Blog Post 5

Last class we discussed homophobia and racism itself and in the education system. It is pretty obvious to see the distinction between liberal and radical views of this in schools. Some institutions have liberal views on these issues, including students and organizing clubs for all students to feel a part of something and represent their individual group of people. In my middle school and high school we had clubs for both African American groups as well a Gay Straight Alliance. I felt my school was very liberal and helpful to their students making them feel comfortable and that school is their safe place, as it should be. I never heard any negative or discriminatory language used against individuals in school either. Although, hearing stories in class from other students, this is not the case at all schools. Some my classmates were saying that their schools did not allow clubs to be formed in support of these groups and that they heard discriminatory language used not only by students, but by faculty as well. Rofes discusses childhood as innocence. Children do not know exactly what they are feeling yet, are they gay or are they straight? It is difficult as a child to know how to feel and what you are, but you know that something is different. That is the view I got of childhood form Rofes's writing. I think this shows that we as a community we need to be more liberal in schools with children. It is hard enough trying to figure out who you are as a child, but to be discriminated against, and feeling like being gay is not ok, this will make the transition and childhood that much harder for students. In the school I hope to be teaching at, I have a vision of a very inclusive school that allows for all students to openly express themselves.