Teacher made each kid state their pronouns

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is gender Nonconforming and would feel uncomfortable answering this question in front of a group because they are unsure at this point.

its not just parents of cis gendered kids that would have a concern about this.

Yeah, I don't love mandatory pronoun announcements for just this reason. Not everyone is sure, or wants to say, or has decided to come out. Better would just be to make it optional, or just otherwise foster an environment where a kid feels comfortable telling a teacher to use certain pronouns, instead of putting kids on the spot.

But this isn't making someone who isn't ready come out as anything. It's not even about sexuality. I don't understand people who act as though a pronoun is private information. "Sharing pronouns" literally means - this is how I'd like for you (people other than the speaker) to refer to me. If you aren't ready to come out, then share the other pronoun. It's like sharing a nickname or sharing that you prefer to be called by your full name instead of a nickname: "Please call me "x." Please refer to me as "[pronoun]." People read way too much into it, IMO. It doesn't have to be that deep.

Except forcing children to answer any question about themselves or family that‘s personal in nature in a school setting is illegal. This child was in a coerced situation, and not provided with a way out or told they don’t have to answer. Do you not know about school privacy laws? It’s just horrible to do to children regardless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That teacher should be fired

+1 the teacher opens students up to bullying and absolved themselves of any responsibilities for the repercussions that come from it. Shame on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what to do with some of these comments, so I'm just going to drop a resource guide here from GLSEN, which is a well-regarded advocacy group for LGBTQ students:
https://www.glsen.org/activity/model-local-education-agency-policy-on-transgender-nonbinary-students

In particular, I'll drop this line: "Pronouns should never be assumed for any student. Educators and staff should ask all students what pronouns they use, and have a place to document that information in class rosters, databases, etc."

I'm not sure how to interpret the comments that asking for pronouns is bad for gender-questioning or gender non-conforming children. I just did a quick review through materials from the National Center for Transgender Equality, Human Rights Campaign, and GLSEN, and I'm not seeing that reflected in any of the policy or advocacy recommendations. I think it's reasonable for educators to follow the current recommendations from trusted sources in this field.

I also don't understand the comments about "too young". My kids are entering second grade and know about pronouns because we're a queer family with friends and family members that are all over the gender spectrum. This is a totally normal part of our lives. It's only weird if you make it weird.

The only people who don’t want the question asked are parents who are ashamed of their kids and don’t want others knowing their kid is trans, gender nonconforming, etc.

Nobody wants their child to be forced to answer something that makes them uncomfortable.

So if your child is asked the answer to a math question and they feel uncomfortable answering, they shouldn’t have to? By your logic, no one should ever be required to take a test, write a paper or do homework.

A math question has no political or private content. Imagine if children were all forced to state their religion.

Your kid is going to be referred to with pronouns. All this does is asked what pronouns they want people to use. A student who is questioning or who realizes they are trans/nonconforming but who doesn’t want to come out yet doesn’t have to share that in response to this question. They can simply offer the pronouns they have been using to that point, which doesn’t signal anything about what might be going on inside.

Please. For 99.9% of kids their pronouns are obvious and they have been using the same pronouns since Kindergarten, when they had to line up boy-girl. The pronoun naming is an ideological ritual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the teacher is this woke, they should just use gender neutral pronouns and problem solved.

There is really no reason to ask children to disclose their gender identity. Is this teacher going to next ask them to disclose their ethnic origins?

That too would be illegal. If they do so call them out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the teacher is this woke, they should just use gender neutral pronouns and problem solved.

There is really no reason to ask children to disclose their gender identity. Is this teacher going to next ask them to disclose their ethnic origins?

Not everyone identifies with gender neutral pronouns, so that would be misgendering most of the class. As for ethnic origins, there is no need to ask people to self-identify because it has nothing to do with how people are referenced in casual conversation, but pronouns are used every day.

