Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Education Network

Crafting Standards-Based LGBT-Inclusive Lessons (HyperLinks)

Author: GLSEN

       Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network is a great resource for ALL students, I emphasized on the all so much because this website includes not only straight students but also gay and lesbian as well. I respect this website a lot because unlike other educational websites GLSEN does not hide the fact that there are more than just straight students within the school systems. Lesbian and Gay are highly valued throughout this website. GLSEN helps educate not only students but as well as teachers and also the public. This website clearly disregards sexual orientation, and seeks new ways to inform everyone how to value EVERYONE's gender identity. I feel like this is a very welcoming website for all ages. 

       The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network have great articles to read about current events within communities. One article I found interesting was about how a schools in California are required to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender in their lessons. I felt as though this was a good decision to make when the curriculum was revised. This is an improvement, better yet a development for students, teachers, faculties, and staff in the schools. Including LGBT in the curriculum gives these students value and respect, as well as a chance to be acknowledged in a positive way rather than negative. 

      GLSEN has lots of resources, news, "tools & tips" to help educate. Also ways to take action, and stop bullying.  This website is popular world wide with thousands of people joined on their website. GLSEN website also includes a blog for people to get their voice heard, not only about LGBT but also racism, bullying, and education mostly anything that deals with school. This is by far a wonderful website to explore. 

Talking Point: LGBT should be included in all school districts curriculum. 

Quotes

Aria

Author: Richard Rodriguez

" The teacher quizzed: 'Boys and girls, why do we use that word in this sentence? Could we think of a better word to use there? Would the sentence change its meaning if the words were different. And wasn't there a better way of saying much the same thing.' " (34-35)

      This quote reminds how teachers speak to children differently within the classroom which makes me think of Deplit. Deplit explains how a black teacher would question a student compared to how a white teacher would. Once you have read Deplit and then read this quote, it would make one believe that these questions would most likely come out of a white teachers mouth instead of a black teacher. Simply because most of the time black teachers are more broad with their questions, rather than asking a question to let the students know they are doing the wrong thing. This might confuses the student or changes their perspective on the question because they are not familiar with the way they question was asked; it may not be like this at home.

" (often the parent wouldn't understand.) The child would need to repeat himself. (still the parent misunderstood.) The young voice, frustrated, would end up saying, "Never mind"-- the subject was closed." (37)

       I chose this quote because I felt it connected to me on more of a personal level. I actually thought this was funny because I have the tendency to do exactly what this quote is saying to my parents. The scenario goes step by step with the quote. At the time this happens with my parents and I it is very frustrating to sit and repeat the exact same thing I said two seconds ago and I still was not understood. However now that I am reading it, I feel like you lose a sense of connection with your parents because the communication is not there and the child like myself has no patience. Which then just leaves the conversation closed just because of a impatient "Never mind".


" So they do  not realize that  while  one suffers a  diminished sense  of private individuality  by becoming assimilated into public society, such assimilation makes possible the achievement of public individuality." (39)
       This was the last sentence of the whole story and i felt like it had a big meaning behind it. I think the author was trying to explain how even though they nuns came and took his culture/language right from under him he still gained a achievement of learning the dominate language in the school systems, so even though he suffered he still gained at the end.



Talking Point: Should one's culture be pulled from their own home environment ?
This is a Article I found online that I believe relates with this story

Reflection-

White Privileged: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack 

Author: Peggy McIntosh 

       In this article McIntosh explains that there is actually a "white privilege" and we as a society have to acknowledge this, as well as learn how to change it. I can not say I agree with this or disagree with this point, simply because we all know that there is white power, most of us acknowledge it, however this is something that can not be changed over night. It may be something that can not be changed at all. This is my opinion because we as a society can not change how people are brought into this world. If you are born into this world with a "sliver spoon in your mouth" then you are going to be brought up that way.
       However I do disagree with McIntosh when she states, "I think white are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege as males are taught not to recognize male privilege"(pg. 1). Its not that they are "taught" to be white privileged or a male but its the way they are, its there way of life. Men have no power of picking whether or not they are a man. Also you can not be "taught" on how to be privileged, because if that was the case everyone would be privileged, it just happens. The ideal "privileged family" usually has a background of already being apart of the high-class, or there parents graduating from college becoming a doctor or lawyer. Kids are usually not "taught" to become a doctor it just happens because of what they were influenced by. They want what there parents want. Furthermore you can not blame someone for not recognizing that they are privileged when it’s apart of there everyday life.
       As I kept reading this article I felt like I just kept disagreeing more and more with McIntosh. On page 4 McIntosh quotes, "one's life is not what one makes it; many doors open for certain people through no virtues of their own." In my opinion life is what you make it. Everyone has the opportunity to create a bright future for themselves, privileged or not. I personally did not come from “privileged family” both of my parents never graduated from college, my father never finish high school and just got his GED. Sometimes my parents lived from pay check to pay check. I may have moved multiple times in my life when I was younger because my parents were not able to pay rent. However did not set myself back because of my parent’s issues. I made it to college and I have the goal to graduate college. I chose to go in the right direction; I made my life what it is today. All my doors where closed but I opened them for a better life. So I think life is what you make it, regardless of the situation.
       I think people that are not white do go through issues but you can not blame the privileged white. However we can create some type of motion to help the white privilege acknowledge them as well as the type of power they have and help them help others. We can not just say they do not recognize it when being privileged is apart of there everyday life.
Talking Point: Why should we blame whites for something that is part of their everyday life?

About Me

Heyy  I'm 19 years old and this is my second year at RIC. 

 My favorite superhero, no doubt about it would be Spider-Man. 

I spent the majority of my summer working in a summer camp with kids. 

I'm taking this course because I intend to pursue a career in Health & Physical Education.

Also, because its a requirement but most importantly because I would like to know more of what my teaching career will consist of, and what I will come across over time.

When I'm not in class I spend most of my time playing Ps3.

♫♪