response to our common reading

As a group, we chose a reading from "the English Journal" 2009, an article by Nicole Sieben and Laraine Wallowitz entitled; "Watch What You Teach": A First Year Teacher refuses to play it Safe..
What I felt was the most interesting about this article was the fact that as a new teacher,Nicole felt that her students could not only handle but rationalize very strong subject matter. This is part of the issue with teaching adolescents: How much can they handle? How far can we as educators go without crossing that thin line of what is appropriate materials for this age group?
I don't think she could have gotten away with what she did in Petaluma. Maybe because it was New York the media saturation level there is so intense that teens are assumed to be more adult.
Again it boils down to what amount of sexual openness and reality will the students and parents tolerate before they want that teacher's head on a platter?I liked the statement that: "Every student comes to school with a backpack full of books,emotions and opinions. It is our responsibility as educators to help students unpack their backpacks."
I don't know about you but I would assume that most students don't want a teacher within 10 feet of their backpack , so this is an interesting dichotomy of meaning and symbolism.
The three questions she, Nicole poses to these high school students provoked thought but most seemed to react based on existing conditions and laws:
"We value diversity in America" we're getting there...
"We value sexual diversity in America" In very few areas in big cities I would assume
" We provide options for sexual diversity in America"Not many and not without a fight
"Is your sexual orientation something you will keep secret in your choice profession?'
As a lighter note the authors include the "Heterosexual questionnaire"
I'm not sure if Petaluma is ready for queer theory , but starting from a point of allies and safe space is definately a good beginning.
CMB