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Original poster

They/them pronouns in KS1 book

61 replies

AnneGarland444 · 09/03/2023 18:11

I have just been reading a Twinkl book aimed at KS1 children, when I came across the sentence 'Robin got bird poo in their hair and on their boots!' My 7 year old pupil found this very confusing. I have emailed Twinkl about it.
Am I over-reacting, or is this completely unnecessary for a book aimed at such young children? English grammar is tricky enough, without complications like this!

OP posts:
SheSpeaksForMe · 22/03/2023 17:52

I was wondering about Twinkl, as it never comes up as a resource on the Gender/ sex threads when talking about resources for RSE or PSHE even though it is really popular for teachers to get resources from.
I have tried searching to get an idea but the items I found were for Ultimate Downloads only and I’m not prepared to pay to look.

namechange10022002 · 22/03/2023 17:20

Not to derail but I just enrolled my 4 year old for school here in Canada and the form had the gender options male, female and non binary. For a 4 year old!

ScrollingLeaves · 22/03/2023 16:07

This is from another thread OP but you could write here.

If you are on twitter please share and tag your MP, Gillian Keegan and the Children's Commissioner. (need the @ symbol before) Rachel_deSouza, GillianKeegan, ofstednews

www.writetothem.com/
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

WriteToThem

WriteToThem is a website which provides an easy way to contact MPs, councillors and other elected representatives.

https://www.writetothem.com/

ScrollingLeaves · 22/03/2023 16:04

And perhaps you could send it to Safe Schools Alliance

ResisterRex · 22/03/2023 14:43

I have read that people do send her things (which I now can't find but I'm sure I read this!) even though they're not constituents. I'm not sure she can respond, or how she would if you don't live in her constituency. Maybe she could only note it, but she did gather a lot of evidence for her report. That must've come from all over the place.

Original poster
AnneGarland444 · 22/03/2023 14:14

Thank you I will - would I email her parliament email even if I'm not a constituent?

OP posts:
ResisterRex · 22/03/2023 09:32

OP you might consider sending this to Miriam Cates and Tim Loughton. Loughton did a series of questions in Parliament - including of DfE - and has an interest in this stuff. Cates obviously too, but he's another one who might be worth contacting.

Original poster
AnneGarland444 · 22/03/2023 09:27

If anyone is interested - I finally received a reply this week, saying inclusivity is more important than grammar!

I sent back a really snotty reply saying that I just wanted to teach children to read, not to brainwash them with a misogynistic ideology and I have been escalated to the senior leadership team!

I think I was just supposed to say 'oh right inclusivity ' but it's not at all my place to explain non-binary to 7 year olds!

OP posts:
Original poster
AnneGarland444 · 10/03/2023 12:54

They've responded with a 'nothing' email - they'll pass it on to the relevant people and let me know.
Not expecting any more but will see what happens.

OP posts:
Original poster
AnneGarland444 · 09/03/2023 19:14

I've emailed Twinkl - will be interesting to see if they respond.

OP posts:
Ingenieur · 09/03/2023 18:20

It may not have been an attempt at gender ideology indoctrination, as there are places for a singular "they" in English (usually when a person is unknown).

If it wasn't deliberate then it's pretty lazy drafting, and agree it's confusing for KS1 students who are just learning how pronouns interact with other parts of a sentence, especially as the singular "they" might be considered "non-standard".

If it was deliberate indoctrination then it definitely doesn't belong in a KS1 teaching aid.

Either way, it's definitely worth raising with Twinkl.