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Gender neutral teacher causes controversy at high school

The teacher has used the title 'MX' (pronounced Mix) in lieu of Mr/Mrs and is causing outrage amongst parents. 

Has Gender Neutrality gone too far?

A teacher at a north western all boys Sydney high school has recently caused controversy with his notable gender neutrality stance.

The north western area where the school is located is generally known for it's conservative political views. No doubt this gender neutral teacher stands out... but for all the wrong reasons. 

Parents have complained that the teacher has used the title 'MX' in lieu of Mr/Mrs and is causing confusion amongst their boys. The teacher does not identify with being male or female and insists the students are to use 'gender neutral pro nouns'.

Gender neutral pronouns include 'they, their, them'. This approach has been tried in some schools in the US with the gender neutral teachers forced to move on to a different school. Not everyone is accepting of the gender neutrality movement. 

One father from the high school was quoted on the issue as saying:

'I don't believe my son has ever met a transgender person, these young boys are impressionable and I think someone should have consulted the parents.'

The NSW Department of Education has backed the gender neutral stance by suggesting that they support 'equal opportunity' in employment. 

The issue with the Gender Neutrality movement is that the human race is not genderless. If you are human you are either male or female. Its a factual question, not an identity question. 

Transgender people by contrast  are a completely different situation. Most people can understand a man who wants to be a woman and  a woman who wants to be a man. Gender Neutrality is to say that you don't identify with either gender and insist that gender neutral pronouns are used, where do we draw the line? 

Don't get me wrong there are some aspects of gender neutrality that can be beneficial to children. Such as avoiding gender labels when it comes to sports, this can help both genders recognise their full potential without being limited by their gender. However, the identity question of being gender neutral is still quite baffling. 

In surveys, they can now ask whether you are a) female b) male or c) don't identify with either. Again, maybe I'm alone here but it's not an identity question. Transgenders by contrast, at least pick a gender and work towards undergoing the transformation. Gender neutrality opts out of falling into any category at all. For me,  it's the same logic as saying 'I don't identify with being human'.  Maybe surveys can add a fourth option d) non human identity. Then we can start the Non Human Identity movement. 

There is scope for transgender individuals to be accepted by society, we still have a long way to go to over come the transgender phobia, but gender neutral? sorry, we aren't ready yet. 



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