How might we begin to address the ways in which the systems that we teach our curriculum in are intrinsically homophobic, transphobic, biphobic and oppressive towards queer and trans people?
To begin to address these systems, we must start by educating ourselves. As future teachers, we should all be lifelong learners willing to continue this learning. The readings this week allow us to recognize the problems with institutionalized injustices. Once recognition occurs, society can begin to determine an individualized action plan for how we will become justice-oriented citizens, so we can enable our students to do as well. As teachers, we often feel obligated to teach the students, but possibly stepping back and allowing the students to teach us may be an effective way to start.
If the curriculum doesn’t directly address these issues, the responsibility relies on our pedagogy. Reduction of heteronormative terminology and behaviours becomes our responsibility. The reading Deeping the Discussion can be utilized for ideas of how to do this and as a utilization tool in cases of retaliation. Society as a whole needs to be educated. It is vital to acknowledge any controversial concept often takes generations to deteriorate, and it takes patience and listening to begin to progress toward change.
Through many conversations with peers, educators, parental figures, and more, the institutionalized injustices became more and more prevalent to me. My recertification for my WSI last year taught us how to appropriately acknowledge pronouns in swimming lessons, the uproar created by this simple task was unimaginable in my mind. The societal resistance created through concepts that inhibit simple human decency and respect is mindblowing to me and reveals how far our society must still advance.
“The goal is our schools will reflect the society we want to live in, not the society that is.” – Vianne Timmons
Resources
Saskatchewan Ministry of Education. (2015). Deepening the discussion: Gender and sexual diversity. Retrieved from https://drive.google.com/file/d/17TCgB32xu8_51dwqO4hbPlY1ULgvFrKp/view
Hi Jacey, I loved your blog post! I thought it was so well spoken. It has been amazing to read your blog posts week after week, learning about all you learned as a student and a soon to be teacher. Each week I look forward to reading your blog posts because it provides me with such hope for the future of the education system. From what I can understand you and I feel the same way about a teaching and the future of the education system. You will be a great teacher because you are not afraid to take personal learning to a new level, while making positive change for the needs of your future students. Any school and any student would be lucky to have you as a teacher on their staff! I can not wait to read your blog for next week!