sfbaytimes.com/the-lgbtq-experience-through-art/
Lyndsey Schlax, a teacher at Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, is the creator and instructor of a LGBTQ+ specific course taught to high schooler's. It is the nation's first ever on-site LGBTQ+ course to be offered at a high school. In my short experience as a soon-to-be teacher, I have already come face to face with the discomfort parents and school faculty can still feel about supporting the queer community. I know of a few teacher's who have tried to create resources for their students to have a safe space to talk with other's like them, but have been shut down by student parents thinking it is inappropriate and/or wrong. In this article, a few of Schlax's students have presented their own projects; the assignment was to put together an art gallery of LGBTQ+ works, along with which they have given personal reflections. After seeing the positive reception of the course by the students, is this a sign we should start implementing LGBTQ+ studies into more schools? If so, what grade do you think is an 'appropriate age' to start teaching kids about the community/it's identities? What do you think of the fact that this course originated at an Arts specific high school, rather than a general or even STEM specific high school? What are the benefits, and pitfalls, of teaching kids about sexual/gender identities/tolerance in art-specific settings?
20 Comments
4/17/2019 12:15:49 pm
I think its great to have a sepcific LGBTQ course for highschoolers. Its a great way to educate students so that everyone can be accepting of one another and strive in the community and school environment. I'm sure its the first of many classes like this to come.
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Mary
5/7/2019 09:03:09 am
Yeah, I'm hoping it'll help bring students closer together! :)
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5/5/2019 11:53:55 pm
It's great that this class exists, but it probably only exists because it's at a school for the arts. Courses that focus on marginalized communities should be taught at every level of education. It's heteronormative to think teaching children about heterosexuality is normal but teaching them about homosexuality is R-rated. The sooner children learn about diversity and variety, the better off they will be.
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Mary
5/7/2019 09:08:06 am
I completely agree, not educating students on at least different identities/sexualities can lead to a lot of confusion! I know of a middle-schooler who identified as transgender because they had no clue about the concept of being a tom-boy. Not educating kids on things we may see as 'taboo' is only hurting them.
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Alexis
12/13/2019 11:18:58 pm
I completely agree, John. I don't think there necessarily has to be an age or grade level to introduce the notion of sexuality being a spectrum.
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Justin ruskin
5/15/2019 03:59:39 pm
I love your art! You are fantastic at drawing and I can't wait to see what else you produce!
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Margaret Sofer
5/15/2019 04:12:44 pm
I really enjoyed the article about the teacher in San Francisco who is teaching the first class in LGBTQ studies. I feel it is long past time for this topic to be discussed in our schools. I think it will be hard to establish. Parents who have serious problems with the queer community will cause a lot of conflict that will be hard to overcome. This is probably why the topic hasn't been instilled within our school systems at this point. Good for Ms. Schlax for having the strength and courage to have such an inspiring class. Hopefully it will be well received (the article didn't state any problems) and other schools will follow suit. I think that it originating within the boundaries of an Art Institution isn't surprising. It is a great place to begin.
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Lisa
5/15/2019 04:26:22 pm
Teaching kids about the LGBT+ community is so important! Effective education is a surefire way to decrease hatred borne out of ignorance. Not only would it be beneficial in that regard, but it'd also help out queer kids discover who they are and how to be safe. It's time to get the ball rolling and to change the school system!
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Jordan Marie
5/15/2019 06:45:35 pm
I think this is great! I hope you’re able to inspire your future students as this teacher and this class is doing for others.
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Shayne Sanchez
5/15/2019 07:31:05 pm
I believe an LGBTQ course should be available to students during high school as an optional class that would replace a humanities class. This way, students who do not wish to attend an LGBTQ class will still be able to receive cultural exposure.
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Jo
5/15/2019 08:14:46 pm
It is beyond important for the history of the LGBT+ to be taught in orfinary schools. Presenting students with the existence of queer people as not just people but also a long standing part of our local communities and nations history does a great deal to humanize the communitey and build a sense of compasion among people who might not have encountered anyone like that. the use of art is also a great way to do this as with any group on earth the art they create speaks volumes about who they are and what they have experienced.
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Mary
5/16/2019 08:46:14 am
You're so right, I focused more so on how it's beneficial for kids to understand themselves, but we should keep in mind it's also important to understand those before us! Humanizing the community would be only beneficial for society
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Brooke
5/16/2019 12:54:57 am
I agree with this so much!! We need to teach lgbtq+ education since there is such a lack of it!
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Violet
5/16/2019 12:59:13 am
Hmmmmmm.... interesting read ....
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Emma
5/16/2019 01:03:44 am
I’m not sure I agree with all of this.... can someone explain it to me?
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Brooke
5/16/2019 01:05:42 am
Ummmmm it’s called rights ? What’s there to explain?
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Emma
5/16/2019 01:09:56 am
Um, I was just asking A question ??? No need to go off -_-
zayra Favares
12/8/2019 10:10:16 pm
Wow how interesting and brave! I know some people arent so liberal or okay with their kids learning about certain subjects. This is truly pioneering. Thanks for sharing! Hopw to hear from you soon on my blog aswell!
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Rebeca
12/13/2019 02:53:34 pm
This is such is an interesting concept. high schools should implement more courses like this.
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sin
12/16/2019 08:25:29 pm
Starting next school year, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history will be part of the curriculum in Illinois public schools. That will make Illinois the fourth state to mandate teaching LGBT history, after California, New Jersey, and Colorado.
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