[NCLaw441]

Yes, along with the use of "they" when one is afraid to use the neutral "he" and related constructions. For example, What parent doesn't want THEIR child to succeed? We used to be quite comfortable saying What parent doesn't want his child to succeed, knowing perfectly well that half of parents are women. In the 70s and 80s there was some usage of a gender revolutionary nature, militantly using she and her in place of he and his, etc. A good teacher knows HER students. Oh well.... if this is the greatest of our worries we are not in too bad shape.

[gcruse]

I've gotten away from using 'he' as default, too. Some of feminism is right.

[bannie]

What parent doesn't want THEIR child to succeed?

It's still not safe: It's incorrect. To use "their," it would require that "parent" be "parents." I simply write "his/her," and no one (noone) has questioned this usage.