Are people in this thread really so ignorant, or just pretending to be because they can’t defend their position on the merits?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what to do with some of these comments, so I'm just going to drop a resource guide here from GLSEN, which is a well-regarded advocacy group for LGBTQ students:
https://www.glsen.org/activity/model-local-education-agency-policy-on-transgender-nonbinary-students

In particular, I'll drop this line: "Pronouns should never be assumed for any student. Educators and staff should ask all students what pronouns they use, and have a place to document that information in class rosters, databases, etc."

I'm not sure how to interpret the comments that asking for pronouns is bad for gender-questioning or gender non-conforming children. I just did a quick review through materials from the National Center for Transgender Equality, Human Rights Campaign, and GLSEN, and I'm not seeing that reflected in any of the policy or advocacy recommendations. I think it's reasonable for educators to follow the current recommendations from trusted sources in this field.

I also don't understand the comments about "too young". My kids are entering second grade and know about pronouns because we're a queer family with friends and family members that are all over the gender spectrum. This is a totally normal part of our lives. It's only weird if you make it weird.

The only people who don’t want the question asked are parents who are ashamed of their kids and don’t want others knowing their kid is trans, gender nonconforming, etc.

Nobody wants their child to be forced to answer something that makes them uncomfortable.

So if your child is asked the answer to a math question and they feel uncomfortable answering, they shouldn’t have to? By your logic, no one should ever be required to take a test, write a paper or do homework.

A math question has no political or private content. Imagine if children were all forced to state their religion.

Your kid is going to be referred to with pronouns. All this does is asked what pronouns they want people to use. A student who is questioning or who realizes they are trans/nonconforming but who doesn’t want to come out yet doesn’t have to share that in response to this question. They can simply offer the pronouns they have been using to that point, which doesn’t signal anything about what might be going on inside.

The children who question their gender identity are at high risk for being the same children who have comorbid emotional issues which would make dealing with this Surprise social situationdifficultto manage.
. The whole thing is poorly thought through and inappropriate in school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is gender Nonconforming and would feel uncomfortable answering this question in front of a group because they are unsure at this point.

its not just parents of cis gendered kids that would have a concern about this.

Yeah, I don't love mandatory pronoun announcements for just this reason. Not everyone is sure, or wants to say, or has decided to come out. Better would just be to make it optional, or just otherwise foster an environment where a kid feels comfortable telling a teacher to use certain pronouns, instead of putting kids on the spot.

But this isn't making someone who isn't ready come out as anything. It's not even about sexuality. I don't understand people who act as though a pronoun is private information. "Sharing pronouns" literally means - this is how I'd like for you (people other than the speaker) to refer to me. If you aren't ready to come out, then share the other pronoun. It's like sharing a nickname or sharing that you prefer to be called by your full name instead of a nickname: "Please call me "x." Please refer to me as "[pronoun]." People read way too much into it, IMO. It doesn't have to be that deep.

DP. For questioning kids, there is a big difference between quietly allowing the world to assign a gender while that kid sorts things out and having to affirmatively identify a gender that might not feel right. I have no problem with asking kids their preferred pronouns provided it is not mandatory, but going around the room and demanding a public answer is bullying and mean behavior from the teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is gender Nonconforming and would feel uncomfortable answering this question in front of a group because they are unsure at this point.

its not just parents of cis gendered kids that would have a concern about this.

Yeah, I don't love mandatory pronoun announcements for just this reason. Not everyone is sure, or wants to say, or has decided to come out. Better would just be to make it optional, or just otherwise foster an environment where a kid feels comfortable telling a teacher to use certain pronouns, instead of putting kids on the spot.

But this isn't making someone who isn't ready come out as anything. It's not even about sexuality. I don't understand people who act as though a pronoun is private information. "Sharing pronouns" literally means - this is how I'd like for you (people other than the speaker) to refer to me. If you aren't ready to come out, then share the other pronoun. It's like sharing a nickname or sharing that you prefer to be called by your full name instead of a nickname: "Please call me "x." Please refer to me as "[pronoun]." People read way too much into it, IMO. It doesn't have to be that deep.

