Employees of School District 91 in northern B.C. have been advised to avoid referencing Mother’s Day or Father’s Day and instead use terms that are more “inclusive” of different family situations.
“It’s time to make a very targeted change. We will not acknowledge traditional Mother’s and Father’s Days at McLeod. Please do not do so in your class,” the email says.
“This is about school-wide philosophical change. Should you choose to do an activity, help kids say thank you to caregivers or celebrate adults in their lives.”
The news was confirmed by Mike Skinner, the assistant superintendent of the school board, who said it is the direction the school board as a whole will be taking.
“Some of our learners and their families have experienced grief and loss. We want our schools to be safe and inclusive for all children, where they can recognize and celebrate those adults who care for them every day,” Skinner told Black Press.
The move comes amid a larger trend in the province to avoid using gendered terms.
Later that month, the B.C. government announced that it had removed almost 750 instances of gendered language across 16 of its ministries in an effort to “reduce barriers in accessing services” and ensure “more people see themselves in their government.”
