Queer School

[Mermaid]

Hey GLBT'ers,

I just wanted to pass on some good news for the GLBT community.

My friends are opening a charter school for any high school kid that doesn't fit in because of sexuality, gender, appearance, or whathaveyou. It will open in August and I just wanted to start a thread where we can offer up some "Happy Snaps" for this great thing!

If you are in Wisconsin and have or know kids who should be enrolled in this school, PM me, and I'll have them get in touch with you. I don't want to post too much here, until I have permission to do so.

****YAY SCHOOL****

Mer

 

[John Doe]

Huh?

 

[Mermaid]

Slow on the uptake?

Huh?

Some high school students that are out as queer, goth, differently gendered, etc, tend to get harassed, bullied, threatened, and even beat up for being who they are, rather than blending in.

Charter School: This is a public school, that has a special charter to be different.

Therefore, these "different" students have an environment to be who they are, to not fear for their safety, and to learn. It's a great thing.

 

[twink_alert86]

That sounds great and all, but if I'd gone to a school like that, I would've never managed to bang so many "straight" guys.

 

[Algol]

Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but even if there're good intentions behind this, isn't it like segregating them from society? Wouldn't "normal" people see them like "those weird people from that strange place"? and wouldn't they end isolating themselves from the rest of society, instead of being part of it?

I'm wondering if maybe is more valuable to spend all that budget on information campaigns and educational programs for the rest of the people, to teach them to accept "different" people, and to help those "different" people to integrate and feel integrated.

 

[Netzach]

This is Wisconsin. Rather than hoping some progress might happen at some glacial pace, why not address the suicide rate among queer teens and give these kids one place where they feel they fit?

They have home, families, society, and government all there to keep them firmly grounded in shitty reality.

Having a space where you feel comfortable lets you do the important work of learning.

 

[sexy-girl]

This is Wisconsin. Rather than hoping some progress might happen at some glacial pace, why not address the suicide rate among queer teens and give these kids one place where they feel they fit?

They have home, families, society, and government all there to keep them firmly grounded in shitty reality.

Having a space where you feel comfortable lets you do the important work of learning.

agreed i wouldn't recommend it for all gay teens to attend these schools but for some its vital ... it's fairly common i've heard for some gay teens to have to be move school many times and still be unable to fit in ... rather than do all that a school like this would be a great alternative

 

[Raimondin]

That's fantastic!
I think there was an all Gay school or high school in New York, but can't remember all the facts about it.
It was about a couple of years ago.
Good luck! to your friend's project!

 

[John Doe]

Re: Slow on the uptake?

Some high school students that are out as queer, goth, differently gendered, etc, tend to get harassed, bullied, threatened, and even beat up for being who they are, rather than blending in.

Charter School: This is a public school, that has a special charter to be different.

Therefore, these "different" students have an environment to be who they are, to not fear for their safety, and to learn. It's a great thing.

I know what a charter school is.

Most kids get threatened, harassed bullied or beaten up in school, not because they don't fit or blend in, but because bullies are sadistic.

The solution is not to segregate the students but to eliminate bullying.

 

[sexy-girl]

Re: Re: Slow on the uptake?

I know what a charter school is.

Most kids get threatened, harassed bullied or beaten up in school, not because they don't fit or blend in, but because bullies are sadistic.

The solution is not to segregate the students but to eliminate bullying.

in my opinion that's an unrealistic stance ... you can't just say don't worry it will tougher you up or grin and bare it sometimes this is a matter of life or death

it's also not just about bullying ... but also about coming to terms with their sexuality ... i know the suicide figures for gay and transgendered teens is very high

i think you're focusing on the segregation issue to much also ... it's not just about that it's about having teachers that are specially trained and prepared for teens coming to terms with their sexuality

and also sometimes these kids have moved school not because of bullying from students but bullying from teachers

i also think you can't keep asking them to move schools until they find a suitable one otherwise they will miss out on their education

 

[John Doe]

Re: Re: Re: Slow on the uptake?

in my opinion that's an unrealistic stance ... you can't just say don't worry it will tougher you up or grin and bare it sometimes this is a matter of life or death

I didn't say anything even close to that. In fact, my stance on it is tougher than yours. You'd rather remove the 'special' students and let the mainstream kids suffer at the hands of the bullies who continue thier antisocial behavior with impunity.

it's also not just about bullying ... but also about coming to terms with their sexuality ... i know the suicide figures for gay and transgendered teens is very high

Teen suicide in general is high.

