Transcript Irish Educational Studies

Middle & High School
 How do we teach tolerance of
homosexuality to children in public schools?
Why Worry About It?
 Violence against those who are different in their
sexual orientations is a real concern of the
students who are different.
 Minton, S.J., Dahl, T., O'Moore, A.M., & Tuck, D.
(2008). An Exploratory survey of the experiences
of homophobic bullying among lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgendered young people in
Ireland. Irish Educational Studies, 27(2), 177-191.
A Complicated Subject
Focus on teaching tolerance
Avoid discussing beliefs
Focus on biological principles
Sexual Orientation
 Teaching Tolerance
– Neither Good nor Evil
– Neither Right nor Wrong
 Teaching Biological Basis
– It is what it is!
Biological Terms
 Evolution
– Polygenic shifts in structural, functional &
behavioral characteristics
 Natural Selection
– Random experiments in genetic expression
Evolution
 http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalch
ange1/current/lectures/selection/selection.ht
ml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural
_selection
Animal Homosexuality
 Species
– Silver Gulls
– Black-headed Gulls
– Macaques
– Chimpanzees
– Galas
% Homo
10
22
9
0
44
% Bisexual
11
15
56
100
11
Source- Bahemihl,B.1999. Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and
Natural Diversity, St. Martin’s Press, New York, NY.
Politics of Sexual Orientation
 Schools are expected to address the needs
of students who are different sexually.
 Politically sensitive
Rienzo, B.A., Button, J.W., Sheu, J, & Li, Y. (2006). The
Politics of sexual orientation issues in American schools.
Journal of School Health, 76(3), 93-97.
Attribution Theory
 Attitudes are most positive when people
believe there is a biological basis for
homosexual behaviors.
 Haider-Markel, D.P., & Joslyn, M.R. (2008).
Beliefs about the origins of homosexuality
and support for gay rights. Public Opinion
Quarterly, 72(2), 291-310.
Pluralism
 Separate groups in school
 Learning together as one
 Tolerance and respect without violence
Conclusion
 Teach the biological basis and natural
occurrence of homo & bisexual behaviors
 A safer school
Portfolio Item
Education 205 Sec 1 Summer 2010
Mark K. Johnson
http://www.glsen.org/gibin/iowa/all/home/index.html
Bullying Collage From Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network