#safe schools
be a better activist and learn your rights, make sure your friends know. So much cool info here. Be ready! Open the discussion with your parents. Look for hints what to do if police stop you. If trans, carry matching ID if you have it, and know if you can’t march then find other ways to help.Hand out water, sandwiches, make encouraging posts. etc etc
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Safe Schools is a program that helps address and reduce bullying of queer and trans children. It was reviewed by the government and found to be “outstanding” and “necessary”. Despite this the Aussie government cut it, because you know people are homophobic and transphobic. This is very upsetting. No matter where on the political spectrum you are, how can somebody be okay with bullying towards children?
The painting was pasted in Collingwood. Its based on a photo of the super gorgeous Arisce Wanzer Official.
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It’s back-to-school time in Hawaiʻi. Over 200,000 students will enter grades K-12 this year, full of curiosity and ideas. Unfortunately, many of them will have their studies disrupted and hopes crushed by bullying.
Despite our reputation as the “Aloha State,” surveys show that one-fifth to over one-half of students in both public and private schools have been bullied or harassed. And even though more than 90 percent of voters say that “bullying is important for the state of Hawai'i to address,” attempts to pass a statewide Safe Schools Act have failed repeatedly in the legislature. Some parents, such as a father whose two young children were bullied for years without intervention in East Hawaiʻi schools, have even resorted to suing the Department of Education.
We’re fortunate that several local groups have stepped in to develop their own anti-bullying programs; the E Ola Pono,Adult Friends for Youth Anti-Bullying and Violence Convention, and Mental Health America of Hawaii Pono Youth Program are outstanding examples. Even local comedian Augie T is helping out through B.R.A.V.E. Hawaiʻi, a program started by his daughter after she herself fell victim to bullying.
But bullying doesn’t occur in a vacuum; it’s the product of underlying stigma and prejudice. That’s why it’s time to move beyond telling children that it’s bad to be mean, and start showing them why it’s good to be inclusive and accepting - not just for the targets of bullying, but for everyone in the school and community.
We had the opportunity to witness first-hand the effectiveness of this approach during our two years of filming Kumu Hina, a nationally broadcast PBS feature documentaryabout a Native Hawaiian teacher who empowers her students at a small public charter school in downtown Honolulu by showing them the true meaning of aloha: love, honor and respect for all. It’s a powerful lesson for children and adults alike.
In order to make Kumu Hina’s teaching available to students and teachers in K-12 schools across the islands, we’ve produced a youth-friendly, short version of the film called A Place in the Middle that focuses on the story of one of her students, a sixth grade girl who dreams of joining the boys-only hula troupe. This might make her a target for ridicule and bullying in many schools, but the outcome of this story is very different. It’s a powerful example of why students who are perceived to be different, in one way or another, deserve to be celebrated precisely because of those differences, not simply tolerated despite them.
Overcoming bullying in Hawai'i requires a systemic, long-term, multifaceted approach. The true story of a local girl who just wants to be herself - and in so doing helps her fellow students and entire school - is a good place to start.
A Place in the Middle is available at no cost for streaming and download from PBS Learning Mediaand on Vimeo, and the accompanying Hawai'i Teacher’s Guide can be downloaded from the Hawai'i Educators Website. The program will be touring Public Libraries across the islands beginning this fall.
Kumu means teacher, and Kumu Hina has a lot to teach the world about how to educate with aloha – love, honor and respect for all. We’ve developed tools to use with both the full documentary KUMU HINA, and a shorter kids’ film called A PLACE IN THE MIDDLE, with students from kindergarten through graduate school. Check it all out HERE.
LGBTQ+ Books for the 2018-2019 School Year
The start of the new school year is upon us, and as such, it’s a good time for educators, families, and students to update their libraries with both fiction and non-fiction books. It is so important to keep our classroom libraries stocked with all types of diverse books to give our students the opportunity to see themselves and their families in the stories that they read. So if you’re a teacher gearing up for the school year ahead, I hope you consider adding any and all of these to your classroom bookshelves!
Elementary Fiction - Reading Level Pre-K - 5
Heather Has Two Mommies
A classic children’s book about a young girl with two moms.
And Tango Makes Three
Another classic children’s book about two male penguins who adopt an orphaned baby penguin.
Red: A Crayon’s Story
A story about a blue crayon with a red wrapper that doesn’t know what it should be.
King and King
A book about a Prince who decides he’s not interested in marrying a Princess, but instead longs for another Prince to marry.
Worm Loves Worm
A children’s book about two genderless worms who decide to get married, but who will wear the tux and who will wear the dress?
I Am Jazz
A children’s book about a transgender child based on the real-life experience of Jazz Jennings, who helped write the book.
George
A chapter book about a transgender child who dreams of playing a girl in the school play. (Read our own review of it here!)
The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher
A chapter book about a family with two dads, and four adopted sons, each with their own interests, and a school year of hilarious and unexpected adventures.
Secondary Fiction - Reading Level 6 - 12+
These three are classic stories of coming out and teenage love for lesbianandbisexualwomen.
These three books are stories of coming out and teenage love for gaymen.
These three books are about trans or gender non-conformingteenagers.
Non-Fiction for Students
Who Are You? The Kid’s Guide to Gender Identity
Drawn like a story book, this non-fiction book helps younger children understand gender identity and expression.
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag
This book chronicles the true story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the United States, and Gilbert Baker, the designer of the pride flag.
Gay & Lesbian History for Kids: The Century-Long Struggle for LGBT Rights
An easy-to-read textbook-style history book for kids about LGBT history with pictures and activities.
Queer: A Graphic History
This non-fiction graphic novel chronicles queer theory and history in an engaging way for older students.
Queer, There, and Everywhere
An illustrated collection of profiles of queer historical figures for middle to high school readers.
Being Jazz: My Life as a Transgender Teen
The memoir of Jazz Jennings, YouTuber and trans teen.
Non-Fiction for Educators
One Teacher in Ten
A collection of short stories by and for LGBTQ+ Teachers.
A Queer History of the United States
A must-read to understand the history of queer people in the United States, and why it hasn’t been included in textbooks and taught in history class.
School’s Out: Gay and Lesbian Teachers in the Classroom
This book explores how queer teachers struggle to reconcile their classroom persona and their personal identities.
We hope you have an exciting school year ahead!!
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Sara Schmidt-Kost is an out, queer teacher in Minneapolis, MN. She spent five years as a leader in the LGBT student organizations at St. Cloud State University where she completed her undergrad in Secondary Social Studies Education. Sara currently leads the after-school GSA at the high school where she teaches, and she is thankful for the opportunity to support her students as they grow into amazing adults. Sara has also created workshops on LGBT Issues in Schools and LGBT Curriculum in Social Studies and has presented these workshops to groups of Social Studies teachers, other educators, and students alike.
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