Some starts to the systems we use to teach is our own curriculum and textbooks do not go into depth if even mention anything to do with queer and trans people. A big step in the right direction would be working towards mentioning these in class and teaching despite what the curriculum outlines. These can be worked into a handful of classes to build knowledge for students and introduce it to them from a young age. This can help in some cases where students can know about it from an educational standpoint which may lead to them not being taught by someone who may be homophobic/transphobic and cause the student to not learn for themselves and continue the viscous cycle. 

We can also fight for more queer and trans representation in the curriculum so that it can be taught more so, and has to be. This can also grow knowledge and awareness for teachers who may be undereducated on the topics and can learn for themselves before teaching in their classrooms. To push this not through curriculum and teaching we can also address students differently. We can use inclusive language like “students” or “class” or a whole variety of other words instead of “boys and girls”. 

A large part of why teachers may be afraid to teach these is due to backlash from students, parents or possibly even colleagues. Being able to teach about this is protected and allowed under human rights, however. This can also be used to educate students on their human rights as, at least from my personal experience, something that you’d think would be common knowledge such as human rights are not something taught or even talked about (Saskatchewan Ministry of Education p.4).