No more boys or girls
-
Why?
to align our curriculum with our equity policy
Vermont school removes ‘male,’ ‘female’ terms from reproductive system lessons
A Vermont elementary school says it will no longer use the words “male” or “female” when teaching fifth-grade students about puberty and human reproductive systems.
Families of students at Founders Memorial School received a letter on April 20 informing them of the changes to the science and health curriculum.
The changes reflect the district’s desire to use “gender inclusive language,” Principal Sara Jablonski wrote in the letter.
“In an effort to align our curriculum with our equity policy, teachers will be using gender inclusive language throughout this unit. With any differences, we strive to use ‘person-first’ language as best practice,” Jablonski wrote.
Instead of referring to a person as a “boy” or “male,” teachers will say “person who produces sperm.” Likewise, they will no longer say “girl” or “female” but “person who produces eggs.”
The Essex Westford School District noted in the letter that teachers were working on editing worksheets to reflect the new changes.
While teaching students about the human body, the district said it will focus on “the physical and emotional changes that occur during puberty and briefly introduce the basic structure and function of human reproductive systems.”
