middle & high school how do we teach tolerance of homosexuality to children in public schools?
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Middle & High SchoolMiddle & High School
How do we teach tolerance of How do we teach tolerance of homosexuality to children in public schools?homosexuality to children in public schools?
Why Worry About It?Why Worry About It?
Violence against those who are different in their Violence against those who are different in their sexual orientations is a real concern of the sexual orientations is a real concern of the students who are different.students who are different.
Minton, S.J., Dahl, T., O'Moore, A.M., & Tuck, D. Minton, S.J., Dahl, T., O'Moore, A.M., & Tuck, D. (2008). An Exploratory survey of the experiences (2008). An Exploratory survey of the experiences of homophobic bullying among lesbian, gay, of homophobic bullying among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered young people in bisexual and transgendered young people in Ireland. Ireland. Irish Educational StudiesIrish Educational Studies, , 2727(2), 177-191. (2), 177-191.
A Complicated SubjectA Complicated Subject
Focus on teaching toleranceFocus on teaching tolerance
Avoid discussing beliefsAvoid discussing beliefs
Focus on biological principlesFocus on biological principles
Sexual OrientationSexual Orientation
Teaching ToleranceTeaching Tolerance– Neither Good nor EvilNeither Good nor Evil– Neither Right nor WrongNeither Right nor Wrong
Teaching Biological BasisTeaching Biological Basis– It is what it is!It is what it is!
Biological TermsBiological Terms
EvolutionEvolution– Polygenic shifts in structural, functional & Polygenic shifts in structural, functional &
behavioral characteristicsbehavioral characteristics
Natural SelectionNatural Selection– Random experiments in genetic expressionRandom experiments in genetic expression
EvolutionEvolution
http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchttp://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/selection/selection.hange1/current/lectures/selection/selection.htmlhtml
http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_seleen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selectionction
Animal HomosexualityAnimal Homosexuality
Species % Homo % BisexualSpecies % Homo % Bisexual– Silver Gulls 10Silver Gulls 10 11 11– Black-headed Gulls 22 15Black-headed Gulls 22 15– Macaques 9 56Macaques 9 56– Chimpanzees 0 100Chimpanzees 0 100– Galas 44 11Galas 44 11Source- Source- BahemihlBahemihl,B.1999. Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and ,B.1999. Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and
Natural Diversity, St. Martin’s Press, New York, NY.Natural Diversity, St. Martin’s Press, New York, NY.
Politics of Sexual OrientationPolitics of Sexual Orientation
Schools are expected to address the needs Schools are expected to address the needs of students who are different sexually.of students who are different sexually.
Politically sensitivePolitically sensitive
Rienzo, B.A., Button, J.W., Sheu, J, & Li, Y. (2006). The Rienzo, B.A., Button, J.W., Sheu, J, & Li, Y. (2006). The Politics of sexual orientation issues in American schools. Politics of sexual orientation issues in American schools. Journal of School HealthJournal of School Health, , 7676(3), 93-97. (3), 93-97.
Attribution TheoryAttribution Theory Attitudes are most positive when people Attitudes are most positive when people
believe there is a biological basis for believe there is a biological basis for homosexual behaviors.homosexual behaviors.
Haider-Markel, D.P., & Joslyn, M.R. (2008). Haider-Markel, D.P., & Joslyn, M.R. (2008). Beliefs about the origins of homosexuality Beliefs about the origins of homosexuality and support for gay rights. and support for gay rights. Public Opinion Public Opinion QuarterlyQuarterly, , 7272(2), 291-310. (2), 291-310.
PluralismPluralism
Separate groups in schoolSeparate groups in school
Learning together as oneLearning together as one
Tolerance and respect without violenceTolerance and respect without violence
ConclusionConclusion
Teach the biological basis and natural Teach the biological basis and natural occurrence of homo & bisexual behaviorsoccurrence of homo & bisexual behaviors
A safer schoolA safer school
Portfolio ItemPortfolio ItemEducation 205 Sec 1 Summer 2010Education 205 Sec 1 Summer 2010
Mark K. JohnsonMark K. Johnson
http://www.glsen.org/gibin/iowa/all/home/index.htmlhttp://www.glsen.org/gibin/iowa/all/home/index.html
Bullying Collage From Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education NetworkBullying Collage From Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network