Cycle Three: Should the Curriculum Address Controversial
Issues?
“-and
the least educated are precisely those who are most inclined to be prejudiced
against gay people’” ( Thornton). This
quote answers that question for me. I
went to a diverse school on the outer limits of Lansing. It was considered suburban. I remember being surrounded by many types of
people whether referring to ethnicity, sex, etc. One Sunday I attended a youth group event in
Charlotte. Now, no offense to anyone
from Charlotte, MI, but I was taken aback by how narrow minded these kids
were. The minute they found out I was
from the area I told them, they asked me how I could handle being around
“blacks”. At the time I remember feeling
shocked at this. Here I was 50% Lebanese
and 50% Caucasian, and could have cared less what ethnicity anyone was. I was taught about culture though, and they
weren’t. I learned it implicitly through
the diversity my school produced, through my family, and my environment. They, however, were not educated on
acceptance, diversity, or the enrichment of different cultures. In reference to sexuality, I don’t want to
know what they would have to say about that.
This touches on the point that those lacking education on such
differences will be the first to judge.
We judge or question what we are unfamiliar with. This being so, we need to educate students on
those differences.
There
are ways to go about this. I don’t
believe a fourth grader should be hearing about anal sex as an option during
sex education. I do believe they can
hear a book read by their teacher about a boy with two dads, two moms, or
whatever the situation may be. Just like
we don’t teach kindergartners about sex at all, they learn body parts. So we need to teach sexuality in the same
method. Elementary sexuality should be
taught in broad terms. Times are
different and we have multiple families with married parents, divorced parents,
adopted parents, grand parents, gay couples, unmarried parents whom all raise
families. Yet in books we see mom, dad,
and two children with a dog. This is not
the typical family anymore and students with the non-traditional family need to
be represented so they don’t feel like outcasts.
So
when is it appropriate to teach students about homosexuality in a more specific
way. I personally believe 8th
grade is when we can start having discussions about teens and adults who are
homosexual and accepting it. This isn’t
a promotion saying, “Everyone should be homosexual!” It is merely teaching that you need to accept
everyone for who they are whether it be gay or straight. I agree with the article from New York Times
when a student mentioned it would be too late to wait until high school. Most students have awareness for
homosexuality by freshman year and by this point the teasing has started. Seventh grade may also be early enough. I wouldn’t begin with 6th grade
from personal experience as a 6th grade teacher. I think it is too divided by maturity level
and think some could handle it while others wouldn’t be able to.
Opponents
of this concept may think this is selling a certain life style, which is. The lifestyle it is selling is tolerance,
acceptance, and love of others. As the second
article mentions by Elliot W. Eisner, teaching is notoriously based on
tradition. This implies that what has
always been taught will continue to be taught.
So students are learning about sexuality by the implicit instruction of
school structure with teachers who aren’t saying anything when a student is
called gay, or via null curriculum and what is not taught which is devastating
in the end. The first thing I think of
after the quote referenced earlier is the fact teenagers are killing themselves
because of the lack of tolerance around them.
When will it end? To me a
student would feel accepted and normal by hearing that Alexander the Great was
homosexual, or by reading about those that fought for acceptance in the early
1900’s. This would make them realize it
isn’t just them and that sexuality has always had differences. This along with teaching students that
everyone is important through group discussions and moral curriculum focus
would create a safe environment for all because those feeling separate from
others would realize they are not separate and those judging would realize
nobody is an outcast. Safety is what
everyone should have in school and that is something that is lacking. We as educators must teach acceptance and
begin in a broad sense at young ages then expand on is as the students get older.
Resources
This article found in the New Yorker supports my theory of
having acceptance. It mentions that even
though lately it doesn’t seem like it, people have become more accepting of
open sexuality. It brushes on the topic
of those who believe educating kids is brainwashing them to become gay which
was expressed in my reflection as an uneducated viewpoint.
A district in California plans to add new curriculum to
their social studies content that reflects homosexual historical figures. It will have ample material that illustrates
homosexuality and gives teachers the freedom to decide when the grade levels
learn the information. This is similar
to my point that is should be taught but also with rational methods and in the
right format.
This blog is from the New York times and provides
resources/materials for teaching that includes homosexual people of
history. It is useful in that it provides many lesson
plans about gay history as well as links to articles and other resources.
This is a site that offers a curriculum in which students
learn in a social context. It teaches
how to deal with bullies and be an overall good person. The mission is to make each student fee safe
and prevent bullying. This can be linked
to the controversy of homosexuality because this program is meant to accept
everyone.
This site is fantastic for resources regarding
bullying. It has information for kids,
parents, and educators. I also noticed a
special section for those being bullied based on sexuality.
