Teachers to avoid ‘husband and wife’ in school inclusive language guide

Teachers at two NSW high schools have been told to avoid the words “husband and wife”, under in a controversial language guide that’s been slammed as woke nonsense.

Teachers at two NSW high schools were told to avoid the words “husband and wife” and that “Mr” or “Ms” may be offensive, under a controversial language guide that’s been slammed as “woke nonsense”.

A student support officer at Denison College, which includes Bathurst and Kelso High Schools, sent out the language restrictions in a guide last month to 150 teachers as part of “IDAHOBIT” Day, to raise awareness against transphobia.

But One Nation MP Mark Latham, who obtained a copy of the email and guide, slammed the incursion of identity politics into the classroom, while language expert Kel Richards said it was “ignorant linguistic nonsense” to attempt to get rid of “time honoured” words like husband and wife.

And education expert Dr Kevin Donnelly said using “they” as a pronoun was grammatically incorrect and teachers would be better off teaching students the basics, including correct grammar.

The inclusive LGBTIQ language guide recommends avoiding using “husband” or “wife”, and saying “good morning folks” instead of boys and girls.

The guide, a Victorian government document called the LGBTIQ Inclusive Language Guide, also promotes gender-neutral toilets and change rooms and argues you can’t tell someone’s gender by the sound of their voice on the phone.

“Avoid using language such as ‘wife’ or ‘husband’ that assumes all relationships are heterosexual, as this excludes non-heterosexual people and devalues their relationships,” the guide states.

“Remember, the sound of a person’s voice isn’t a reliable indicator of their gender particularly on the phone.

“Do not address someone on the phone by gendered terms such as ‘madam’ or ‘sir’ if you don’t know their gender.”

It also says “gendered titles such as Ms, Miss, Mrs or Mr may not apply to and may offend some people”.

One Nation NSW Leader Mark Latham at NSW Parliament in Sydney. Picture: Richard Dobson

But Mr Latham questioned the priority of such policing of language, as NSW’s school results have fallen internationally.

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls is banned to be replaced with ‘Welcome everyone’ and the dreadfully American ‘Good morning folks’.

“At the schools, teachers are not supposed to say mum and dad, but use ‘parents’ instead.

“What horrible nonsense.”

Language expert Kel Richards, author of Flash Jim, said “wife” and “husband” had been part of the English language since at least the 1300s.

“There is no logical or linguistic reason for abandoning such venerable, time honoured words – unless the real goal is to dismantle both the language and the civilisation that gave rise to the language,” he said.

He also points out many gay couples use the terms “wife” or “husband”.

“Not only is the advice linguistic nonsense it is also ignorant.

“Ellen de Generes called Portia Rossi her ‘wife’, Elton John calls David Furnish his ‘husband’.

“If the ignorant and ill-informed bureaucrats who drew up this document had a clue what they were talking about they would know that ‘wife’ and ‘husband’ are not offensive to the gay community.”

Author of Flash Jim and radio presenter Kel Richards.

Author and presenter Kel Richards’s new book Flash Jim, about a convict fraudster who wrote Australia’s first dictionary.

Dr Donnelly said while non-binary students needed to be respected, about 98 per cent of adults identify as female or male so “it’s only fair to continue to use descriptions like female and male, husband and wife”.

“Using ‘they’ as a pronoun to describe a person is grammatically incorrect; the correct pronouns are ‘he’ or ‘she’ and ‘her’ and ‘him’.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the resource was “not approved by the NSW government”.

“It is my understanding that it was not taught in the classroom and was sent to staff without the principal’s permission,” she said.

A Department of Education spokesman said the information was sent without the principal’s knowledge and the document was “not school or department policy”.

“This resource is not being used or endorsed for use in NSW Public schools,” he said.