WALLED LAKE, Mich. — Walled Lake Consolidated Schools is addressing questions from parents after its new middle school math curriculum, Inspiring Connections CPM Mathematicians Notebook, was found to include a gender-neutral title in a handful of workbook questions.
In a letter sent to families of sixth- and seventh-grade students on Sept. 12, Superintendent Dr. Michael A. Lonze said the district became aware that the title “Mx.” appeared in some of the materials. He stressed that the district is not teaching about gender neutrality and that the presence of the title does not change the focus of instruction.
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“Let me be clear, with this curriculum the District is not placing a value (good or bad) on the presence of this title. We are not teaching about gender-neutrality. The teacher’s focus will be on the math content,” Lonze wrote.
School Board member Lisa West said that during the book renewal process, she asked whether the publisher could edit the workbooks to remove the gender-neutral title. West noted that according to Lonze, the publisher was unwilling to make changes.
West said she believed the district would provide parents with the exact page and problem numbers so they could decide whether their child should complete them. She said that information was never shared and plans to ask why.
The curriculum update has been in progress for three years. Teachers and staff evaluated instructional resources with the goal of strengthening math instruction, aligning with state standards, and improving student achievement. The Walled Lake Board of Education approved the updated program in spring 2024. Implementation began this school year in sixth grade, will expand to seventh grade in 2025-2026, and will reach eighth grade in 2026-2027.
What “Mx.” Means
The title “Mx.” (pronounced “mix”) is a gender-neutral alternative to Mr., Mrs., Miss, or Ms. It is used by people who do not identify with gendered titles or who prefer not to disclose gender.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the title has been in use since the late 1970s. Merriam-Webster added “Mx.” to its dictionary in 2016, describing it as “used as a gender-neutral title of courtesy.”
District Response
In his letter, Lonze acknowledged that families may respond differently to the presence of the title in school materials but reiterated the district’s position that the goal of the program is to strengthen math education.
“We respect every family’s voice in their child’s education and deeply appreciate our partnership,” he wrote. “Our goal is to help your child succeed at math and to implement the absolute best math curriculum for our students.”
Parents with additional questions are being encouraged to contact their child’s principal.
