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?

Ok I get where your coming from but you've missed the point.
When you say children are open minded and adaptable your correct but missing the fact that due to this they are extremely vulnerable to indoctrination. Just introducing the title Mx and they/them pronouns is introducing gender ideology and forcing compliance with said ideology. Telling a child that some people don't identify as male or female is further embedding the ideology, whilst opening up the possibility that you can choose your sex.
This would not be an opportunity to accept that people are different its about telling children that if you don't fit a rigid set of stereotypes then you're either a different sex to what you really are or have no sex at all.
This ideology should not be in primary schools because there is no way to broach it without causing confusion and reinforcing outdated harmful stereotypes

Fair enough if that's a distinction you need to make. I just think that's a way to make your life much harder and make people feel disrespected. I don't believe in a divine creator and I don't consider that a factual basis for an ideology. But it wouldn't stop me respecting someone who did and using the language they prefer. And I certainly wouldn't worry about their ability to teach my child on the basis of those beliefs. It's a shame to me that others so readily would.

Mhmm

I'm not naive. I use my comprehension skills to deduce what information we actually know and form an opinion based on that, rather than breaking my back to shoehorn my prejudice into somewhere it isn't relevant.

So you'd pray with them? You'd call yourself a sinner if that's what they thought you were?

Respecting their ideologies would be something like not saying SORRY DO YOU MEAN IMAGINARY FRIEND, when they talk about God. Me correcting them, based on my own ideologies, isn't needed.

He’s already stated his non-binary status (can you or anyone actually explain what this is?) and pronouns. The belief pushing has started.

We know this is a man who thinks he’s a special kind of man and a man who wants children to acknowledge that he’s a special kind of man.

That’s enough for me.

He's stated how he feels about himself and how he wishes to be addressed. No more, no less. No indication that he will be pushing others to follow suit.

perfectly said

But we don't all get to state how we wish to be addressed, do we?

What if he wanted to be addressed as 'your highness'? Should the children be told to respect that?

She said she'd use the language they prefer.

edit: And, of course, not all ideologies are worthy of respect, are they? Racist ideology or flat earthers, for example.

I was highlighting the origins and intention of Mx, not commenting on its effectiveness. The title Ms has also not ended sex inequality by itself (but I still choose it and feel it has an important role to play in challenging assumptions about women).

Yes we do. Miss Mrs or Ms are already in common usage. Why do we have to respect the use of Ms more than Mx.

And actually why do you want to be the sort of person that doesn't respect others.

There's no quality difference between Mr and Mx.

Now, I'm not entirely sure that this is real, because unless people have met the teacher who hasn't started work yet, then how does anyone know they're biologically male? Has this come from the school?

I asked you if he wanted to be addressed as your highness - should that be respected?

Why is this necessary? If he felt like he was a cat and wished everyone to address him as such would he be ok to declare this?

Spot on.

This is not a molehill.

This is forcing a young child to buy into someone's perception of them WHILE IN SCHOOL. I couldn't give a rat's arse about what this person thinks of themself but they have no right to force their own beliefs onto children in what should be a safe space. This is why I hope that the school has investigated how this teacher will operate while in school and will have discussed what would happen if eg a child uses the " wrong words". The school must have a policy on this in place and should be able that it is prepared to protect the young children in their care.

No not all are. But religion is accepted as one we should respect, its protected in law.

They're forcing nothing except a name. He's not going to be rubbing his penis over the blackboard and encouraging them to chop theirs off. Six year olds will give this precisely 0 thought after day 1.

But, but….
How can you assume their gender?
“We do not know”! 🤣

I didn't say otherwise. I'm actually a Buddhist myself, and I have some beliefs that most people would probably find weird and stupid. The difference is I accept that and don't try and force people to use my language or believe what I do.

And, of course, for many people, non-binary is a ridiculous and potentially harmful ideology.

I'd pray with them yeah. It wouldn't mean much to me but why wouldn't I?

I wouldn't call myself a sinner but I doubt I'd find it gravely offensive either. Because I understand that different belief systems place value on different things and I don't expect my value systems to align with everyone else's.

But there's no need for the OP to worry about this because no one is trying to call the poster's child names. Again it's a rabbit hole you don't need to go down.

Religion is taught as a theory, and is also taught against other religions.
Gender ideology (until recently) has been taught as fact with no counter argument being allowed

Unless, like at my own secondary school, you're unlucky enough to get an RE teacher who's into proselytizing in a huge way and considers it a vital part of their job to get conversions @FrippEnos

Admittedly this was a long time ago, but being a "person" issue I've no reason to suppose things have changed and it's influenced my views about activist teachers ever since