FNED 346

Dr. Bogad

Inside the Classroom Walls

foundations for an inclusive and safe society

“Classrooms lay the foundations for an inclusive and safe society: a just community where common interests and individual differences coexist.”  The world would be a wonderful place if this were true. And in fairness to everyone, it should be true.  In Amazing Grace, Kozol stated that if we do not acknowledge the problem we cannot even begin to fix it.  So too, the authors of “Inside the Classroom walls” argue that in any classroom, “silence in the presence of anti-LGBT statements (and attitudes) suggests acceptance and approval.”

So even though the walls of a classroom create a definitive space, the authors assert that it is not necessarily a safe and nurturing place.  Much like osmosis, these walls are permeable to the beliefs and assumptions of the community at large.  Students and teachers reflect the community.  So the challenge becomes how do we create a classroom where difference, specifically the LGBT community, is “expected, explored, and embraced,”  and students  “develop perspectives that result in respectful behaviors”.  And the inclusive and safe classroom becomes real.

                                                                                        

                          ( kidsActivityBlog.com)

I took this article to heart.  I am headed towards high school classrooms.  The beliefs and assumptions that I expect to encounter, good or bad, will have been boiling for a long time.  More than once I found myself thinking “the more I know the less I know.”  And although it wasn't high school, the manner in which the kindergarten teacher challenged a child’s intent by having him research the meaning of his “hurtful” words, disarmed the child's intent.  This was a powerful technique.

I recently observed a High School class that was engaged in a lively group discussion about the human reproductive system.  I was struck by the maturity of the students, and the non challant way in which they followed the teachers prompts with potentially uncomfortable material.  But there was no visible discomfort in the students behaviors.  What they were learning were facts.  There was nothing to judge.  This particular teacher had clearly defined the rules of acceptable behavior.  It was visible in the classroom.  Of course not everything is on the surface.  But as an observer it was an extremely positive and hopeful experience.

In my field work at a local alternative high school, I have three students who are enrolled in a college level course on Human Sexuality.  During our first tutoring session, one of the students shared their paper on the history of Homosexuality in Rome.  The topic was the student’s choice.  All three students seemed completely matter of fact about the material.  Granted this is an alternative high school, where part of the mission statement is one student at a time.  It is a priority that each student is celebrated for who they are and what they want to pursue.  But I was again impressed.  In both of these high school scenarios, something good is happening.  I am however aware that I may be observing only the tip of an iceberg.

At the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, GLBT intolerance is written in the law.  I feel this is worth mentioning because it is currently a punishable crime to behave “openly” gay in public.

In July 13, 2013, The New York Times published the following:  "A few days earlier, just six months before Russia hosts the 2014 Winter Games, Mr. Putin signed into law allowing police officers to arrest tourists and foreign nationals they suspect of being homosexual, lesbian or “pro-gay” and detain them for up to 14 days. Contrary to what the International Olympic Committee says, the law could mean that any Olympic athlete, trainer, reporter, family member or fan who is gay — or suspected of being gay, or just accused of being gay — can go to jail."  (Fierstien, New York Times 7/31/13)

Upon hearing this, I was shocked that the United States did not decide to boycott the games, or at least challenge Russia on such an outrageous policy.  After all, we had boycotted the olympics in 1980 over the Russian invasion of Afghanistan.  Yes the situations are different, however the common thread is/was persecution.  And we do not know what other countries might have joined suit.  Nevertheless,  I do not understand how the current climate around the games does not infuriate the global community.  

This first link is to CNN, detailing the public flogging of the band Pussy Riot and the concerns of what will happen next.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/20/world/europe/pussy-riot-strikes-back-sochi/

This is an interview of Stephen Colbert, two members of “Pussy Riot”, and their interpreter.  The two women had just been released from a Russian prison.

And just because you may not be gay, lesbian bisexual or transgender, doesn't mean you are not being victimized as well.  What we have in common with our fellow man is the human condition.  Persecution affects everyone.

I take from this article some valuable techniques.  As our class moves forward I hope that there is more sharing of personal experience and observation.