A teacher has been barred from the profession after making controversial statements to students, including claiming that Ukrainians are Nazis and asserting that gay and transgender individuals are mentally ill. William Garwood defended his remarks during a misconduct investigation, citing his religious belief in Islam and anti-Nazism.
The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel learned that during a history lesson at St Mary’s Menston Catholic Voluntary Academy, Mr. Garwood endorsed the concept of “just wars” when asked by a student. He expressed approval of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine, referring to “satanic Nazis” and alleging that the world is controlled by billionaires who have created “evil Ukrainians.”
Russia has previously accused Ukraine’s government of being influenced by radical nationalist and neo-Nazi groups, a claim dismissed by Kyiv and its allies. The TRA concluded that Mr. Garwood’s statements amounted to justifying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in front of students.
In the same class, Mr. Garwood also made remarks suggesting that gay and transgender individuals are mentally unwell. He argued that his Islamic views on transgender issues align with traditional British values and denied providing an opinion on gay people, attributing any misunderstanding to his Muslim identity.
Mr. Garwood contended that his beliefs in Islam and anti-Nazism are protected under the Equality Act 2010, claiming that the investigation against him was politically motivated. However, the TRA panel deemed his comments inappropriate and irrelevant to the lesson’s subject matter on Nazi Germany history.
The panel criticized Mr. Garwood for making subjective and generalized judgments about Ukrainians, labeling them as evil or Nazis, which was deemed unacceptable. They also expressed concern about his labeling of individuals or groups, especially in an educational setting. The comments on homosexuality and transgender issues were deemed problematic, lacking balance or consideration of alternative perspectives.
The TRA determined that Mr. Garwood’s remarks about Ukrainians and the LGBTQ+ community constituted discriminatory behavior. He is ineligible to challenge the banning order until June 2032.
