Topic: Sex and Gender-based Systems
Policies: RI Laws and Policies; and PPSD Policy
Article: Queering Our Schools (Does your school or org have a policy?)
Beginning of Text (Introduction): The beginning of the text "Queering Our Schools", by the editors of Rethinking Schools, starts off with that in 2013, the state of Illinois became the 16th state to legalize same sex-marriage. Certainly some things have changed since 2026. In Oakland High School in 2013, a student named Sasha, an agender youth, had their skirt set on fire by a 16 year old student from other school. This student was charged with 2 felony hates crimes as an adult. Fundraising was done including a "Stroll for Sasha", while Sasha's family stressed education and asked that the student be tried as a child. Sasha's dad is also an educator, teaching at an elementary school, and wrote a letter suggesting how to talk to students. The question is "How do we create classrooms and schools where each child, parent, and staff member's unique, beautiful self is appreciated and nurtured?"
Middle of Text: The next section continues how to build community. Per the article, "Despite the recent advanced in LGBTQ rights, most schools aren't safe for queer students". The article continues that 49 states have passed "anti-bullying" legislation, but it suggests that this isn't enough as there are critical issues that underline these conflicts. It states that teachers "worry about backlash from parents". I recall in working in different schools as a teacher, that we are asked to not use a child's preferred name and gender, in cases where they don't want their families to know. This puts stress on the students and teachers. My school gives out a state issued survey every year around this time called Survey Works, which is an anonymous survey given to school staff, teachers, and students. One of the questions is regarding how comfortable with these issues, including sexual orientation, gender, and harassment, and if you are comfortable with talking to students about these issues. They ask you to rate your comfortability. The article mentions that talking about these issues is "trickier than geometry." As a high school math teacher, I agree. It is easier to teach geometry proofs, which isn't easy either.
End of Text:
This reading continues by mentioning community and empathy, and that school structures should support all families. Examples provided include having "forms that ask for information for Parent/ Family Members instead of Mother and Father" and other ideas, including having gender neutral bathrooms available for everyone. It also mentions the importance of empowering students to participate including in school and in the community to fight for all kinds of social justice. Another point raised in the article is introducing curriculum to integrate not only the history and lives of people of color, but also with LGBTQ students. This reading also ties into the "Being There For Nonbinary Youth" that we were provided, as the high school principal provided a gender-neutral restroom for Eli to use at school, even though in Eli's words "I would not have thought that my principal would have been helpful because he drives a big red truck with a gun rack on it.". Stereotypes are firmly entrenched in our society. Even though the principal may not have fully understood transgender "stuff", he understood enough to provide the student support that "he's entitled to". Also from this related reading, it stresses the importance that "Transgender youth are looking, first, and foremost, for adults to respect their chosen names and pronouns".
Argument Statement: The central argument of this text includes that schools need change their curriculum, culture, and policies besides just having anti-bullying procedures, in order to truly support diverse gender and sexual identities as part of equity and social justice.
(Note: I used A.I. in order to research this article in further depth).
Additional Personal Thoughts, Connections, and Reflections:
Reading this article about a transgender youth reminds me of when I teaching high school math one year at Attleboro High School. I had a student in my Advisory who went by a traditional male name, but was on the roster as a female name. I certainly made a point of saying their preferred name, including when I did attendance in the morning, however, one morning I accidently said the name as written on the on-line roster. I recall that this student didn't say anything, but stared at me.
In the charter school that that I have worked at for 4 years, I have noticed that there are actually less transgender students, at least outwardly so, then there were a few years ago. The school that I work at is in Warren, however, most students are bussed in from Providence and greater Providence, including Pawtucket. We also have a large Hispanic culture. I am not sure if this also has something to do with this (video attached below regarding Hispanic culture), or if is also part of what is going on in the United States, with the rolling back of transgender and LBGTQ rights under the current presidential administration. In my opinion, we are going backward. A friend of my son while in high school experienced a situation where he wanted to be called a typically feminine name instead of his Hispanic male name. My son told him that his greater family was against this, and he could not tell his aunt. This was around 8 years ago now, as my son's friend is around 22 years old. In their culture, this was not deemed acceptable.
My school, Highlander Charter School does have a handbook with a policy under Harassment (I have a screenshot of this section here,). Harassment due to perceived sexual orientation and gender are listed.
This article ties into other readings that we have done in class with biases against students, whether it's implicit bias or not. Even if you are not aware of bias, it may be there. Tying into this week's reading, there may be an underlining bias towards transgender students even if you don't think that you have one, based on the culture that is in place. Students should be able to use the gender bathroom of their choice but the school may face backlash if this is known among students' families and the greater community.
Technology, Links, Other Texts, References, and Additional Connections:(Note: I used A.I. to create some of the hyperlinks automatically, through the Bloggerapplication.)
https://panthernow.com/2015/02/11/homophobia-in-hispanic-culture/
Hispanic Cultures and Homophobia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNS3Lc4u0TQ
Stroll for Sasha and Restorative Justice
Optional Reading:https://archive.learningforjustice.org/magazine/summer-2016/being-there-for-nonbinary-youth
Hi Darryl,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your observation that you have fewer openly trans and nonbinary students now than in the past. I think that it likely has a lot to do with the current political state and culture. Thanks for the resources!
Thanks Corinne! I agree with you.
ReplyDelete