Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). By Andy Marra

Reflection
The toolkit I chose was Ready, Set, Respect!  It was designed for elementary teachers to make every student feel safe, secure, and respected while in school.  Ready, Set, Respect is designed to focus on name-calling, bullying, and bias. GLSEN is an excellent resource for students who are being bullied.  What I like most about this site is that it does not just focus on straight students; it includes students with different gender identities as well (gay and lesbian).  I never had a program in school that taught me how to deal with different gender identities.  I had to ask my parents questions or figure it out for myself.  I believe this is a great tool to help students learn at a young age that there are many different gender identities.  Although, people may seem different because of their gender identity, they are not.  Everyone is equal and deserves to be treated with respect.

Though GLSEN has many useful articles, the one article I found interesting was Playgrounds and Prejudice: Elementary School Climate in the United States.  It states in the article “school climate and victimization can affect students’ educational outcomes and person development at every grade level”.  Elementary school students are the first to hear homophobic remarks by their peers.  This article found numerous key findings on biased language and bullying, non-conforming students, family diversity, and teacher preparedness.  There were my favorite key findings that I found remarkable.

·         “The most common forms of biased language in elementary schools, heard regularly by both students and teachers, are the use of the word “gay” in a negative way, such as “that’s so gay,” (students: 45%, teachers: 49%).  Many also report regularly hearing students make homophobic remarks, such as “fag” or “lesbo” (students: 26%, teachers: 26%) and negative comments about race/ethnicity (students: 26%, teachers 21%)”.

·         “75% of students report that students at their school are called names, made fun of or bullied at least some regularity.  Most commonly this is because of students’ looks or body size (67%), followed by not being good at sports (37%), how well they do at schoolwork (26%), not conforming to traditional gender norms/roles (23%) or because other people think they’re gay (21%)”.

·         “Only a third of teachers report having personally engaged in efforts to create a safe and supportive classroom environment for gender nonconforming students”.

·     Seven in ten students say they have been taught that there are many different kinds of families.  However, less than 2 in 1 have learned about families with gay or lesbian parents".

 

·         A majority of elementary school teachers believe they are obligated to ensure a safe learning environment for gender nonconforming students (83%) and students with LGBT parents (70%).  Eight in 10 teachers would feel comfortable addressing name-calling, bullying or harassment of students because a student is perceived to be gay, lesbian or bisexual (81%) or is gender nonconforming (81%)”.

I can relate to the second key finding because I remember going to elementary school and students were always bullying other students.  It followed up until high school and continued 24/7.  We never had a program like GLSEN to ensure that every student would feel safe in school.  Being bullied as a kid, I know how the pain feels emotionally and it is not a feeling a child should have.  I believe this is an excellent program that should be set up in every single school district around the world.  I encourage everyone to take a look at the GLSEN website and take a look at some of their articles.  What you see may surprise you.

Comments/Questions: Do you believe we should have programs in schools that help prevent bullying, name-calling, and bias?

"Aria" By Richard Rodriguez

Argument

Richard Rodriguez argues that immigrants should adopt English as one of their main languages.  By being bilingual, it helps benefit one for future career opportunities.  In addition, it helps one become more comfortable with the society they are living in.  Rodriguez states that as a kid he grew up speaking only Spanish, but when he started school he faced the complication of learning a new language.  He believed that English is a public language while, Spanish is a private one.  Spanish was a language of family closeness. As Richard's family adapted to learning a new language (English), they slowly began to lose the family bond and grew apart.  The language once considered as his own was now a distant memory. 

I believe that the author is saying that people should learn different languages and become bilingual.  Learning a new language and assimilating into a new culture is not about leaving behind what you already know, but about using what you already know and taking it to the next level.  You should not drop a language that you have been speaking since birth because you are doing poorly in school.  One must learn to grasp the opportunity and use it to their advantage.  Learning a new language has advantages and disadvantages.  One disadvantage for Rodriguez was that he lost his family bond and also his heritage.  "One Saturday morning I entered the kitchen where my parents were talking in Spanish.  I did not realize that they were talking in Spanish however until, at the moment they saw me.  I heard their voices change to speak English" (Rodriguez 35).  Spanish was no longer second nature to him anymore.  As he continued learning and speaking English, he began to grow apart from his family life and heritage.  Even though this happened, Rodriguez became a more confident person.  Life is what you make of it. We all come across change in our lives and we need to make a choice.  Whether we face it head on or let it consume us, in the end that is what helps us discover who we are as human beings.

Comments/Questions:
Is there anyone here who is bilingual?  If so, what challenges have you come across because of your culture?  Are there any similarities between you and the author?

http://www.sharingsuccess.org/code/bv/bebv.html This a link that explains why bilingual education is important and I found it to be very interesting and I hope other people do as well.

Peggy McIntosh's "White Privilege"

Reflection

In Peggy McIntosh’s article, “White Privilege”, it states that white people ignore the fact that they have special privileges, whereas African American people cannot.  Today, we live in a white dominant society.  She says, “I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege” (McIntosh 1).  I believe this is true because I never knew I had these special privileges that African American people do not have.  As the author listed some daily effects of white privilege, it made me realize that I hold more power than I thought. 

I never stopped and wondered how difficult it must be for African Americans to walk into a store and buy a birthday card.  Not once, have I had a problem searching for a card, toy, or doll that did not feature people of my race.  Or walk into a salon and have trouble finding someone who could cut and style my hair.  As I kept reading the list, it made me a little depressed.  I can do all twenty-six of those conditions listed and do not have to worry about being judged by anyone.  Every single day, African Americans are judged based on the color of their skin.

McIntosh also states, “If these things are true, this is not such a free country” (McIntosh 4).  This is completely true, how can we live in a nation where only one race is the dominant one, while all of the other races struggle to remain in existence?  White people, including myself, take everything for granted and it never occurred to me until I read this article.  My favorite part of the article, was when McIntosh stated that “white privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, code books, visas, clothes, tools, and blank checks” (McIntosh 1).  Whites are given all of these special tools to survive in the world so they can have an easy and prosperous life.  In the meantime, African Americans are left with just an empty knapsack; trying to figure out a way to survive and fend for themselves.  We must come together and figure out a way where everyone is treated equally and given the same “equipment” to survive in life.

Comments/Questions:

I feel embarrassed and ashamed that I did not realize any of the issues that were indicated in this article, but I am also wondering, how many other people feel the same way I do?  For the white dominant people of America, I have these questions.  Has it crossed your mind that when we put on cover up or bandages it matches our skin, but it does not match African Americans skin?  Do you still believe that we live in a “free country”?  As a white student living in the United States of America, do you believe racism affects you, why or why not?  Do you believe that racism will end if white individuals change their attitude and views about the world?

Here is a link that relates to white privilege http://scarletmoth.xanga.com/753846154/white-privilege-stop-denying-you-have-it/

About Me

My name is Ashley and I am 19 years old.  I am a sophomore at RIC.  I am hoping to become an elementary school teacher. I have three sisters, one older and two younger.  I also have two nephews and one niece.  They drive me crazy, but they always make me laugh.  I love amusement parks, I swear I am an adrenaline junkie. I will go on anything, as long as I make the height requirement!  I enjoy swimming, playing mini golf, volleyball, and going to the movie theater/drive-in.  But I love bowling, I have been bowling since I was 3 years old.  I bowl on a league every Saturday morning at East Providence Lanes.  I love animals, I had a dog named Chloe and a cat named Cuddles.  Cuddles is 19 years old and still going strong. Do not let the name fool you, she is anything by cuddly (Cuddles the Killer Cat) :)  I am shy at first, but become a fun outgoing person once you get to know me.  I love making people laugh, I don't like to see people upset.  I am excited about the new semester.  So far I like all of my classes, but FNED is my favorite class.