Student excoriated, called 'homophobic' for refusing to accept that her classmate identifies as a cat

A school in southeastern England is under fire from parents and critics alike after one of its teachers chastised a student over her refusal to accept a classmate as a cat.

Grade eight students at Rye College in East Sussex were subjected to a class on "life education" on Friday, during which they were told they can "be who you want to be, and how you identify is up to you," reported the Telegraph.

Seizing upon the invitation to become who she wants to be, one student turned zoologist asked a classmate, "How can you identify as a cat when you're a girl?"

For questioning a classmate's attempt to self-dehumanize, the 13-year-old was subjected to a verbal thrashing by her teacher.

The teacher ultimately told the student she was "despicable" and informed her that if she didn't agree with the gender ideology being foisted upon her, she needs "to go to a different school."

Audio of the exchange has since surfaced, wherein the teacher can be heard confronting the student: "How dare you? You just really upset someone, saying things like [you] should be in an asylum."

"I didn't say that," responded the student. "I just said if they want to identify as a cat or something, then they are genuinely unwell. ... They're crazy."

"You were questioning their identity," said the teacher. "Where did you get this idea from? That there's only two genders?"

The student noted, "There's only a boy and a girl. There's no other private parts," adding, "I just said my opinion. If I respect their opinion, can't they respect mine?"

The teacher suggested that the recognition of two genders is "not an opinion"; that gender is "not linked to the parts that you were born with. Gender is about how you identify. ... There are lots of genders. There is transgender. There is agender."

Before the teacher could rattle off the various other "genders" she had committed to memory, the 13-year-old interjected, saying, "Yeah, but you can't have that. ... It's not a law but it's our opinion — we just don't agree with it."

In the audio, the student and her friend appear to reinforce one another, with one stating, "If you have a vagina, you're a girl. If you have a penis, you're a boy."

"But cisgender is not necessarily the way to be," said the audibly vexed teacher. "You are talking about the fact that cisgender is the norm, that you identify with the sexual organ you were born with or you're weird, that’s basically what you’re saying, which is really despicable."

The teacher suggested that the girl's thinking and that allegedly shared by her mother helped to account for why there is so much "homophobia" in the world.

The 13-year-old corrected her teacher, noting that "that's not homophobia, that's transgender. I'm fine with lesbians and gay people. I've got nothing against them," underscoring there is no meaningful link between gender ideology and homosexuality.

Unable to dominate the debate, the teacher signaled a desire to oust the debater, telling the student that she is in need of a "proper educational conversation about equality, diversity, and inclusion" and no longer belongs at the school.

Rye College, an extension of the Anglican church now threatened by schism over LGBT activism, states on its website that it "seeks to serve all so that everyone feels a sense of belonging."

A parent of one of the 13-year-old's classmates told the Telegraph, "I understand the point the teacher was attempting to make; what bothers me is the shutting down of debate in such a threatening and aggressive manner, which I don’t believe is appropriate in an educational setting."

"Regardless of the subject, education should serve to build awareness of differing points of view to widen the understanding of a subject. It shouldn’t be a case of indoctrination," added the parent.

Andrew Williams, leader of Christian Concern, told the Daily Mail, "These lesson plans targeting the innocence of children, and even babies, have no place in U.K. schools. The fact that they are being kept secret from parents tells us everything we need to know. Since RSE [relationships and sex education] was introduced, schools have become places of confusion rather than clarity. Lesson plans are becoming more and more extreme, and increasingly parents are being cut off and marginalized from what is being taught to their children."

A spokesman for the the school said, "We are committed to offering our pupils an inclusive education. Teachers endeavour to ensure that pupils’ views are listened to, and encourage them to ask questions and engage in discussion. Teachers also aim to answer questions sensitively and honestly," adding, "We will be reviewing our processes and working with the relevant individuals to ensure such events do not take place in the future."

The girls will reportedly face no punishment, as the school considers the matter closed.

The Daily Mail reported earlier this year that the Church of England's Aquinas trust, which manages nine primary and two secondary schools including Rye College, instructed teachers earlier this year to "re-educate" students who use politically incorrect language, such as "stop acting like a girl."

Staff were allegedly urged to "challenge negative language and actions, re-educating and using sanctions where appropriate."