ARGUMENT:
In safe spaces by Gerri August, August argues that
the LGBT students (lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender identities) are not
properly accounted for in the classroom and teachers often, and a lot of the
times unknowingly, offend and make the LGBT students feel alienated and
invisible. August says that “We adult’s need to pay attention because the
stakes are high; these moment’s shape attitudes and ideologies have physical
and psychological consequences- particularly for LGBT youth.” In essence by
this he means that we as educators and adults need to educate ourselves deeper
in regards to sexual orientation tolerance and awareness so that we do not
inadvertently offend our students who may not meet our typical heterosexism
template.
My opinion of this piece is that it has the right
idea. I personally believe that in regards to LGBT students a neutral
acceptance policy should be taken. I as a teacher accept you and your family’s
sexual orientation and gender identity but I do not have to go out of my way to
bring it up in discussion or promote it. Also I believe that as a teacher I am
obligated not only professionally but also morally to defend you if you fall
under verbal or even physical attack due to you or your family’s sexual
orientation or gender identity. I agree with a lot of August’s points on this
matter, however I believe some of the examples used cannot be included because
the offenses displayed were not intended to be of harm and honestly the
offenses seem a bit mild and not worthy of mention. An example of this is the
story of Erica the transgender student who was asked to stand to stand up if
you identified yourself as a boy or a girl in the classroom. As much as I wish
that Erica was not offended I am sorry but this could not have been avoided.
The world officially recognizes two genders, male and female. I wish I could
ask Erica if she would want the teacher to say “if you a transgender please
stand up.” I would find her response very interesting. Even if she responded to
my question with “yes” I would have to ask how she expected the teacher to do
so? Is the teacher supposed to automatically know that there is a transgender
student in the classroom? Is the teacher supposed to assume that asking such a
question will not upset anyone? It is a very touchy subject that I believe, as
does August, that it is an ongoing and complex issue.
What is your opinion? Do you think the teacher can
be held accountable for this?
Your post was interesting to read Rich. I agree with you that identifying as either a boy or a girl is inevitable. Maybe one day society will recognize transgender students in a different way but currently we only recognize males and females. I do not think the teacher was in the wrong by asking this question because that is one way of categorizing people. Although it is a touchy issue, there are still only two categories a student can fall into.
ReplyDeleteHi Rich, I also agree with your opinion; that the question posed to Eric was harmless. Like you said this subject is very touchy. Keep in mind that I agree with you, However, I think August used that example to show how subtle the exclusion of sexual orientation in the classroom is. I am also really interested in the response Erica would have had if she said she would have liked the teacher to ask if there were any transgenders because then that would have been singling a student out and consequently making her an open target to bullying and exclusion. So like you said it is a complex issue, but in response to your question, No. I do not think the teacher should be held accountable, it is not something one consciously thinks about to label a person transgender. Like Kerri said, there are only two categories that we all label ourselves into; boy or girl.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of you... it would be interesting to hear Erica's side of the story. I can only help but think, Rich, if the teacher had assumed someone was transgender, if she had asked, there would probably have been a bigger backlash for outing a student in front of their peers! Like Kerri said - it's such a touchy subject, and there's no hand guide to tell teachers how to handle it. I don't think the teacher should be held accountable - it's an every day question, its on your school forms, identified by your name, on your license and unfortunately, you have got to pick one of two answers.
ReplyDeleteI think that the teacher should not be held accountable. Everyone is either a boy or a girl. We talked in class about 2 identities. Erica thinks she has another identity.I agree with Lauren that if the teacher had made the assumption it would have been all over the school. The question the teacher asked does have a solid answer, even if someone chooses to think otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI found your question about asking Erica is she would have like the teacher to ask if anyone was a transgender student a a good one. I think that as much as teachers need to make sure they are including everyone students must also be able to open up and talk to their teachers. Erica could have stood when the teacher asked if anyone was a girl and stay standing when asked if anyone was a boy or she could have spoke to the teacher afterwords and explained her feelings on the matter. However I feel it goes back to the teacher. The teacher needs to make sure his or her students feel comfortable speaking with them. If the student feels the teacher cares they are more likely to open up about such issues. This in turn could help the teacher in the future to make sure all students feel included.
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