Big Kids

Dad addresses school's gender bias in the best way possible

When Stephen Callaghan's 12 year-old daughter came home from school in Wangorban, Australia, confused and upset, he wasted no time in asking her what was wrong. 

The class was being divided for an outing, the boys were being brought to a construction warehouse. 

The girls, on the other hand, were being sent to the library to get their hair and make up done. 

The letter he wrote to the school about this gendering activities is simply fantastic: 

The sass is next level, it reads: 

"When Ruby left for school yesterday it was 2017 but when she returned home in the afternoon she was from 1968."  

He then addresses how the class will be divided for the afternoon. But it gets even better: 

"Are you able to search the school for a rip in the space-time continuum? Perhaps there is a faulty flux capacitor hidden away in the girl's toilet block?" 

"I look forward to this being rectified and my daughter and the other girls in the school being returned to this millennium where school activities are not sharply divided along gender lines." 

Stephen further went on to say that despite the schools actions were not malicious, they were encouraging everyday sexism. 

While some have been questioning Stephen's tactic, others have been applauding his message: 

Callaghan has since taken to Twitter to update how his letter was received. The school department claimed that children are allowed to choose school activities, but this has not been proven. 

His daughter decided to stay with the girls after all, but one girl did decide to go on the boys trip:  

 He continued to say that this was not about specifically targeting the school, or any teachers in particular, but rather making sure that his daughters are free to make choices and not be dictated to because of their gender: 

In response to the outpouring of support the story, Callaghan said that he and Ruby hope to see a change in gender attitudes. 

What to do you think of the letter? Does our education system need a gender update? 

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