When thinking back on the clubs that were found in my high school, I can honestly say that there was nothing that was supportive or even took notice of anything like the LGBT clubs that I have noticed more on campus. It is so frustrating to me how many students are so permanently upset or hurt because of the hateful comments that people can make in reference to sexual orientation. I think that it’s important that students also see how off-hand comments are also necessary to watch closely. I cannot even begin to say how many times I have heard the expression “that’s so gay…” and after learning so much about the topic of gender, it continues to be frustrating. Another comment that has always bothered me a lot is when students, or people in general say that something is “retarded.” One summer I got to work with campers, some of whom were mentally retarded and that saying really bothers me a lot. I feel like the more that I look at things from the eyes of a future teacher, they are opened to how hurtful comments and discussions can be for students. How can we be openly more accepting of students who face this kind of persistent abuse? I know that I have heard both of those comments multiple times a day since I was in the seventh grade. It’s hurtful, and honestly, those comments also make a student feel uncomfortable in the school environment, which should be a safe haven in my opinion. If students do not feel like their personal lives are protected, how can we expect them to want to learn the material that we are teaching them? I know for me, even a bad fight with my mom made my entire school day difficult to endure. So what about those kids who constantly hear in a derogatory manner, that their sexual orientation is not accepted?
As much as I hate to admit it, I was someone who would say those hurtful things. My freshman year as I was walking down the hall, I called something retarded and looked beside be to see a mentally challenged student who looked so offended by my comment (As I would have been as well). After that, I refuse to say anything of the sort. These expressions are ones that put people down and insult people who do not deserve to be hurt. As a teacher, I will definitely be setting the ground rules that these hurtful terms will not be allowed.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true! I often heard those comments through the halls of my high school. And while most of the time they were said in a joking manner and without much thought put into them, I am sure that they still hurt just as bad as if someone were to say them specifically about one person. We all need to be more consciuos of what we say on a day to day basis. As teachers, we should make it a point to ban these hurtful words from being used. They not only offend people whose sexual orientation may be different from the "norm," they are also offensive to other students who just simply do not want to hear such hateful words in school- and they shouldn't have to.
ReplyDeleteYou're exactly right. There is a clear parallel between calling something "gay" and something "retarded". Both are negative uses of a term that describes actual people. The use of these terms correlate homosexuality and disabilities with stupidity and negativity. In truth, the terms describe real people that a majority of us have come into contact with. How would you feel if people uses description that you identified with as an insult? It is just another way that society perpetuates inequality.
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