| |
|
|
| |
Case: Problematic Book Collection
I got in trouble because of the books I have in my 2nd grade classroom library. I have been an elementary school teacher for 10 years. Recently, I completed my master's degree in education. In the master's program, I learned about the importance of teaching children about different people, different cultures, and different perspectives. Although I am not a big fan of gays and lesbians, I learned to accept them as another group of people in the society that need recognition as anyone else does. So, I decided to include in my classroom library books that included families with two moms or two dads. I have had books with single-parent families, interracial families, families with a mother and a father. So, I thought by including books depicting gay and lesbian families, I was being more inclusive and representing all family types in the society. I believe children should learn that there are families out there that are not like the families they have been seeing and children should learn to respect such families. However, I learned recently that not everyone agrees with me. I have been criticized openly by some of my colleagues. More recently, some parents sent angry letters to me and to the school principal describing their displeasure with my book collection. More specifically, they think I am trying to teach their children to become gays and lesbians. How am I going to handle all these pressures? What would you do?
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
I disagree with your decision to include these books in your library. If you were dealing with high school students this might be acceptable, but not the second grade. Homosexuality is not a topic to be discussed in the 2nd grade. These children do not understand relationships or sex at this age. Avoid the issue and let their middle school teachers deal with it. Adding these books to your collection was a poor decision on your part. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
No
|
| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
No
|
| The suggested solution is original |
No
|
| Comments: |
| Rated On: April 18, 2013 7:40 pm |
| Rated By: Elizabeth Powers |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
|
| Comments: Disagree. There does not have to be any discussion on sexuality, just the fact that families are different. |
| Rated On: October 19, 2014 3:40 pm |
| Rated By: uJasuX |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
No
|
| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
No
|
| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
No
|
| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
No
|
| The suggested solution is original |
No
|
| Comments: By 2nd grade, most children have been widely exposed to heterosexual relationships. How is this any different? Absolutely horrible idea to have other teachers deal with this. |
| Rated On: October 18, 2015 8:11 pm |
| Rated By: eMuHub |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
No
|
| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
No
|
| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
No
|
| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
No
|
| The suggested solution is original |
No
|
| Comments: Diversity does not appear only in middle school and beyond. It's important to teach children about the different cultures and family dynamics out there early so that they are accepting and respectful later on. This solution does nothing to build acceptance and assumes no responsibility. |
| Rated On: October 18, 2015 10:46 pm |
| Rated By: yJeXad |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
No
|
| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
No
|
| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
No
|
| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
No
|
| The suggested solution is original |
No
|
| Comments: They're not discussing anything, they're just being exposed to the fact that some students have parents of the same gender. If anything, exposing children to images like these at a young age will help them understand complex topics like this one when they're older. I had books like this in my Kindergarten class and they were fine. |
| Rated On: March 2, 2016 10:30 pm |
| Rated By: daPaJa |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
No
|
| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
No
|
| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
No
|
| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
No
|
| The suggested solution is original |
No
|
| Comments: I disagree. I think it was a beautiful decision. Why isn't homosexuality discussed in second grade? It's not dirty or anything we need to shelter our children from. Discussions do not need to involve sex, but I think 7 year olds understand relationships plenty well. These books probably don't go into depth about the ins and outs of homosexuality. They just represent single sex parent households. |
| Rated On: October 3, 2016 5:20 pm |
| Rated By: yVuRaR |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
