Buenos Aires bans gender-neutral language in schools

The Buenos Aires government prohibited the gender-neutral language in schools, specifically those expressions that include the “e”, the “x” or the “@” such as “chiques” instead of "chicos" (kids), “bienvenidxs” (welcome) or “alumn@s” instead of "alumnos" (pupils). It did so through a resolution that has just reached the schools and that begins to take effect from today, although they recognize that it will be a gradual process until it is reflected in its entirety.

As Infobae learned, the measure reaches both public and private schools in the City and the three mandatory levels (initial, primary and secondary). "To wstablish that in the exercise of their functions, teachers must carry out teaching activities and carry out institutional communications in accordance with the rules of the Spanish language, its grammatical norms and the official guidelines for its teaching," orders the norm.

According to what they explained, the resolution aims to eliminate all barriers and distortions of language both in teaching by teachers, as well as in formal communications with families and on the posters found in the establishment. Specifically, all expressions with the "e", the "x" and the "@" are prohibited beyond informal dialogues such as in breaks or in the teachers' rooms.

“We know that language is changing and we are not oblivious to that, but this type of distortion makes it difficult to learn the grammatical and basic rules of the language. It is something that we have been working on with specialists and although there is no evidence because everything is still very new, we agree that it goes against learning. We have the obligation to teach the correct use of the language. Afterwards, children are free people and can adapt it as they see fit,” said Soledad Acuña, Buenos Aires Minister of Education.

Last week, the ministry of education presented the results of two evaluations -FEPBA and TESBA- that were taken in seventh grade and third year. The results were not good, especially in text comprehension, an area in which there was a setback of almost 4 years. The regulation of inclusive language, they say, is part of a package of measures to improve children's literacy and understanding, among which are the extension of the school calendar, the change in the language teaching method and a new plan of reading fluency.

For Acuña, the presence of inclusive language in schools is not marginal. On the contrary, he assures that it is increasingly present, especially in the posters that are displayed in schools and considers "literacy environments that, instead of reinforcing language acquisition, generate confusion."

Source: Infobae