August- "Safe Spaces"

This blog touched me in a number of ways, here are some of the quotes that really stood out to me.

1. "So far, so good- until the family is two moms with their children, or two dads and their adopted daughter. Such families rarely make the curricular cut- they are invisible."  (August 85)

This was said while August was talking about how in elementary school children learn about all types of families and differences between families. Children learn about how families differ all around the worth weather it be because of race, because of only having one parent, they are taught about adopted families and foster families, but they are very rarely taught about gay or lesbian families. This I do not understand why wouldn't we want to teach children that some families may have two mom's or two dads, I feel that if children were to be taught this at a young age they would grow up to accept it and think if it as normal, which could in turn help keep the classroom safe for LGBT students, and students that come from a gay and lesbian family.

2. "Heterosexual students with LGBT family members or friends need to see their lived ones reflected in the images and stories that shape ideologies. Heterosexual students who have no LGBT friends or family also need positive LGBT representations if they are to have a full understanding of the human experience." (August 91)

I chose this quote because I agree with it completely, ideologies are the most important and influential aspects of society and growing up. students should be shown that all types of people are positively represented in these ideologies. Children who's loved ones are LGBT should grow up with the belief that there is nothing wrong with it and it is normal. on the other hand children who do not know anybody who is LGBT should also be taught about it in a positive way, this would avoid so much bullying and discrimination for LGBT students in the future. if children are brought up to accept the differences in other people's sexual orientations and are taught that there is nothing bad or wrong with it, they will be less likely to discriminate as they get older. LGBT is a part of everyday life and if children are not exposed to it they will not be able to fully understand life.


3. "But what did she teach? the message to Marcus and his to his classmates was that Marcus's family was shameful, something to be hushed." (August 95)

This was said after the story if how Marcus a 7 year old student was sent to the principal and sentenced to in school suspension for telling one of his classmates that his family was gay because he has two moms and that "gay is when a girl likes another girl". If I was Marcus's mother I would have been enraged if my child was reprimanded for explaining his family to one of his friends. Marcus' teacher implied that there is something wrong with his family by sending him to the principal and probably damaged his self esteem. not only did his teacher make him feel like his family is something to be ashamed of which is just plain wrong, but she also interrupted his education by removing him from the classroom for no good reason.



here's some more Modern Family that I found fitting for this topic (: