Teaching middle school is not for the faint of heart, students ages 11-14 can really wear you down. At my school I’ll often take on multiple jobs in one day. I’ll be a medic, a therapist, a negotiator, tech support, all on top of my contracted job of teaching. I don't mind it though, I enjoy my job. I find that I can offer my students a better support system than I was offered when I was in school.
I went to middle school from 2009-2012, not too long ago, but long enough for there to be no inclusion of or support for LGBT students. Middle school is already a horrible period of transition for children, being a lesbian and not understanding why I was different made it just a little bit more hellish for me. Luckily, I figured myself out eventually, but up until I was around 15 I barely knew gay people existed.
Representation can mean a lot for students during a major transitional period, it can make finding yourself just a bit easier. That’s why I keep a pride flag on my desk, not anything over the top, but it let’s LGBT students know they have a place in my classroom. This was proven way more important to those students than I realized.
I’ll never forget when Dani, one of my 8th graders, came into my room in tears during a lunch period. Our school was wearing tie-dye for pride month to support our LGBT students, apparently some boys had been giving her problems about wearing the tie-dye. Dani said she had seen the flag in class before so she knew she could come to me. I tried to console her the best I could without giving up any of my information (conservative community and all), until she said “I feel like no one actually understands what it’s like.”. That comment upset me a lot. Not because Dani assumed I didn’t understand, but because she was going through the same thing I did in middle school and I was letting it continue.
Let me tell you, Dani was immediately in better spirits when she learned I was part of the LGBT community. She wanted to know about my experiences, hear about my girlfriend, etc. It occurred to me that I’m probably the first adult in a same-sex relationship who she had ever met. I thought some more on this and realized the boys who were bothering her had likely never met a gay person either. Unfortunately, a lot of people respond to things they don’t understand with aggression. I feel that if students have more diverse role models they will also be open to students of the same diversity. It’ll be a slow process, but I think this is a good step to take.
Thank you for sharing your experiences as a middle school teacher while representing the LGBTQ community and supporting your students. It is significant for schools to be welcoming places for all students. Through the late 2000s, most LGBTQ+-inclusive teaching and curriculum was not prioritized or was discouraged in schools. (Aspegren, 2021) Administrators, educators, and school staff have opportunities and responsibilities to create learning environments in which all students can thrive and achieve their full educational potential. Fostering a sense of belonging and connectedness in school are crucial for putting all students on a path to success. However, many LGBTQ students are left feeling unsupported in their schools.
To ensure that school learning environments are supportive of all students, it is critical to implement specific policies and procedures that support LGBTQ youth, affirm their identities, promote safe and healthy learning environments, and advance equity and respect for all in our schools. (Barile, 2021) There are many ways in which teachers can ensure LGBTQ students feel safe, welcome, and included in their classrooms. For example, teachers can post safe space signs and designate all classrooms as "safe zones" through stickers or posters on classroom doors and in the hallways. According to the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) safe zone stickers let students know that teachers, counselors, and administrators are open to discussion of LGBTQ issues in the context of classwork or just in conversation. In addition, including school-based extracurricular groups have the potential to shape school climate, address inequality, and affect student performance. The AFT states that LGBTQ student organizations show great promise in reducing discrimination against LGBTQ students, promoting their well-being, and fostering safe and affirming school environments. These groups provide support for LGBTQ students, and they can help create awareness in schools and help to counteract discrimination. They can also ensure that school policies and curriculum are inclusive. (Barile, 2021) Offering to start such a group at your school or becoming an advisor for an existing one can help ensure that students have positive experiences at school.
References
Aspegren, E. (2021). Kids aren't learning LGBTQ history. The Equality Act might change that. USA Today. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2021/03/06/lgbtq-history-equality-education-act-teachers/6648601002/.
Barile, N. (2021). 5 things you can do to support your LGBTQ students. Hey Teach! Retrieved from https://www.wgu.edu/heyteach/article/5-things-you-can-do-support-your-lgbtq-students1809.html.
ebrun3,
Thank you for sharing this heartwarming story. No one should be bullied for their sexual orientation, and, to a larger extent, anything that others don't understand. This is why it is so important for role-models like you to exist: so that others who are struggling with themselves see that there are others like them who are successful and optimistic about their place in the future. I know you feel uncomfortable about sharing your identity in your community, but there are other ways to promote inclusivity in general, I have linked some suggestions to you: Inclusivity in the Classroom | Center for Teaching Excellence (ufl.edu)
Take care
Thanks so much ebrun3 for your SHINEquest post! Every teacher should see this short "Ignorance Isn't Bliss" video and put a rainbow flag on their desk along with their pencils. What a great and simple idea. It is like the Green Dot movement, a visual sign that it is safe here. In your video, the speaker said, "1/3 of LGBTQ youth have missed a day or more of school because of fears for their safety." Wow. So sad that the young person whose letter the speaker read did not have the support they needed. Here is a link to New York State's OCFS resources for LGBTQ youth. Thanks again for posting. You make excellent points.
Office of Children and Family Service. (2021, October 26). Resources for LGBTQ youth. New York State. https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/youth/LGBTQ/resources-youth.php