Talking Points #3

“Gayness, Multicultural Education and Community” by Dennis Carlson This article is about… Gayness Education Community Equal opportunity Stereotypes Out casting Fear Difference Normalization Silence Invisibility The “norm” Hurtful words Teachers Students Author’s Arguments: Dennis Carlson argues that gay men and women have been kept in their place in both the community of education and in society and how difficult the world has made it to be gay. 1. Gayness in the school and its techniques of normalization: First, erase gayness from the curriculum. Second, the “closeting” of gay teachers and lastly, verbal and intimidation of gay teachers and students. Page 236 2. “One way of normalizing curriculum or text works is by presenting students with a ‘selective tradition’.” Page 236 3. “Abuses are tolerated because gay teachers and students operate in an environment where they feel afraid to stand up for themselves.” Page 239 When I read this article I couldn’t help but put myself into different situations if I were a teacher and these issues were brought up, I was thinking about what I would do. And as I read on I found out what not to do, and that is to completely ignore the topic if it comes up in the classroom. Now if I was going to teach high school, and this topic came up I wouldn’t have a problem with my class talking about it, and I would express my opinion. But what would I do in an elementary school classroom? How would I approach the students and tell them in a way that they understand? And I was thinking that I would try to avoid the situation because I wouldn’t want to cause any problems with the students parents because that is something no teacher needs. But I can’t just ignore it with elementary students because they will not rest until they hear an answer that is satisfactory. I think that my dilemma is a key example of what our society thinks about talking about being gay in the classroom. We don’t want to step on anyone’s toes so we ignore the situation, but it really isn’t helping the situation. Allan Johnson says that just because we don’t address a particular issue, doesn’t mean that it will just go away. So if someone were to ask me in my classroom “what does gay mean?” or anything about this subject I would have no choice but to address it, but I am struggling to think of the best way of approaching it. I believe that everyone is different, from the way we talk, and the way we look all the way to our sexuality, we are all different and that is what makes us who we are. No one should have to hide who they are because of public opinion, and that means in the education community. I don’t think that teachers should talk about their personal lives with their students, but they shouldn’t be punished or have less opportunity because of their sexuality. This topic can lead to controversial arguments and that is why people don’t like to talk about it.