A reputed first-grade teacher who said she has her students refer to her as “professor” because she eschews the terms “Mrs.” and “Mr” in her classroom also boasted that her “favorite moments are always when my students ask about my queerness.”
The Twitter account titled “Nalo” stated, “My students call me Professor Nalo because I prefer not to use Mrs. or Mr. in my classroom. I teach all subjects as a 1st grade teacher, but my favorite moments are always when my students ask about my queerness.”
My students call me Professor Nalo because I prefer not to use Mrs. or Mr. in my classroom. I teach all subjects as a 1st grade teacher, but my favorite moments are always when my students ask about my queerness. 🐢✨ pic.twitter.com/ZjfIS6z852
— Nalo 🐢 (@kingnalodarling) November 27, 2021
The account continued, “I was asked recently during a podcast interview why i don’t use Mrs. or Mr. to refer to myself, and I asked her why I needed to. She said ‘don’t you think it’ll be hard for children to adjust?’”
Then “Nalo” wrote of the “magic of curiosity” of her young students, adding, “But the truth is, it has never been children that struggle with adjusting to the complexities of human experiences. My students are 6-7 years old and they are still steeped in the magic of curiosity.”
But the truth is, it has never been children that struggle with adjusting to the complexities of human experiences. My students are 6-7 years old and they are still steeped in the magic of curiosity. ✨
— Nalo 🐢 (@kingnalodarling) November 27, 2021
She referred to her students as “turtles,” bragging, “My students know about and have met my wife at school, they know I’m queer, and the turtles will call ANYBODY out for calling me ‘mrs.’ anything. I told them my story once & never needed to say it again. If only adults adjusted as quickly and easily, it may save many of our lives.”
“When I had virtual conferences, anytime a parent mistook my title, my student would appear and say ‘no, it’s PROFESSOR nalo’ and I would struggle so much to keep my bearing because they do not play bout me,” she continued.
When I had virtual conferences, anytime a parent mistook my title, my student would appear and say “no, it’s PROFESSOR nalo” and I would struggle so much to keep my bearing because they do not play bout me. 😂😂😂
— Nalo 🐢 (@kingnalodarling) November 27, 2021
She concluded, “It’s been such a wondrous experience to teach and learn with them, and I know the impact will make room for them to see beyond homo/transphobia to embrace nuance and complexity in the human experience.”
It’s been such a wondrous experience to teach and learn with them, and I know the impact will make room for them to see beyond homo/transphobia to embrace nuance and complexity in the human experience.
— Nalo 🐢 (@kingnalodarling) November 27, 2021
One mom fired back, “So you’d rather your FIRST GRADE students ask you about your sex life than the education YOU are supposed to be giving them? No first grader is going to ask you about your ‘queerness’ unless you talk about it to them first. They don’t even know what that means. Gross.”
So you’d rather your FIRST GRADE students ask you about your sex life than the education YOU are supposed to be giving them? No first grader is going to ask you about your “queerness” unless you talk about it to them first. They don’t even know what that means. Gross.
— JenniferW (@JenWoodruff79) November 28, 2021
Other comments included:
Actor Adam Baldwin: “Sexualizing 1st graders in loco parentis is abject evil.”
Sexualizing 1st graders in loco parentis is abject evil.https://t.co/98KsIOIag9
— Adam Baldwin (@AdamBaldwin) November 28, 2021
Reagan Battalion: “You should not teach your 6-year-old students about sexuality or sex, whether you are straight, gay, or non-binary. That this has to be said is an indictment against our education system.”
You should not teach your 6-year-old students about sexuality or sex, whether you are straight, gay, or non-binary.
That this has to be said is an indictment against our education system. https://t.co/x7j3U85gcd
— Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) November 28, 2021
Political commentator David Reaboi: “FIRST GRADERS shouldn’t be assaulted with conversation about your perversions or your identity. In a just world, you’d be arrested for this.”
FIRST GRADERS shouldn’t be assaulted with conversation about your perversions or your identity. In a just world, you’d be arrested for this. https://t.co/u5uxg8CbqN
— David Reaboi, Late Republic Nonsense (@davereaboi) November 28, 2021
Actor Nick Searcy: “This is not what first graders should be taught. Keep your children out of schools that allow this.”
This is not what first graders should be taught. Keep your children out of schools that allow this. https://t.co/sIwD5J1f7a
— Nick Searcy, INSURRECTIONAL FILM & TELEVISION STAR (@yesnicksearcy) November 28, 2021
The Washington Examiner’s Becket Adams: “insisting that first graders address you by ‘professor’ is the funniest flex in a long time.”
insisting that first graders address you by “professor” is the funniest flex in a long time. https://t.co/oitWTTb7KJ
— tsar becket adams (@BecketAdams) November 28, 2021