Primary school De Connection in Nijmegen-Noord is a school where children from 0 to 12 years old can go to childcare or to school. The school’s 200 students will have to get used to some changes in their language use, because as one of the first in the Netherlands, the school is now gender neutral.
No master or teacher
For example, the teachers will no longer be called ‘master’ or ‘teacher’, but now bear the name of ‘mentors’. In addition, they will only be addressed by their first name, without saying ‘master’ or ‘teacher’. Thus ‘master Bart’ simply becomes ‘Bart’. The term ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ is no longer used, but the gender-neutral name ‘children’ is used.
Gender neutral toilets
Furthermore, there are only gender-neutral toilets in the school building, although it is not clear from the outside whether it is for boys or girls. The walls of the toilets have been extended to the top, so that everyone feels safe in the toilet, says Prévoo.
Naturally
With these measures, the school wants to prevent that it is self-evident that a distinction is made between boys and girls. The headmaster thinks that because the children are introduced to gender neutrality at a young age, they can spread it later in, for example, their secondary school.
Comments
The reactions on Facebook are mixed. Simone, for example, thinks it’s a ‘progressive’ idea: “There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s good if everyone can be themselves.” Laetitia shares that view: “How wonderfully good! An example school!”
But not everyone is enthusiastic about a gender-neutral primary school. For example, Jan Pieter says: “Children themselves indicate what they like and boys will be boys and girls will remain girls. In order to make choices, they first have to go through their puberty.” Many readers also believe that gender neutrality should not be imposed.
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