[lg policy] Easthampton High not the only school to drop 'freshmen' label

Sat Dec 23 15:56:14 UTC 2017

ares

By Mary C. Serreze <http://connect.masslive.com/staff/mserreze/posts.html>

Special to The Republican

While news that Easthampton High School recently jettisoned the word
"freshman" from its student handbook prompted some backlash this week, a
quick survey of other Western Massachusetts schools and colleges revealed
that the use of gender-neutral or gender-inclusive language is not at all
uncommon.

The language change, prompted by students with the school's Gender and
Sexuality Alliance, was adopted to support inclusion, Easthampton officials
said, and was one small part of a general overhaul of policies and
protocols to improve the school district's climate and culture.

<http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/12/in_push_for_gender-neutral_lan.html>

[image: In push for gender-neutral language, Easthampton 'freshmen' to be
called 'first years']
<http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/12/in_push_for_gender-neutral_lan.html>

In push for gender-neutral language, Easthampton 'freshmen' to be called
'first years'
<http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/12/in_push_for_gender-neutral_lan.html>

Student activists met with the yearbook committee to suggest changes.
<http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/12/in_push_for_gender-neutral_lan.html>

At Northampton High School, teachers and administrators refer to ninth
10th, 11th and 12 grade students, said Superintendent John Provost.

"There's no written policy; it's just easier that way," Provost said.
"Students don't always progress through the grades in a lock-step fashion."
For instance, a ninth grade student could be taking 10th grade English.

Provost said the district is committed to inclusion and recently adopted a
written policy affirming the rights of gender non-conforming students. Each
school building has designated gender-neutral bathrooms. He said no one is
banned from using the term "freshman."

Holyoke High School uses "9th grade students" and "freshmen"
interchangeably, said Judy Taylor, communications director for the
district. "We refer to our ninth-grade academy," she said. The school has
an active Gay-Straight Alliance and supports the rights of transgender
students, she said.

Springfield Central High School Principal Thaddeus Tokarz sent a "special
welcome to our 600 freshmen" in a 2017 letter,
<http://springfieldcentral.com/handbook/index.html>apparently affirming the
traditional label. Tokarz created gender-neutral bathrooms
<http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/04/springfield_central_high_schoo_16.html>
last year in response to concerns raised by the Gender Equality Club.

Amherst-Pelham Regional School District Superintendent Michael Morris did
not respond to an emailed inquiry by publication time.

Public school districts in Massachusetts are prohibited by law from
discriminating on the basis of gender or gender identity. A 2011 law
protects the civil rights of transgender or gender non-conforming students,
who are seen as more vulnerable to peer ostracism, victimization and
bullying.

The state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is clear about
this issue, and has issued guidance
<http://www.doe.mass.edu/sfs/lgbtq/GenderIdentity.html> for public school
districts. Among other things, teachers and administrators are advised to
respect a student's chosen name, gender identity and pronoun. Student may
access the restroom, locker room and changing facility that corresponds to
their gender identity.

While the state guidance does not cover the topic of grade level
descriptions, it does suggest that school staff find ways "to support
transgender students and to improve the school climate for gender
nonconforming students," which may include gender-neutral language policies.

Colleges and universities have led the way in adopting gender-free language.

In the Pioneer Valley, two prominent women's colleges don't use the term
"freshmen." Smith College refers to "first year students," a spokesman
confirmed, and Mount Holyoke College has long celebrated its "firsties."

In its written publications, Mount Holyoke College adheres to a style guide
that describes the proper use of inclusive language, said spokeswoman Keely
Savoie.

As for admissions, Mount Holyoke affirms its tradition as a women's
college, but recognizes that "what it means to be a woman is not static"
and that "traditional binaries around who counts as a man or woman are
being challenged by those whose gender identity does not conform to their
biology." The college welcomes applications from any qualified student who
is female or identifies as a woman.

The University of Massachusetts uses "first year" as a descriptor in its
institutional documents -- such as its research reports and news releases
-- said spokesman Ed Blaguszewski. However, a quick search of the
university's website reveals a reference
<http://www.umass.edu/admissions/apply/admissions-requirements/freshman-admissions-requirements>
to "freshman admissions requirements."

Hampshire College has never used the term "freshman," said spokesman John
Courtmanche. The college uses a completely different system, with students
progressing through three "divisions" on their way to earning a diploma.
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"In the college's first yearbook in 1971, students were identified as
'first-year students, second-year students,' etc., terms we still use
today," Courtmanche wrote in an email, adding that the college has adopted
formal gender-inclusive policies and practices.

Within the Ivy League, Yale University nixed the "freshman" label this year
and also discontinued the term "upperclassman." Dartmouth, Cornell and
Columbia in the Ivy League and Amherst College have also made the move.

-- 
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 Harold F. Schiffman

Professor Emeritus of
 Dravidian Linguistics and Culture
Dept. of South Asia Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305

Phone:  (215) 898-7475
Fax:  (215) 573-2138

Email:  haroldfs at gmail.com
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/

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