9 yr old told off for calling non-binary teacher Sir

I've not renewed my subscription to the GTCS - a requirement for teaching in Scotland. I'm getting too old for it.

It's like treading on eggshells these days. I had an S3/Y10 boy castigating me for saying "Ladies and gentlemen - you may go."

"That's sexist! You can't say that - there might be someone in here who doesn't identify as male or female."

I pointed out that I'd checked the register and everyone in the room was listed as either male or female.

I'm also very interested in the answer to this.

I've been asking for a long time, but no one ever seems to be able to describe why it's different

There is no difference but I’m all ears waiting for their response.

I don’t think I have side stepped the point at all - and I don’t think white that identify as African American or able bodied people who identify as disabled are compatible arguments in my opinion.

Nobody ever seems to be able to explain why these things aren't 'compatible arguments'.

I am 53, not 14. I am white, not black or brown. I am female, not male. I am not disabled. Also, I am a human, not an antelope. All of those things are facts. If anything, race is more on a spectrum than the others, since people can obviously be of mixed race. But 'identifying as' a different age or species makes no less sense than 'identifying as' a different sex.

So 'Mx' in this case.
But he's a man.
Even if the child takes on that this is the 'correct' title for this person, as much as a 9-year-old (and a 9-year-old who is presumably concentrating on their maths or geography or whatever) can take it on, they will still say 'sir' at least some of the time going forward. As would I, and I'm 50. Because seeing something and saying something contra is really hard. Like that thing where you read a list of words for colours written in another colour, and you almost invariably say 'yellow' when the word is yellow even when the colour is blue.

This is unwarranted mental strain, and compelled speech.

It does make a difference. I’d be concerned if my child was unable to remember a teachers name or title.

So let the OP answer the question. Facts matter.

Absolutely Amen

In the '70s, my English teacher informed us that he hated being called 'Sir' and we should just call him 'Mr [Surname]' at all times.

That's been the custom in one school where I worked full time - the children used the full title and name at all times. In one other, the children used 'Teacher!'. it In all the other schools, it was 'Miss' for all women.

The one time that I came across the situation where a teacher wanted to be 'Mx', the kids coped with the 'Mx' - it was the pronouns that defeated them. However, the male teachers there were all 'Sir', so I've not idea what happened when they were trying to catch the attention of the N-B teacher. As I've said in a previous post, he eventually went off with stress after repeated 'misgendering'.

Even the school electronic register couldn't cope. When I had to search for his register, the available titles were "Dr, Miss, Mr, Mrs, Ms, Prof." He was down as "Other".

The teacher should be told to get a grip and stop their ridiculous attention seeking.

Amen

Put up with? The teacher is a man, calling him ‘sir’ is correct.
The world has gone utterly bonkers

This. To expect a nine year old to understand this bollocks is what’s unreasonable. Fantasy dressed up as reality has no place in the classroom.

Well thanks for that.

But I'm curious about this ...

I don’t think I have side stepped the point at all - and I don’t think white that identify as African American or able bodied people who identify as disabled are compatible arguments in my opinion.

Why not? It's exactly same principle, isn't it. There are people who are materially, physically, demonstrably one thing, but feel they should be treated as something because that's their identity.

Why is that different?

I think it’s probably best that is adopted as the norm now. That way the self-indulgent and self-obsessed can get their validation fix outside school hours.

It’s all attention seeking cobblers - if the teacher is a man, then pupils, especially 9 year olds, should address him as ‘sir’ 🙄

Sure of course it won’t change your opinion of them that’s clear.

Given what I've seen whilst on supply, I'd say that it possibly did happen.

I don’t think I have side stepped the point at all - and I don’t think white that identify as African American or able bodied people who identify as disabled are compatible arguments in my opinion.

I accept women’s material reality as you put it. And I also don’t believe that we can’t make women safe whilst allowing for trans to just exist.
I think it’s safe to say that you and I will never see eye to eye and leave it at that. However I would like to point out that this is the first time in this forum that I have experienced an opposite argument that has been kept respectful - so far that alone I thank you.

👏🏻👏🏻

You don't get to dictate how others see you, no one has that right.

I've done a bit of supply work in schools where pupils just say "Teacher!" when they don't know the name of a member of staff. It works just as well.

You are awful!

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

The teacher should tell the child what they would like to be called. As a parent you are within your right to say - I don’t agree with this non binary idea. The child should not be disciplined - not because of the name they called the teacher but because they are 9. I find it hard to believe if it happened that it was malicious.