What is a safe space?
Definition: a place or environment in which a person or category of people can feel confident that they will not be exposed to discrimination, criticism, harassment, or any other emotional or physical harm.
In this blog I will be talking about some quotes I took from the reading "Safe Spaces" by August.
Quote 1:
"Classrooms lay the foundations for an inclusive and safe society: a just community where common interest and individual differences coexist. To the extent that teachers, school administrators, and college professors create an atmosphere in which difference is not only tolerated but expected, explored, and embraced, students will be more likely to develop perspectives that result in respectful behaviors" (August pg 83).
Response: I chose this quote because I think it sets up a clear view of what this reading brings up. Most of our growing up lives in spent in a school and in a classroom. Not only that but for most of us we spend kindergarten through 12th grade with the same people. Schools are supposed to feel safe for everyone. But often times our image in school is set at a young age and you're depicted that way until you graduate. It is not to often you see someone go from unpopular to popular. Teachers must create an environment where everyone feels that they can be comfortable with who they are. Its important to make a space where students can chose to be themselves an environment that is inclusive and safe.
Quote 2:
"As youth proceed through the system of American schooling, they might see negative representation of the LGBT community in the health or biology classroom, where they learn about HIV/AIDS as a gay-related disease" (August pg85).
Response: This quote was under the part about curriculum. Not many of us think about how the LGBT community is almost completely left out of the curriculum. Maybe if we were taught more about the LGBT community in elementary school and so on there would not be so many bad perspectives on their community. If people started learning about how people can be different in these ways at a younger age and we were made more aware of it maybe there would be less judgement. Maybe we would learn at a younger age that being different is okay and its normal. Then, that could eventually lead to LGBT individuals to feel more comfortable being themselves and not hiding their true selves. Everything we do in life is learned we learn from school and we learn from our parents, friends, environment. So why are schools not teaching acceptance and inclusion.
Quote 3:
"Language is a tool. As such, we believe that speech is performative-- it does things. Words invite or exclude, recognize or erase, empower or intimidate, examine or assume" (August pg95).
Response: How we talk about things and view words is so important. A child should be able to use the word "gay" if he or she is using it in the right way. As a teacher or educator you could use this to teach children, explain what gay is, explain that it is a normal word and it is not bad. Then, explain what makes it bad. How not to use the word. But, do not simply punish a child for using the word without understanding the context and how the word was being used. Teach children that its normal for someone to be gay, lesbian, or transgender, teach children that these words do not describe something bad that these words do not need to be hushed or shut down.
Talking Points:
1. Why are children punished for using words like gay instead of taught that it is okay?
2. Why is it that LGBT is not taught within the curriculum?
3. How would parents feel if their children were learning about the LGBTQ community in school and more about what it means to be gay, lesbian, transgender.
This was a Ted Talk done by a transgender parent and I think its really great to listen to!
First of, I love how you started off your blog post with the definition of a safe space! That's really creative and it drew me into your post. I think you picked great quotes to talk about, as they all had major importance behind the meaning of the article. I like the third quote you chose the best, because I agree that ignoring the misuse of the word "gay" or yelling at the use of the word if it is used correctly can give a child the wrong message, or teach them that being gay is a bad thing. Good job with your post :)
ReplyDeleteKelsey!
ReplyDeleteI found that the first quote you used was extremely important, I used the same one! It really is important for teachers/ administrators to create a safe space for students especially because aside from their home life, school is where they spend more than half of their time. I agree with you that if we learned about the LGBT community in elementary school it would help the younger generation not be judgmental as they grow older.
you can see you are part of that small community that thinks about the LGBT community and thats awesome! your blog gives a vibe of understanding and what its like to put yourself in someone else's shoes. i think it's great how you showed there are ways to incorporate new words like "gay" in the classroom and helping these children understand at a young age.
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