Project Field Trip

Hey Bloggers,

On Tuesday, Match 31, 2009, Craig, Michael, Erik, and I went to visit Positive Images in Santa Rosa. Positive Images is a support group for the gay, lesbian, and transgender community that meets every Thursday. The first Thursday of the month, they talk about how they feel, and they will receive feedback and support. Sometimes, they have guest speakers come in and talk to them about different issues such as dating safety. The fourth Thursday of the month, they divide up into focus groups such as family and friends issues, people who are just coming out and Christians, and Gender Issues. This group occasionally does panel presentations in classrooms as well.

Our field trip on Tuesday was like a panel presentation. I had a chance to talk to different people who are gay, lesbian, or transgener, and they told me their experiences with parents and their learning environment. I foudn it very useful, because I got see what these people went through. Some of them did not go into much detail, but I still got good information. I was shocked about how much they were bullied and how much teachers and administrators did not do much to stop the harassment.

Hearing these stories helped me open my eyes a little more, and the advice that they gave to me as a teacher-to-be will help me teach students how they need to treat each other in the classroom. If I hear any derogatory terms in my class, the student will be sent out, and I will have a talk with them after class. If it happens again, they will get an automatic referral to the office. Any kind of harassment will not be tolerated in my classroom. I want students to feel that they have my support and I will do anything to make my class safe for them to be in.

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