Why Kids Can Now Decide if They Want to Be Treated as Girls or Boys in School

In efforts to promote inclusion and diversity, the education ministry of New Zealand has updated its guidelines. As of now, schools are encouraged to use the students’ preferred names, gender and pronouns in class and on their records.

“The new guidelines will ensure that the teaching of relationships and sexuality education in our schools will no longer be left to chance,” says Tracey Martin, the associate education minister. Among the recommendations, schools should teach critical analysis of children’s relationships. They are also “encouraged to question gender stereotypes and assumptions about sexuality, including gender norms, gender binaries, gender stereotypes and sex norms, for example, the assumption that sex characteristics at birth are always male or female”.

Children should be allowed to identify themselves as they see fit so “young people are able to see themselves reflected in what they’re learning at school,” says Pooja Submaranian, a spokesperson of RainbowYOUTH, an LGBTQIA advocacy group.