DP. For questioning kids, there is a big difference between quietly allowing the world to assign a gender while that kid sorts things out and having to affirmatively identify a gender that might not feel right. I have no problem with asking kids their preferred pronouns provided it is not mandatory, but going around the room and demanding a public answer is bullying and mean behavior from the teacher.

LOL, you would absolutely have a problem with it if a teacher honored your kid’s request to use they/them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what to do with some of these comments, so I'm just going to drop a resource guide here from GLSEN, which is a well-regarded advocacy group for LGBTQ students:
https://www.glsen.org/activity/model-local-education-agency-policy-on-transgender-nonbinary-students

In particular, I'll drop this line: "Pronouns should never be assumed for any student. Educators and staff should ask all students what pronouns they use, and have a place to document that information in class rosters, databases, etc."

I'm not sure how to interpret the comments that asking for pronouns is bad for gender-questioning or gender non-conforming children. I just did a quick review through materials from the National Center for Transgender Equality, Human Rights Campaign, and GLSEN, and I'm not seeing that reflected in any of the policy or advocacy recommendations. I think it's reasonable for educators to follow the current recommendations from trusted sources in this field.

I also don't understand the comments about "too young". My kids are entering second grade and know about pronouns because we're a queer family with friends and family members that are all over the gender spectrum. This is a totally normal part of our lives. It's only weird if you make it weird.

The only people who don’t want the question asked are parents who are ashamed of their kids and don’t want others knowing their kid is trans, gender nonconforming, etc.

Nobody wants their child to be forced to answer something that makes them uncomfortable.

So if your child is asked the answer to a math question and they feel uncomfortable answering, they shouldn’t have to? By your logic, no one should ever be required to take a test, write a paper or do homework.

A math question has no political or private content. Imagine if children were all forced to state their religion.

Your kid is going to be referred to with pronouns. All this does is asked what pronouns they want people to use. A student who is questioning or who realizes they are trans/nonconforming but who doesn’t want to come out yet doesn’t have to share that in response to this question. They can simply offer the pronouns they have been using to that point, which doesn’t signal anything about what might be going on inside.

Which forces them to misgender themselves in a public, high-stakes setting.

I can’t see how you can’t see how mean this is to questioning kids.

[Anonymous]

My kid is shy, but he is equally shy about his name, hobbies, and favorite food as he is about pronouns.

The pronouns are no different than any other thing a kid is asked to say in class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is shy, but he is equally shy about his name, hobbies, and favorite food as he is about pronouns.

The pronouns are no different than any other thing a kid is asked to say in class.

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is gender Nonconforming and would feel uncomfortable answering this question in front of a group because they are unsure at this point.

its not just parents of cis gendered kids that would have a concern about this.

So should the teacher assume they/them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the teacher is this woke, they should just use gender neutral pronouns and problem solved.

There is really no reason to ask children to disclose their gender identity. Is this teacher going to next ask them to disclose their ethnic origins?

exactly. I see in this gender confession trend a real anxiety about gender roles and a desire to make sure everyone is in a box. it’s ironic.

Couldn't agree more.
What we are saying is "if you're born with a penis but you fancy men and enjoy wearing women's clothes then you are no longer a man!" Which is crap. If we were really as accepting as we like to think we are then we would say you can still be a man and also dress, act and be sexual in any manner you please and we will accept that. I see the gender pronoun thing as MORE rigid and restrictive, not less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is gender Nonconforming and would feel uncomfortable answering this question in front of a group because they are unsure at this point.

its not just parents of cis gendered kids that would have a concern about this.

So should the teacher assume they/them?

I’m one of the PPs opposed to what the teacher did and I would support just using they/them until a student decides to identify.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is shy, but he is equally shy about his name, hobbies, and favorite food as he is about pronouns.

The pronouns are no different than any other thing a kid is asked to say in class.

Im sure you’ve told them they don’t have to answer any of those things about themselves in class.