And everyone comes to terms with thier sexuality eventually. It's called puberty.

i think you're focusing on the segregation issue to much also ... it's not just about that it's about having teachers that are specially trained and prepared for teens coming to terms with their sexuality.

and also sometimes these kids have moved school not because of bullying from students but bullying from teachers

How can I focus on it too much when that's the entire concept behind your plan?

Yes, I'm aware of teachers bullying as well, but I said we need to eliminate bullying, period.

All teachers should be trained for such problems. Mainstream or 'straight' kids don't have it perfect either.

i also think you can't keep asking them to move schools until they find a suitable one otherwise they will miss out on their education

That's precisely what you're doing though. You're saying remove the kids (and only certain ones) from the problem, instead of eliminating the problem hanging over them.

 

[sexy-girl]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Slow on the uptake?

How can I focus on it too much when that's the entire concept behind your plan?

it's not my plan ... and no that isn't the entire concept behind the plan ... one of the main reason's their creating these schools is because the teachers their will be trained and prepared to help these teens not only with their education but also any support they need

this isn't something for every gay teen ... just for the ones that need it

I didn't say anything even close to that. In fact, my stance on it is tougher than yours. You'd rather remove the 'special' students and let the mainstream kids suffer at the hands of the bullies who continue thier antisocial behavior with impunity.

That's precisely what you're doing though. You're saying remove the kids (and only certain ones) from the problem, instead of eliminating the problem hanging over them.

wow get rid of bullys ... what a radical concept i'm surprised nobody thought of that before

the sad fact is there always will be bullying ... the reason is because it's the mainstream kids that do it ... and their not easily identified or able to be dealt with

but i agree with you that we still need to try and make it much easier for gay children to go to mainstream schools and have a healthy environment for coming to terms with their sexuality ... a sexuality that a large size of the population see's as abnormal or worse (so no it's not just puberty)

hey i think we need to do more to help every kid not have to deal with bullying

but i also think that for gay teens struggling with their sexuality and bullying it's a good thing theres a school where they can go and get as normal an education as possible

 

[John Doe]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Slow on the uptake?

it's not my plan ... and no that isn't the entire concept behind the plan ... one of the main reason's their creating these schools is because the teachers their will be trained and prepared to help these teens not only with their education but also any support they need

this isn't something for every gay teen ... just for the ones that need it



wow get rid of bullys ... what a radical concept i'm surprised nobody thought of that before

the sad fact is there always will be bullying ... the reason is because it's the mainstream kids that do it ... and their not easily identified or able to be dealt with

but i agree with you that we still need to try and make it much easier for gay children to go to mainstream schools and have a healthy environment for coming to terms with their sexuality ... a sexuality that a large size of the population see's as abnormal or worse (so no it's not just puberty)

hey i think we need to do more to help every kid not have to deal with bullying

but i also think that for gay teens struggling with their sexuality and bullying it's a good thing theres a school where they can go and get as normal an education as possible

My point is I think all kids deserve that kind of support, but never mind.

 

[april-wine]

Personally I think yayyyyyyyyy a school for kids to learn that being different doesn't make you bad....Being different doesn't mean you have to hide in the shadows....Being different and finding that there are others just as different, rock-on....

 

[SweetErika]

We have had special schools for a long time...they're called "Alternative Schools" or "Re-entry Programs". The difference is they are for ALL of the kids who aren't successful in the regular school for whatever reason (sexuality, race, religion, drugs, abuse, pregnancy, behavior problems, disorders, prison, etc.). The staff is specially trained to deal with all of these kids and situations, and because there's so much diversity and one of the only commonalities is that they haven't been successful in the regular school, everyone's pretty tolerant and gets along most of the time. I think this is a better solution than a special school for kids with just sexuality, race, style, appearance, etc. in common.

One of the things I worry about with charter schools like this is the impact on the majority. To the bullies and other people who are intolerant, I imagine the thought is, "Great...those gays and freaks are right where they belong, back in the closet and away from us. We won." The kids who aren't intolerant may not get the chance to know and support their peers, and that may create more problems in the future.

I can certainly see how this could be a positive thing for many kids, but I wonder if this is the right way to do it.

