Non-binary teacher?

[Thompson198]

Name change.
I’ve got a 5 year old daughter due to go into year 2 in September. We’ve just been told that the teacher for next year is a non-binary/‘non-gender-conforming’ man who wants to be referred to by ‘Mx’ (pronounced mix) and they/them pronouns.
Quite a few of the parents have already complained and started looking for other places at local schools because of this.
what do you think?
My daughter has SEN and is one of the youngest in her class, I worry how she’s going to be able to keep up with the pronouns and understand this without us having to teach her about gender ideology at her age. My husband is extremely against teaching her gender ideology, especially so young, I’m not the most positive about it either but don’t feel as strongly as him. He also doesn’t want her being at the school in September but they have been very supportive for her so far and I’m concerned it might not be the same elsewhere.
Thoughts? How would you feel if this was your child’s teacher?

Another reason to stop with the old fashioned gendered titles. Kids accept things that they're told. If the child asks why is this teacher only person referes as 'mx' you van say that is they what they prefere and they will likely be happy with that. Thus far there is nothing to indicate they are pushing any ideology.

Or you can change schools or starta smear campaign so that the teacher will quit.

You think someone who pretends not to be a man is best placed to teach children to be themselves?

That's a separate debate entirely. Titles are useful if you don't want to use your first name, or in some situations they refer to a qualified person (e.g. Dr). They should be meaningful, and Mx isn't.

Your daughter has special needs . The vast majority of people who identify as trans/ non binary are autistic and so also have special needs . Moving your daughter will have consequences; it may work out, it may not. She's going to meet lots of 'odd', 'different', 'weird 'people throughout her life and other people may well think that of her at times. I don't think non binary is a real thing ( sex is absolutely binary) but this man isn't an ideology he's a person. I don't particularly like tattoos on teachers or teachers who stink of cigarette smoke or are openly, hugely religious but teachers arent saintly/ robotic/ one dimensional beings, they are entirely human and have lives outside school.You might find he's a fun, enthusiastic, fabulous young teacher and that's really the bit that matters. If a lot of gender ideology starts creeping in then you have options to take this up with the head/ governors. You are also her parent. " He's a man but he doesn't want to be called Mr , he prefers Mix. What would you like for tea" repeat and move on.

The thing I am sure the OP's daughter will find confusing is the use of 'they' for a singular entity when she will be taught that 'they' is plural for all other situations! I have never understood why these people will not accept 'it' as an alternative pronoun - after all it is more appropriate!

This is a safeguarding issue .

I would never allow my child to be in the care of an adult male who is pretending that he’s not a man .

’

I was referring to pronouns. Did I mention title in the message you're responding to?

Children are going to have to learn to get on with and respect the beliefs of all sorts of people whether they believe what they do or not. Something being 'unscientific' is not a measure of whether or not we treat people with dignity and respect their wishes, which in this case is a very easy wish to follow.

As a society we accommodate religious dietary requirements and dress. We send good wishes on people's religious holidays. We call a priest 'father' and nuns 'sister'. We might think privately it's made up bollocks, but we still respect other people's differences.

The kids really won't find it hard, and it won't be an issue unless you make it one.

Because it’s a non-issue? The pronoun corresponds with the title.

If a six year old (or anyone for that matter)gets it accidentally wrong they should (and most likely will) get some reasonable grace. Adults doing it intentionally and with malice are another matter entirely.

Transphobes are so hilariously and disgustingly obsessed with peoples' genitals. Absolute weirdos with dark, seedy, prurient little minds.

Kids can't anyway. As a teacher you get a range of different ways to address you regardless of sex. I have been called: Miss, Mrs, Mr, mum, teacher, dad etc. The teacher needs to accept that kids do this to all teachers and it is part of kids learning, forgetting, lapses in memory, bonds.

This is my thoughts entirely. My DD has NB friends one a newly qualified PhD. They have chosen to stay in FE as its not so shocking to have a NB lecturer.
My DD has identified as FTM for years but is now dialling it back. She's currently working in a school and using her birth name. She won't have an issue with pronouns as she will be a doctor. She doesn't want to influence anyone as she's working in a SEN school. Her profession is not teaching but she is strongly opposed to gender issues being taught to children. She's had a few run ins with a infamous TRA at her university. He's a lecturer there.
I think it's more about the person and their agenda. Your daughter OP will only have this person for one year. Can you manage to be vigilant if all other things are OK?

This person will be DBS checked, and regularly monitored. There is continual training in safeguarding and child protection in every school.

I don't suppose your daughter will think anything of it. She accepts the tooth fairy, santa, Olaf, etc. at this age. She'll handle Mx fine.

I'd give it a go.

Why are there so many people on this thread who think he's going to be pushing an ideology on to the children?

I don't see it. And though clearly some people here don't like the comparison, I'm old enough to remember the furore over gay people, and parents sometime believing that a gay teacher would turn their child gay. It sounds absolutely ridiculous now.
Just as gay teachers just get on with teaching and managing their class like anyone else, I don't see why someone non-binary is going to do otherwise.

this is the most deluded thing I’ve read on mumsnet.

Calling yourself Mx is pushing an agenda by stealth.

no chance I’d explain gender identity ideology to a five year old when simple facts will do.

It shows that those pushing these ideologies are having some success, sadly.

Do gay teachers make sure everyone knows they are gay prior to even starting work at the school, and ensure they are called a special name to denote their gayness?
Not the same at all.

But how could he not do? The OP will already have to explain why he's somehow not a man. That's the ideology right there.

If I see a person, who is clearly a biological male he gets called He. If he gets upset or offended by real life facts I suggest he has a major problem.

That’s not what I meant. I was questioning why you thought he’d wear women’s clothes rather than unisex ones.

What I'm noticing is that the majority of the posters saying 'it's fine' seem to not be addressing the pronouns in their responses, only the Mx.

Whereas those with concerns are asking whether children will be corrected for using correct pronouns and wondering about wider issues.

Surely the best way to gender equality is to not bother with gender at all. Accept there are 2 sexes which sometimes need different treatment / spaces, but that for most of the time everyone can and should be treated equally in the classroom.