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Original poster

What would a non binary teacher be addressed as?

288 replies

GemGEmGemster · 02/02/2022 18:55

dd’s school expects all teachers to be addressed as ‘sir’ or ‘miss’. She’s just asked me what a non binary teacher would be called. Any ideas?

OP posts:
PonyPatter44 · 02/02/2022 22:07

When I was teaching adults, I often taught the ESOL classes, and many of the learners would address me as "Teacher". I liked it, it made me feel like Confucius.

StillWeRise · 02/02/2022 22:08

@VivienneDelacroix

You don't say - "do you know who was sitting there, it's left it's coat?" Do you *@sandynorm* ? You say "they've left their coat".

"Everyone loves their mother."
"Someone is humming, could they stop please".

Singular they has been in use for at least 600 years, don't pretend it's not a thing to suit you're own agenda.

Anyway, as others have said, generally they would use Mx. It's not hard to get your head round using non-gendered titles. I had a teacher called Dr Smith, we didn't call her Miss or Mrs, we called Dr Smith, because someone's title is their own choice. (Oh look, there's that pesky singular "their" again).

you are misrepresenting the use of 'their' in English 'their' is used to refer to a person who is unknown and therefore their sex is unknown, so it's not possible to ascribe pronouns

Do you know who was sitting there? (no, we don't know who, could be male or female) They've left their coat

someone is humming (who? we don't know, could be male or female) could they stop please

If in either case sex was known, appropriate pronoun would be used-
(an all boys school) someone is humming...could he stop please

when the person is standing in front of you they aren't unknown, so it is uncomfortable not to use a singular pronoun about them- they are one person, so 'they' will feel wierd

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 02/02/2022 22:08

@SD1978 teenage/early twenties phenomenon/thing? I'm 54. I'm genderfluid.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education
mogschristmascalamity · 02/02/2022 22:09

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MerryPoppings · 02/02/2022 22:11

[quote TheLovelinessOfDemons]**@SD1978* teenage/early twenties phenomenon/thing*? I'm 54. I'm genderfluid.[/quote]
Is that the same thing as not conforming to sex stereotypes? Or do you think you're not a woman/man? Or that you're both a woman and a man?

Ameanstreakamilewide · 02/02/2022 22:16

@MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor

It's concerning that teachers are coercing children into having to pretend a man isn't a man or a woman isn't a woman

Yes, this is much more of a problem.

Absolutely. Gaslight-y as fuck, quite honestly.
trunktoes · 02/02/2022 22:18

I am also genderfluid - I don't conform to a gender. I still know what sex I am though

Ameanstreakamilewide · 02/02/2022 22:20

[quote TheLovelinessOfDemons]**@SD1978* teenage/early twenties phenomenon/thing*? I'm 54. I'm genderfluid.[/quote]
You've got too much time on your hands.

MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor · 02/02/2022 22:20

Is that the same thing as not conforming to sex stereotypes? Or do you think you're not a woman/man? Or that you're both a woman and a man?

Maybe a man one day, fluidly moving towards womanhood the following day. And then back again. Like Pip Bunce.

whiteworldgettingwhiter · 02/02/2022 22:22

What does the teacher prefer? Mx is an option.

ufucoffee · 02/02/2022 22:24

No idea why a teacher would have to let students know that they think they are non binary. What does it matter what the children call them?

ExtraPlinky · 02/02/2022 22:29

Mx still sounds like Miss.
So it's a bit pointless.

ExtraPlinky · 02/02/2022 22:29

@anotherchocolate

Why are they always teachers...
Positions of power.
FrippEnos · 02/02/2022 22:35

@anotherchocolate

Why are they always teachers...
I would like some evidence to back up this statement.
EishetChayil · 02/02/2022 22:40

A non binary teacher! What a time to be alive!

Infracat · 02/02/2022 22:45

At my sons school they have to call the teacher Mx.

Infracat · 02/02/2022 22:46

And yes a boy in the class got into trouble for accidentally saying Maam.Which is what they call the female teachers.

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 02/02/2022 22:47

I don't wish to be drawn into arguments about my gender identity. Right now I feel male. At other times I feel female. I'm quite certain of what my biological sex is, that doesn't stop me having a separate gender identity.

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 02/02/2022 22:47

@trunktoes

I am also genderfluid - I don't conform to a gender. I still know what sex I am though
Exactly. Thank you.
SleepyJackson · 02/02/2022 22:49

@Georgeskitchen

Kids being kids, who are well known for homing in on the tiniest of weak spots, would have an absolute field day referring to as teacher as Mux 😉
Weak spot, what Hmm? Kids wouldn't give a shiny shit about this.

They do have an incredible instinct for bullshit though. So an unkind teacher, a bigoted teacher, an unintelligent teacher, a lazy teacher, the uppity teacher who always thinks they're right, the teacher who can't relate to others. Kids can spot that shit a mile off. That'd be a teaching weak spot.

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 02/02/2022 22:50

@Ameanstreakamilewide I wish! But to be what my family wants me to be causes me too much mental pain. I have to be me.

MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor · 02/02/2022 22:54

What does feeling male.. and sometimes female, actually mean? How do you know?

MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor · 02/02/2022 22:55

Kids wouldn't give a shiny shit about this.

Some kids might not. Others do. Obviously you can't speak for all kids right.

StellaGibs · 02/02/2022 22:56

I really don't understand the hostility towards gender fluidity. It's quite simple to understand but ignorance is easier I guess. It affects me in no way whatsoever and still I have no issues with it. This is because I'm not looking to shit on people about things that don't affect me.

MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor · 02/02/2022 23:00

No harm in asking questions Stella. Is there.