 

[John Doe]

We have had special schools for a long time...they're called "Alternative Schools" or "Re-entry Programs". The difference is they are for ALL of the kids who aren't successful in the regular school for whatever reason (sexuality, race, religion, drugs, abuse, pregnancy, behavior problems, disorders, prison, etc.). The staff is specially trained to deal with all of these kids and situations, and because there's so much diversity and one of the only commonalities is that they haven't been successful in the regular school, everyone's pretty tolerant and gets along most of the time. I think this is a better solution than a special school for kids with just sexuality, race, style, appearance, etc. in common.

One of the things I worry about with charter schools like this is the impact on the majority. To the bullies and other people who are intolerant, I imagine the thought is, "Great...those gays and freaks are right where they belong, back in the closet and away from us. We won." The kids who aren't intolerant may not get the chance to know and support their peers, and that may create more problems in the future.

I can certainly see how this could be a positive thing for many kids, but I wonder if this is the right way to do it.

My thoughts exactly.

Personally I think yayyyyyyyyy a school for kids to learn that being different doesn't make you bad....Being different doesn't mean you have to hide in the shadows....Being different and finding that there are others just as different, rock-on....

all children should be taught that, in all schools.

Everyone is different in one way or another, but that's one of our strengths as humans.

That and opposable thumbs, but I digress.

 

[Raimondin]

Bullying is a problem in schools that will never go away. I realistically don't think you can ever erase that from the chalk board.
I taught junior high and high school for close to ten years.
I always felt that such schools for kids that "don't fit" the mainstream were always needed.
I can't remember the number of times I had to "save" a kid from being chased or beat up by lettiing him stay within the safety of my classroom. In fact, by the end of the first semester I had almost a room full of Goth kids, gay teens, that came in my room for lunch. That's when i realzed maybe there is need for a special school. There are all kinds of special schools in school districts anyway.
Even with the campus police doesn't help since they can't be at every bathroom to save a boy or kid from getting beat up for wearing earrings or painted finger nails.
School kids already segregate themselves anyway.
We don't need to do that for them.
My opinion is the best school for bullys is juvenile hall.

 

[John Doe]

Bullying is a problem in schools that will never go away. I realistically don't think you can ever erase that from the chalk board.

With that attitude, why do anything about it, or any problem for that matter?

People thought the same thing about polio, or thought we'd never go to the moon, and so on and so on.

The world is pioneered and bettered by the Cans, not the Can'ts.

 

[Raimondin]

With that attitude, why do anything about it, or any problem for that matter?

People thought the same thing about polio, or thought we'd never go to the moon, and so on and so on.

The world is pioneered and bettered by the Cans, not the Can'ts.

No! that's not what I was saying! Not to do anything about it. Besides, no matter what my "attitude" might be, the reality of it is that it's there, and it's not going to go away.

That's why I agree that a charter school or special school could be the solution to help out these kids at risk. To provide a safe haven and enviroment for them to be able to get an education. At least I did my part during my tenure there.
As far as the "bullys" or "bullying" is concerned, I wish i had the answer. Maybe more campus police? More stringent school rules? Half-day school? Hey, they might work.
Meantime, I think the best thing we can for these kids at risk is to provide them with a safe, learning enviroment.

 

[Netzach]

We have had special schools for a long time...they're called "Alternative Schools" or "Re-entry Programs". The difference is they are for ALL of the kids who aren't successful in the regular school for whatever reason (sexuality, race, religion, drugs, abuse, pregnancy, behavior problems, disorders, prison, etc.). The staff is specially trained to deal with all of these kids and situations, and because there's so much diversity and one of the only commonalities is that they haven't been successful in the regular school, everyone's pretty tolerant and gets along most of the time. I think this is a better solution than a special school for kids with just sexuality, race, style, appearance, etc. in common.

One of the things I worry about with charter schools like this is the impact on the majority. To the bullies and other people who are intolerant, I imagine the thought is, "Great...those gays and freaks are right where they belong, back in the closet and away from us. We won." The kids who aren't intolerant may not get the chance to know and support their peers, and that may create more problems in the future.

I can certainly see how this could be a positive thing for many kids, but I wonder if this is the right way to do it.

I think there's some validity to that...but if I had a gay goth son being beaten up every day, I would not want him to have to be the martyr to enlightening the mainstream when he's supposed to be getting ready to go to college.

