After spending the day at Carlsbad High for our coursework, we had the pleasure of attending a meeting with the Gay Straight Alliance group at Carlsbad High. The teacher who leads this club also led the meeting with us and did a training to help us go into teaching with a focus on acceptance of all and particularly those in GSA due to the difficulties they face. I had heard a lot of the horrifying statistics such as the fact that gay and lesbian students are 4 times more likely to commit suicide and the percentage of them who are homeless is 4 times that of other high school students. I am horrified with the way that schools, parents and communities in general treat people just for being who they are. I have participated in everything that I have been able to at LCC to show my support and was very happy to hear student input while at this meeting.
We all sat in circles and our circle had 3 members from the GSA to talk to us. They shared their stories and what they have been through with teachers and peers. It is upsetting to know that the teacher who will speak out against hate language is rare. These students said that the thing that gives them the biggest win and makes them to feel the safest is when a teacher calls out another students for saying inappropriate things, such as "That's so gay". I couldn't believe that even that one, simple act is such a rarity, but definitely know that I will call out any language that shows hate or disrespect to any other person or group of people. Many people comment on how much better it is getting and I suppose it is better than when I was in high school, but better doesn't cut it when people are treated without respect and acceptance. I don't think it's better until everyone, no matter what their beliefs, accepts all people regardless of how they look, dress or who they are attracted to.
We all sat in circles and our circle had 3 members from the GSA to talk to us. They shared their stories and what they have been through with teachers and peers. It is upsetting to know that the teacher who will speak out against hate language is rare. These students said that the thing that gives them the biggest win and makes them to feel the safest is when a teacher calls out another students for saying inappropriate things, such as "That's so gay". I couldn't believe that even that one, simple act is such a rarity, but definitely know that I will call out any language that shows hate or disrespect to any other person or group of people. Many people comment on how much better it is getting and I suppose it is better than when I was in high school, but better doesn't cut it when people are treated without respect and acceptance. I don't think it's better until everyone, no matter what their beliefs, accepts all people regardless of how they look, dress or who they are attracted to.