Scheme calls for inclusive education in schools to end LGBTI bullying
APIONEERING Scottish scheme to help tackle homophobic bullying and improve equality in the classroom has been praised by those taking part. Dozens of education professionals and trainee teachers took part in novel training programmes run earlier this month by the Time for Inclusive Education (Tie) campaign.
Within days of announcing the free programmes, which were tailored for primary, secondary and additional support needs teachers, all 120 places were fully booked.
Organisers said they were motivated to organise the programmes as currently the majority of equality training available to teachers must be paid for by their local authority, and at a time when most councils are making cuts to save money, training sessions have been put on the back burner.
The campaign is calling for inclusive education to be introduced to the Scottish curriculum, and says it is essential in order to tackle homophobia and make like better for the thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) teenagers and children struggling every day across the country.
Teachers who spoke to the Sunday Herald said improving knowledge of LGBTI issues is vital to achieving a ful- ly inclusive education system for young Scots of all genders and sexualities.
Lucy Rangeley, 38, is a Scottish primary school teacher who attended the training scheme.
As a gay teacher, she said not only was the programme useful for find-