Posted byu/adult_in_training_
7th Grade| Science| Ohio
9 hours ago
(Potentially) Unpopular Opinion. If you are ant-BLM, anti-LGBT, sexist, anti-immigrant, anti-science, etc. You need to leave teaching. PERIOD
Policy & Politics
Let me preface by saying, I am a black, pansexual woman. Let me tell you,my school life SUCKED.
I live in a predominantly white area outside of Cincinnati that has a 3% black population. I was bullied A LOT at school. I actually had to switch schools at one point because it got so bad. Someone put a noose in my cubby. Then, in high school, I cut off my hair and went natural (no relaxers) which was a big decision for me. Well apparently it was "distracting". When I was in the theater program, they only had 1 set of stage makeup for black people... 3 tones too dark for my skin (to put it in perspective, there were 10 total options. The next darkest was probably meant for latinx people).
It was middle school/high school when I realized I wasn't straight. I was scared shitless. My parents told me to tell noone because I live in a fairly conservative town. When I got crushes on people who weren't men I was terrified and felt ashamed. Teachers blatantly told me same-sex marriage was bad.
Now,as I start my first year on Monday, I realize I want to be the teacher I needed. When we went to school to become an educator, we learned that students need to feel safe in order to learn effectively. A student worrying about their parent getting deported, getting beat up for their sexual orientation, being catcalled in the street or being killed by police does NOT feel safe. If you think ANY human is lesser based on who they are and their experiences, you should not be educating and influencing the next generation. Period.
Sorry but I needed that to be said. It has been on my mind this weekend since I'm starting Monday.
EDIT: Another redditor summarized what I was trying to say in perfect words. I hope this clears some confusion!
"I feel like what you're saying is that you should treat every human being with respect and not impose beliefs on your students. Teach facts and multiple reasonable perspectives on different topics. I'm sure "reasonable" is up for interpretation though."
Let me preface by saying, I am a black, pansexual woman. Let me tell you,my school life SUCKED.
I live in a predominantly white area outside of Cincinnati that has a 3% black population. I was bullied A LOT at school. I actually had to switch schools at one point because it got so bad. Someone put a noose in my cubby. Then, in high school, I cut off my hair and went natural (no relaxers) which was a big decision for me. Well apparently it was "distracting". When I was in the theater program, they only had 1 set of stage makeup for black people... 3 tones too dark for my skin (to put it in perspective, there were 10 total options. The next darkest was probably meant for latinx people).
It was middle school/high school when I realized I wasn't straight. I was scared shitless. My parents told me to tell noone because I live in a fairly conservative town. When I got crushes on people who weren't men I was terrified and felt ashamed. Teachers blatantly told me same-sex marriage was bad.
Now,as I start my first year on Monday, I realize I want to be the teacher I needed. When we went to school to become an educator, we learned that students need to feel safe in order to learn effectively. A student worrying about their parent getting deported, getting beat up for their sexual orientation, being catcalled in the street or being killed by police does NOT feel safe. If you think ANY human is lesser based on who they are and their experiences, you should not be educating and influencing the next generation. Period.
Sorry but I needed that to be said. It has been on my mind this weekend since I'm starting Monday.
EDIT: Another redditor summarized what I was trying to say in perfect words. I hope this clears some confusion!
"I feel like what you're saying is that you should treat every human being with respect and not impose beliefs on your students. Teach facts and multiple reasonable perspectives on different topics. I'm sure "reasonable" is up for interpretation though."
Then the entire subreddit clapped. And that Pansexual POCMARK Stunning and Brave Adult in Training Teacher?
Alberta. Einstein.