Many students who attend schools come from diverse backgrounds and home lives. Many educators know that when students go home, we’re never quite sure what their lives are like. Since many family structures are different, it’s hard to know exactly which students go through which experiences.
One thing that many teachers tend to do, without realizing it, is generalizing.
Some teachers often generalize things about student’s lives, without even realizing that they are doing it.
One way teachers do this is by using the terms “mom and dad” when referencing students’ families.
For teachers, saying things like, “Bring your test home to get signed by your mom and dad,” or even using the phrase, “Your parents,” can be something that seems normal.
But, for some students, it’s not.
Some students do not have a mom or dad, or they don’t live with them.
Many different situations can lead to students living with other family members like grandparents, uncles, aunts, siblings. And, there are also students who live in foster or group homes, too.
One school in New York City is now asking their staff to use more “inclusive” language with their students.
In a 12-page guide for students and staff at Grace Church School, the school is trying to get people to stray away from using “mom and dad” and even use more inclusive terms like “folks” or “family.”
The goal is to understand and respect student diversity.
In the guide, the school suggests that they should “stray away” from specifics, including gendered terms like “nanny” and instead use, “caregiver.”
The guide is looking to showcase acceptance and awareness.
“Families are formed and structured in many ways. At Grace Church School, we use inclusive language that reflects this diversity. It’s important to refrain from making assumptions about who kids live with, who cares for them, whether they sleep in the same place every night, whether they see their parents, etc,” as stated in the guide.
Many people may not think that it matters.
However, the school states, “This guide addresses ways we can remove harmful assumptions from the way we interact with each other.”
It’s important as an educator to try to “see” all students.
While we may not think our students are impacted by our words, using language like this can be “othering” students who do not have moms or dads at home.
In my classroom, I always use the phrase “Your adults.”
While it might sound unusual, I refer to student’s guardians as “their adults” if I ever need something, as I’m unsure who lives with who and I would never want my students to feel outcasted by my remarks.
What do you think about this policy?
