For another class at Johns Hopkins I had to read the article “Homo High” from issue 37 of Teaching Tolerance magazine. The article studies the creation or proposed creation of high schools in New York, Milwaukee, and Chicago that cater to a homosexual, bisexual or transgender population. In the article the proponents of the high schools argue that the schools create a safe haven for students who feel marginalized or unsafe at mainstream schools. According to the article, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) students are seven times more likely to skip school to avoid being bullied. The creation of “gay-friendly” schools offer them an education in an environment where they feel safe and welcomed for who they are. Opponents of the school argue that these schools do not solve the problem of homophobia or bullying, but rather remove or segregate LGBT students away from mainstream students. Opponents argue that the problem lies not with the LGBT students but with the bullies who harass them repeatedly. They would rather see an effort to eliminate bullying in regular schools than create “gay-friendly” schools to educate LGBT students separately from their heterosexual peers.
I agree that creating “gay-friendly” schools does not solve the problem of homophobia and gender orientation bullying in schools. In addition, by offering schools catered towards the LGBT community, mainstream students will not benefit from being exposed to an alternative lifestyle and the understanding that there is nothing wrong with it. If LGBT students are removed from the general classroom, they will continue to be seen as the other and persecuted accordingly.
However, last year I taught a student who was openly gay and underwent some extremely cruel harassment. As a result of the harassment he missed well over half the school year and was very far behind his classmates at the end of the year. If Baltimore had a “gay-friendly” school he would have had a safe place to go to school and finish his education in safety and acceptance. Unfortunately no such place exists in Baltimore and I am not entirely sure that he is still attending school.
Baltimore is a school district where homophobia and bullying stemming from it are widespread and almost systematic in nature. I think that Baltimore City schools would benefit from both the creation of a “gay-friendly” school and a system wide anti-homophobia and bullying initiative. The “gay-friendly” school would offer a short term solution for students who do not feel safe attending their current school and skip school as a result, while the anti-homophobia and bullying initiative would offer a long term solution by addressing the mindsets and attitudes in our students that a cause the bullying and harassment of their LGBT classmates.
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2 comments:
So you were aware of this harassment of one of your students, but you couldn't do anything to stop it? Who were you thinking would stand up for this kid if you, as an adult, couldn't do anything, if not by yourself, at least by talking to the school's administration or counselor?
How about kids that are harassed for their race or economic situation, should we make separate schools for them? And academically gifted kids, should we ship them off as well? And special needs kids, who have the worst record for harassment, is your answer to segregate them as well. And if they are both disabled and academically gifted should we make yet another segregated school?
And since no one has figured out how to get along while they are at school we certainly can't expect employers to solve the bigotry that these kids have had 13 - 17 years to develop, right? If the schools work this way it makes sense that all these "weirdoes" be kept out of the job market. Oh, wait, that would be discrimination, which is illegal in the workplace.
Maybe it's a bad idea for discrimination and harassment to be tolerated in schools.
I wonder if you've done any research into the treatment of gay kids throughout the system, or just the one in your school. I am generally amazed by the acceptance and even celebration afforded to the gay kids at our school in the city. There is also rampant homophobia, but it's mostly in terms of language (the 'f' word and what not), but when confronted with an actual student (or even teacher - there are a couple of very out teachers the students love), that homophobia dissipates. Which I think it pretty much like real life, isn't it?
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