Favors gender-neutral terms ‘child’ or ‘kid’
By Michael Bielawski
The Vermont Department of Health Friday, August 28 posted a new language advisory policy on Facebook asking Vermont educators to refer to their students, when discussing their family relationships, as a ‘child’ or ‘kid’ and not a ‘daughter’ or ‘son.’
Under the header “inclusive language for families,” the meme requests that educators “use ‘child’ or ‘kid’ instead of ‘daughter’ or ‘son.’ This is gender-neutral and can not describe a child who may not be someone’s legal son or daughter.”
The post explains: “The language we use matters! Many families and students are getting ready for the new school year. Equity in the classroom is an essential piece of a productive and healthy learning environment. When talking about family, it’s important to use terms that cover the many versions of what family can look like.
In a comment on the initial post, VDH explains further that “This post was intended to encourage using inclusive language when you don’t know someone’s family situation. This is especially important in settings like classrooms, afterschool programs and sports teams. Using language that includes everyone helps children feel seen, respected, and valued no matter how their families are structured.”
VDC reached out to Department of Health Director of Communications Katie Warchut for further clarification: “it [the meme] suggests that it’s to make children who aren’t legal children of parents feel more comfortable. But if that is so, don’t ‘child’ and ‘kid’ suggest the same? The only difference seems to be gender. Could you please explain further why teachers are being asked to use these terms?”
Warchut responded by reiterating the FB post: “Here is a statement related to our social media post you can attribute to the Department of Health: ‘The Vermont Department of Health’s social media post was intended to encourage using inclusive language when you don’t know someone’s family situation. This is especially important in settings like classrooms, afterschool programs and sports teams. Using language that includes everyone helps children feel seen, respected, and valued no matter how their families are structured. Learn more about our Department’s commitment to health equity at HealthVermont.gov/health-equity.’
On the website is a section titled “Health Equity — what does it mean?” It explains, “Health Equity exists when all people have a fair and just opportunity to be healthy, especially those who have experienced socioeconomic disadvantage, historical injustice, and other avoidable systemic inequalities that are often associated with social categories of race, gender, ethnicity, social position, sexual orientation, and disability.”
It also states, “Vermonters who identify as white and heterosexual, who are non-disabled, live in urban or suburban areas, or are middle or upper class generally have better health compared to other Vermonters.”
It continues that this is the “cornerstone of our State Health Assessment and State Health Improvement Plan.”
VDC has reached out to the Department again to ask further why and how using these terms is seen as more inclusive. Any updates will be provided.
The Health Department post has been the subject of many news stories on state and national news websites.
As highlighted by the Daily Mail, one responding member of the public wrote that now they are offended because using the term “child” or “kid” is not inclusive of those living family-oriented lives.
“I’m offended when you call my son my ‘child’ – That language is not inclusive of me.” the commenter wrote.
Dozens of commenters sounded off on the policy on social media including on X.
One commenter, @SuspendedAnd1, wrote, “We need to have Sons and Daughters of the new American revolution this year. I have 3 Sons, they each of Sons and Daughters, and we are a family. Vermont the land of Bernie is already hell.
The author is a writer for the Vermont Daily Chronicle