 

[Mermaid]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Slow on the uptake?

My point is I think all kids deserve that kind of support, but never mind.

On this one, I agree with you. So if kids are not being supported at their own school, why not give them the choice to change schools? This school isn't going to be for everyone. But for those students who *CHOOSE* to go there. No one is forcing them out of mainstream schools.

Fact is, suicide rates among gay teens and bullied teens is MUCH higher than that of "teens in general."

So if kids consistantly are ostricized by the mainstream schools, why not give them the option of choosing a school they will be treated better in? We should not force these kids to stay in mainstream schools to teach the schools "a lesson."

This is something that's an option for students and their families to choose. It is great that this option is out there!

There is a school like this in New York, and it's doing very well. I'd like to see these kinds of schools set examples for how open, supportive, and educational all schools could be.

And let that be the lesson for the other schools.

 

[John Doe]

No! that's not what I was saying! Not to do anything about it. Besides, no matter what my "attitude" might be, the reality of it is that it's there, and it's not going to go away.

well, the thing is I don't agree that's the reality of it.

Anyway, I know you weren't suggesting that, but what you were saying can lead to that sort of apathy. It's like, if we can't get rid of it, why bother fighting it at all? And I just don't think we should simply accept certain kinds of behavior, whatever we do about them.

That's why I agree that a charter school or special school could be the solution to help out these kids at risk. To provide a safe haven and enviroment for them to be able to get an education. At least I did my part during my tenure there.
As far as the "bullys" or "bullying" is concerned, I wish i had the answer. Maybe more campus police? More stringent school rules? Half-day school? Hey, they might work.
Meantime, I think the best thing we can for these kids at risk is to provide them with a safe, learning enviroment.

I think shorter days would help, along with smaller class sizes. A dress code as well. I think those would also help many other discipline problems besides bullying.

 

[John Doe]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Slow on the uptake?

On this one, I agree with you. So if kids are not being supported at their own school, why not give them the choice to change schools? This school isn't going to be for everyone. But for those students who *CHOOSE* to go there. No one is forcing them out of mainstream schools.

Not for everyone. That's one of my objections. It's only intended for gays and others that are 'struggling with thier sexuality' as you define that.

Fact is, suicide rates among gay teens and bullied teens is MUCH higher than that of "teens in general."

Yes, so let's ignore the rest of them and just focus on gay teens? Drugs and peer pressure are minor annoyances?

So if kids consistantly are ostricized by the mainstream schools, why not give them the option of choosing a school they will be treated better in? We should not force these kids to stay in mainstream schools to teach the schools "a lesson."

You're getting it backwards. I'm not talking about imposing upon schools with certain students. I'm talking about rasing the standard for everyone in addition to providing more specialized attention for struggling or at risk groups (regardless of orientation or gender or race, etc.)

This is something that's an option for students and their families to choose. It is great that this option is out there!

Only if the student is gay though, right?

There is a school like this in New York, and it's doing very well. I'd like to see these kinds of schools set examples for how open, supportive, and educational all schools could be.

And let that be the lesson for the other schools.

That's what I've been saying! All schools should be that good, for all students.

 

[Mermaid]

While I'm sure GLBT kids will be the majority of the population... No this isn't only for gay students, and so what if it were? If you read my orginal post, it says for students not fitting in and having bad reprocussions. There will be straight kids going to the school too. There are many reasons kids get bullied, or threatened. And those kids should have other options.



You can bash it for whatever your personal reasons are. You can't just wave a fairy wand and make the entire education system, or the minds of closed minded bullies better overnight!

But the fact remains, this is a GOOD thing. And it's a GOOD example that maybe other schools will follow.

And there are other alternative schools. Those are an option too. It's for the students and parents to decide. And for students who's families together decide to send them there, it's a GOOD thing too.

You sound like you're saying that if everyone can't have a safe, supportive environment in which to learn, that no one should? Sounds like a jealous bully to me!

 

[Raimondin]

I think shorter days would help, along with smaller class sizes. A dress code as well. I think those would also help many other discipline problems besides bullying.

Absolutlely! A strict dress code should be enforced today. Maybe one day out of the week or on a special holiday could be a "free dress day" like on a Friday. I agree, shorter school days and smaller classes would defintely be a great help. Educators have been screaming that for the last 20 years!