Redcliffe State High School’s trial of pronoun badges has divided the community

A state high school’s trial of gender badges has prompted a flood of reader responses and created an outstanding poll result. JOIN THE CONVERSATION

A state high school’s trial of gender pronoun badges has divided the community with some welcoming the new initiative and others saying the “world has gone mad”.

Redcliffe State High School’s LGBTIQ+ group launched the trial of the pronoun badges last week.

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It provides students an option to wear a badge with he/him, she/her or they/them on it.

A Facebook post shared by the school said: “(The) purpose is to display to everyone what those who are wearing them define themselves as. They’re also so that people know what to refer to the wearer as.”

Redcliffe State High School is trialling the use of pronoun badges. PHOTO: REDCLIFFE STATE HIGH SCHOOL FACEBOOK

A poll conducted by the Redcliffe Herald found 91 per cent, of the almost 2000 voters, did not think gender badges should become common practice at all Queensland schools.

Many readers said the school should focus less on this and more on the basics of education.

William said: “No wonder our world ranking in math and science are going to the dogs”.

“How about teachers teaching maths, science and English and leaving all this rubbish alone. Teachers and the education system have no right or authority to start reading around with gender issues. That should only be the responsibility of the parents,” Peter said.

Others said it was just a step too far.

“The world has gone mad!,” said reader Frank.

Jeff said: “Please stop the earth, I want to get off!!”

The initiative did have a few supporters though.

Philip, a teacher, supported the idea.

“Regardless of what many people might think about the use of differing pronouns by people, this is an incredibly good idea,” he wrote.

“As a teacher, having to recall the preferred pronouns for all my students has always been difficult. The uniform does not help you, nor does the hair style, etc.

“I disagree with a lot of the gender fluidity ideas out there, but respect for my students means I try very hard to use their preferred pronouns and I feel bad when I forget and use the wrong one.”

Other readers were concerned it would lead to a rise in bullying.

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