Closed petition Review the Teachers Standards and its references to "tolerance"

Closed on 19 February 2021

Although “tolerance” is considered to be a politically correct term, it is time to review its use in the Teachers' Standards due to the connotation that there is something about our students/colleagues’ rights, faiths and beliefs that teachers are to “put up with”.

Tolerance is to “accept or endure someone or something unpleasant or disliked”. Schools and staff already do more than simply “tolerate” diversity.

Teachers should appreciate and celebrate differences. By thinking passed the tolerance paradigm, we should be closer to reflecting modern society.

The Government must take responsibility for the terminology used in employee materials, training programs and in speech. Replacing the word “tolerance” in the Teachers’ Standards is one step towards this.