I was glad to get a list of LGBTQ young adult books to read, but it would have been more beneficial to get tips on teaching LGBTQ in a classroom. What is apparent from this article is that the school systems across the nation haven’t moved forward much in recognizing the need for equity for all people. This article made me think of the public school my children went to. Their school, while public, is heavily influenced by the faith community it resides in. Unless the state mandated that LBGTQ texts were required texts in literature classes, these books not only would not reside on a shelf in the library or classroom, they would not even make it past the school doors. With that said, I did not make a move to change the system either. Frankly, I did not pay close attention to all the texts my children read because, for the most part, they were the same canonical texts I read in high school. And when you’re running around in a “white heterosexual” world you do not pay attention to the “other” and their need for equity.
I understand how tough it would be to teach “non-normative” texts to students especially after reading Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg. This book is a gritty, raw, and powerful novel depicting a young girl’s journey through life as “she/he” tries to figure out how to survive and live in a world that doesn’t accept a person who does not fit the “status quo.” There were many terms I was unfamiliar with and frankly unaware even existed. Teachers would be addressing LGBTQ stereotypes and misinformation in what would most likely be an emotional classroom environment. In most cases teachers would be learning right along with the students, which isn’t any different than what Allen Webb said about teaching and learning literature of today’s Middle East, a touchy subject as well.
I too, found myself unsure of facing non-normative "other" texts to teach. It seems odd that with some much of LGBTQ issues are prevalent in society (from Gay marriage discussions to bullied gay teens committing suicide), it is odd that we must be silent of this in classrooms. I really look forward to tomorrow night's class, bc truthfully I don't know where to start with this subject matter in a class. No matter where I sub, the gender-loaded stereotypes and homophobia is so immersed in many teens despite the growing presence of queer students. I remember once observing in classroom a boy that refused to read aloud as a female character because he didn't want to be perceived as "a tranny." Yet once again, if you try to take on this issue, you are labeled as a liberal leftist trying to indoctrinate others' beliefs.It's beyond troubling...
ReplyDeleteAlso, what sets LGBTQ issues apart, in my mind, from other potentially controversial ones--like religion or teaching middle eastern literature, or race--is the fact of "sexuality."
ReplyDeleteAs a society, we are not comfortable talking about sexuality, and while LGBTQ literature is not just about sexuality, sexual identity plays an important role. This is something that teenagers battle with and something that most of us adults are not comfortable talking about.
That said, I think it's important that college teachers supply their students with words and explain the meaning of terms like "transgender" or "lesbian" or even "heterosexuality."
This is, however, much harder with younger students protected by their parents...