislation protected me from sexual discrimination but I was not sure of the response from any of the staff, students or parents, let alone the governing body. I quite naturally felt that there would be all sorts of prejudice and clamour for me to leave and once the news was out.
I told the female deputy. I’m not sure why but I feel I can tell women about my situation much more easily than I can approach men. She consulted the male deputy and between them they felt they had to tell the head. This of course saved me the trouble! Oh my God, the news was out!
Initial meeting with the head
I came away from this meeting with the head and the female deputy with a feeling close to euphoria. I just couldn’t believe the expressions of support I was given! I was asked what I wanted to do with regard to transitioning and I flirted with going the whole way, wearing my hair (I’m balding) and long skirts (I’ve got big calf muscles), as it was a definite possibility. In a calmer moment I realised that I just was not ready and I have chosen a gradual transition process during the year to be fully ’en femme’ later in the summer term.
How the news was broadcast to the school community
Prior to informing anybody, the school employed a PR company to help with the presentation of the issue. I gave copies of appropriate material I had collected in my search of the Internet and other sources. Between us we produced a pack of materials for teachers, for students and for parents. One of the documents produced was a press statement; it’s best to be prepared.
The staff were informed at a staff meeting on Wednesday 3 November (not a day likely to be forgotten). I was decidedly nervous, squirming in my chair while the head went through the statement we had prepared. When the head had finished, there were so many expressions of support, so many kind words, and of course, tears. I was there for an hour or more after the meeting still talking to people.
That evening individually addressed and by First Class post the pack for parents was sent. Parents would receive the letter the next morning or evening.
The following morning the students were told the news by their tutors. No teachers declined to tell their tutor group, even though they had little time to assimilate the news themselves. I told mine myself, and the class responded by clapping at the end. So many students approached me with support and words of kindness. I have not had any negative comments from students. My classes continue as before, I have no problems with discipline or relationships, in fact I think that I now have a better relationship with many students.
The governors have supported me throughout, and I must say that the headmaster has shown such a degree of support for me that I am still really overwhelmed by it.
The Press
The news broke in Thursday’s local evening press. One set of parents felt it necessary to give them the story (more on them later) and this led to the school having to issue the press release. Many agencies were phoning up for interviews with all concerned. I wanted nothing to do with them, but the PR Company, after initially agreeing with me, changed their mind. They said that it would be better if I gave my story in my own words rather than the press trying to dig it up as such stories read like exhumed bodies look, unrecognisable and distorted. I therefore agreed to see the local newspaper reporter and answer his questions. I also agreed to be interviewed by the press agency representative so that the story could be offered to any other interested press organisation. I had the PR Company representative and the chair of governors with me for support. The reporters asked most of the expected questions I think I the reports based on these interviews read reasonably well. The local paper ran a third article on the Saturday asking what people in the community thought and this was not particularly useful. Apparently articles appeared in the Nationals, and on BBC education’s web site. The Telegraph’s paragraph was not from my interview but based on two sets of parents’ comments (more on them later).
Difficulties
There have been more letters of support from parents than letters of complaint. The one area of difficulty has been with a small group of about 3 or 4 parents who have contacted all the agencies that they could think of including local paper and radio station, national press and MPs. They were trying to create as much fuss as they could, under a veneer of caring and concern for all. One set of parents went really overboard accusing me of being a transvestite and questioning my ability to continue teaching due to imagined discipline problems. I was determined to find out what I could do to respond to these people as they obviously did not care about the school community or really understand the condition or surely they would come and deal with the school directly in private. They wanted publicity. Why else would they contact the press?
Help
I contacted several agencies including PFC who responded very quickly, giving me advice and material to consider. I decided at an early stage that there was no point in retaliating, even though I felt intimidated and hurt, as it would not only give the press a bone on which to chew but also give these people a further public platform.
Response
The headmaster has written to the parents concerned making it quite clear that there would be no sabbatical and that I have the full support of the school. He expressed my concern about the comments made and made it clear that I was investigating the possibility of using the law for redress. (Even though there was little chance of success and the disadvantages of such action outweighing so heavily any satisfaction that I might ultimately receive). This response was made using some of the material provided by PFC. The letter gave me some slight sense of satisfaction. I hope we’ve heard the last from them but there is a Governors Parents’ Evening coming up which should be interesting. We await the outcome.
Terri Craggs
6/12/99