|
|
|
|
Case: Don't Hold Hands
Ade and Elsa are two 7th grade girls from Indonesia who joined our school couple months ago. I teach them Physical Science. They have well-developed English skills. Although they have an accent, they can communicate with teachers and fellow students. I am very sensitive to the needs of newly-arrived immigrant students, so I paid close attention when I heard rumors from other students about them. Students started spreading that Ade and Elsa were in a lesbian relationship. Apparently Ade and Elsa heard about the rumors; they came to me in tears. I asked them to tell me what was going on. What I found out was very interesting. Ade and Elsa have known each other since they were small children and they have always been best friends. Their families decided to move to the US together. Their fathers applied for jobs in the same company. They both received offers and moved together. Ade and Elsa were excited about going to the same school in US and continuing their friendship. In Indonesia, same-gender friends holding hands is very common and indicates friendship. When children at our school saw Ade and Elsa holding hands they thought that Ade and Elsa were in a lesbian relationship. I have to do something about this. I see two options before me: I will explain to the children in my classes that friends holding hands in some cultures is completely normal, or I will tell Ade and Elsa to not hold hands to avoid these rumors. The second option seems culturally insensitive, but if Ade and Elsa continue holding hands, rumors will continue even if I explain to my students the cultural side of their friendship. What should I do? If you have an original solution to this issue, please advice.
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
Instead of doing both options I would just do the first option. Telling 7th graders to stop holding hands is a little much. I would give a lesson on how different cultures show their affection of friendship. Even American girls hold hands or lock arms, that doesn't mean that these females are "together". Ask the students in the class how they show their friendship with their best friends? There are all different types of affection and Ade and Elsa just show their love for one another by holding hands. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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: |
Rated On: February 11, 2013 12:07 am |
Rated By: Sara Jernigan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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: |
Rated On: March 2, 2013 11:53 pm |
Rated By: eruHeB |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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: Great points brought out clearly. |
Rated On: July 3, 2013 12:12 am |
Rated By: CI-GSU |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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: I agree with you about telling the two girls not to hold hands, however, I think it would be beneficial to let the two girls understand why students are making up the rumor. I think if the two girls realize that in American culture that holding hands may equal relationship they would see the good in people instead of the bad and understand why people may have said that they were lesbians. |
Rated On: May 25, 2015 1:35 am |
Rated By: ReMuXy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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: This is a good solution since it allows the girls to be true to themselves. |
Rated On: October 14, 2015 1:22 am |
Rated By: punybu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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: I agree with your solution. I love how you chose not to involve both situations and respected the girls cultures. |
Rated On: October 17, 2016 12:40 am |
Rated By: Raven B |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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: I agree. They're still young. |
Rated On: March 3, 2017 11:39 pm |
Rated By: uDaHeD |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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: I agree that holding hands shouldn't mean girls are "together". |
Rated On: March 6, 2017 1:29 am |
Rated By: Hasena Kurtić |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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: Exactly. If they want to hold hands, let them hold hands. |
Rated On: March 31, 2022 2:39 pm |
Rated By: uVeneH |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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: This issomethingI would implementinmyclass! |
Rated On: November 25, 2022 1:48 pm |
Rated By: segeRa |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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: I agree with this solution. Telling the girls to stop holding hands when they seem to have no issues in regards to it would be too much. If rumors of the two started to negatively affect them and the classroom environment I would ask them if they want to clarify themselves and give reasoning to why they hold hands to shut down rumors, but only if they are comfortable doing so. |
Rated On: February 26, 2023 10:33 pm |
Rated By: atyraQ |
|
|
|
|
|
|