St Bede’s push for more inclusive language

A private boys’ school in Mentone has told staff to stop using gendered language in a bid to support non-binary students.

St Bede’s College in Mentone. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Staff at an all-boys private school in Melbourne’s bayside suburbs have been told to stop referring to male-presenting students with gender-specific terminology.

In a letter sent to teachers and school staff this week, St Bede’s principal Deb Frizza said they should no longer label students using the words “boy”, “young man”, or “Beda Boy” – the term used when referring to alumni of the secondary school.

It comes after other Victorian schools’ attempts to become more inclusive of non-binary and queer students.

The letter, seen by the Herald Sun, is understood to have been sent following updated Victorian Child Safe Standards that were revised in July this year.

“As part of this, along with other schools, we are looking at the language we use,” Ms Frizza said.

“Can I ask that we start to use gender neutral language in our communications where possible? I know it can be challenging when communicating with the parents of senior students and calling them ‘children’, so if anyone has a better gender neutral term than this, please let me know.

“The use of the term ‘student’ rather than ‘young man’ or ‘boy’ can easily be made. I’m yet to find an alternative for ‘Beda Boy’, and given the history of this term, we would need to think carefully on any changes here.

“Of course any homophobic racist or other derogatory names/phrases should be challenged at all times.”

The revised child safety standards require schools to: “Pay particular attention to the needs of children and young people with disability, children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who are unable to live at home, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children and young people”.

The wider school community was advised of the shift away from gendered language in a separate newsletter.

“As a college, we are in the process of aligning our internal policies to these new Victorian standards, which came into effect on 1 July 2022. As such, we, along with all Victorian schools, are examining the language we use, and the impact this may have on the diverse groups referenced in the above standards,” it said.

The letter sent to the St Bede’s school community this week. Picture: Supplied

Ms Frizza said the language change followed consultation with all staff at the Catholic school, who were reportedly supportive of using gender-neutral terms.

But one teacher at the school, who wished not to be named, told the Herald Sun that staff were not specifically asked about gendered language, but rather a broader discussion about how the school could be more inclusive.

“The parents were told that this was a whole school decision, but all teachers were not consulted,” he said.

“It’s outrageous that you can’t refer to the students as boys and young men.”

But recent research conducted by Western Sydney University revealed that 82 per cent of parents want gender and sexuality taught to students from kindergarten.

St Bede’s is among a string of schools in Victoria adopting more inclusive language and school policies.

Springvale’s Killester College scrapped female bathroom signage and strict uniform policies that once required all students to wear a skirt or dress.

Toorak College in Mt Eliza revised its traditional uniform policy and now avoids female- specific terms when addressing cohorts with non-binary students.

Mentone Girls Secondary College allows students to choose whether they want to wear skirts or pants.

Last year, the former federal government’s proposed religious discrimination bill was thwarted when members crossed the floor to vote with Labor to amend the bill to protect trans students from being expelled because of their identity.

It is illegal for schools to discriminate against a person because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status.