Majority say allowing 'preferred pronouns' in schools confuses kids: poll

A majority of Americans oppose allowing children to choose their own pronouns and favor calling them by their biological sex to avoid confusing kids according to a recent Harvard-Harris survey.

Conducted from May 18-19 with a sample of 1,963 registered voters, the survey asked "Do you think that kids should be able to pick their pronouns - he, she or they - or do you think they should be called by their sex?" While 41 percent favored allowed kids to choose their pronouns, a clear majority of 59 percent said children should use the pronouns of their sex.

Responding to a followup question, 60 percent said allowing kids to choose their own pronouns would just confuse them, while 40 percent said such a move would help prevent discrimination.

The survey showed respondents were slightly more united on the issue of teacher discretion. Harvard-Harris asked "Do you think teachers should be required to use pronouns that kids say they want used under penalty of losing their job or should teachers have discretion to use pronouns as they see appropriate?"

Sixty-three percent favored teacher discretion while 37 percent preferred requiring the teacher to use the children's preferred pronouns. The issue of legality, however, saw overwhelming opposition to making it illegal to not use someone's preferred pronoun. A strong majority of 73 percent opposed such a move with just 27 percent backing it.

Education issues ranked low among American's priorities, however, with just 7 percent of respondents ranking them among the most important issues facing the country.