Catholic school refuses pronoun nonsense

A teacher at a Melbourne Catholic school has taken the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (Macs) to court over their refusal to indulge nonsense pronouns.

Myka Sanders is male but wants to be called Mx/they/them.

Sacred Heart Girls College in Oakleigh, Melbourne refused the request, saying it went against “the ideas of Catholic anthropology”. Incorrect pronoun use also rejects reality and is another example of trying to hijack language and compel speech.

Schools exist to educate children. Education ought to be based on evidence-based facts and science, not ideology that seeks to destroy and manipulate culture.

Macs have respected the teacher by using their chosen name but refuse to enter into the deception of incorrect and made up pronouns.

The Independent Education Union (IEU), attempted to take Macs to a Victorian tribunal but failed due to jurisdictional issues. It will now be heard in magistrates court. The federal Sex Discrimination Act does allow for exemptions for religious schools. This will pit Victorian state law against federal law.

In an email sent to Sanders in April 2024 and seen by Guardian Australia, the organisation said titles such as Mx went against “Catholic anthropology”.

“This personal decision by a staff member has consequences that affect the whole school community, as the decision illustrates an ideological shift from Catholic teaching and an inability of the staff member to uphold the vision and mission of the Catholic school,” it reads.

Sanders, who has worked at the school since 2022, said they were still trying to sign off on emails as Mx, but the school’s leadership has intervened, telling them to stop.

The school is right to fight this battle in court. Any law that rejects reality and compels speech has no place in a civilised, democratic society.

No human can change their sex, it is utter nonsense to suggest they can. Feelings do not trump facts. How can students and parents trust a teacher that cannot even grasp the most basic concept of human biology?

Kirralie Smith is an advocate for justice and truth in the public square who speaks fearlessly about the inherent differences between boys and girls, men and women. As the founder of Binary, Kirralie challenges the aggressive agenda to remove biological sex from education, health, politics and law, and protects children from those who would seek to indoctrinate them.