In gender neutrality effort, high school replaces 'freshmen' with 'first years'
Incoming ninth-graders at a Massachusetts high school will no longer be called "freshmen" as they have in the past. Those students at Easthampton High School will instead be called "first-years" in an effort to make the school more "gender neutral," according to a report by MassLive.com. "For the purpose of class meetings and activities, including the class dues, students will be considered first years, sophomores, juniors, and seniors," the school writes in its 2017-2018 school yearbook. The website reports members of the school's committee recommended the change to make for a more inclusive environment at the school. Students with the school's Gender-Sexuality Alliance helped to craft the handbook's language.
EASTHAMPTON, Mass. —
Incoming ninth-graders at a Massachusetts high school will no longer be called "freshmen" as they have in the past.
Those students at Easthampton High School will instead be called "first-years" in an effort to make the school more "gender neutral," according to a report by MassLive.com.
"For the purpose of class meetings and activities, including the class dues, students will be considered first years, sophomores, juniors, and seniors," the school writes in its 2017-2018 school yearbook.
The website reports members of the school's committee recommended the change to make for a more inclusive environment at the school. Students with the school's Gender-Sexuality Alliance helped to craft the handbook's language.