SPEAK OUT

Teach children the values of respect and family

Anne Simon was a witness before a December 5-6 House subcommittee hearing on "Parents, Schools, and Values" that many feared had an anti-gay slant. This was her testimony before the subcommittee.

by Anne Simon

We all wear different hats. I am a teacher, a daughter, a mother, and a wife. I am a friend, a sister, and a Jew. At school, I also have many roles. I am a disciplinarian, counselor, helper, and teacher. I have always wanted to be a teacher. Like countless little girls, I would play "school" with my friends, only I always had to be the teacher.

For the past five years I have been a learning center teacher at a public school in the Boston suburb of Sudbury, Massachusetts. LincolnSudbury Regional High School prides itself as having, as a core value, respect for human differences. However, on one November day during my first year I learned that not all students were respectful of human differences.

On that day, two young women decided to show the school their new-found love by holding hands in the halls, something that different-sex couples do all the time. As they were walking to class, some students started teasing them, calling them names, and shouting at them.

I went out to investigate and saw a circle of kids surrounding something. I broke through the circle and found the two girls clinging to each other, not out of love, but out of fear. I quickly got the two girls into my office and called for a housemaster.

Our core value of respecting human differences was clearly not working, and those two girls sobbing in my office were proof to me and to our administration. We set about trying to make our school a safer and more tolerant place.

We invited speakers, and learned that one out of every three gay teens attempts suicide during adolescence. We decided to poll the student body to determine the amount of harassment that was taking place in the school. In February 1993 we asked students a number of questions including, "How often have you heard homophobic remarks made at your school?" A staggering 98 percent replied that they had heard them. When asked, "Would you be upset or afraid if people thought you were gay, lesbian, or bisexual?" 64 percent

said yes. Just like any survey of high school students, we got a variety of comments. One student wrote, "Just keep them out of my sight and away from me." Another, "I hate them." There were some that thought a club should be formed or that homosexuality should be more frequently discussed. "I think that it is right to have support groups if the people were teased or need to get it in the open," said one student. From the survey we determined that there was a need for a place where students could get together to discuss homophobia and ways to

SUPPO

UND

CLE

end it. This club became our Gay-Straight Alliance and it meets just like any other club. Teachers often tell students to write from their own experiences. I, too, speak about this topic from my personal experience. My sister is a lesbian. Emily came out to me when I was in high school.

Although I wasn't the best student in the world, I was an outgoing, friendly kid who got decent grades and came form a cohesive, loving family. Suddenly my world fell apart. I will never forget the fights, the discussions, and the trauma my family went through. My grades suffered, and I'm sure my teachers wondered what was going on. Had there been a place like our Gay-Straight Alliance, I would have been able to talk to other students, I would have known what faculty I could talk to, and I would have felt safe enough to learn.

If you were to ask teachers to honestly say if they liked every one of their students, they would have to say no. But if you were to ask them if they still attempted to teach that student geometry, basketball, or earth science, they would say of course, that it is their job. We are hired by our school committees to teach. I am not asking teachers, administrators or anyone who works in a school to like a student's homosexuality, or to condone a student's parents' sexual orientation. I am asking that they make their classroom a safe place, and a place where every student regardless of sexual orientation can learn. After all, that is what they were hired to do.

I will teach my daughter that it is important to respect all human differences. In day care I have included a picture of my sister and her partner in my daughter's family tree. I want her to be proud of her family and for others to see the love that her aunt has for her.

At Lincoln-Sudbury's graduation last June, a parent came up to me. She said, "You don't know me, but I'm Michael's mother." Michael was a member of the Gay-Straight Alliance and came out to his family during high school. "I just want to thank you for being so kind to my son. Without your and others' support I don't know if he would have made it through Lincoln-Sudbury."

A parent thanking a teacher for making it possible for her son to learn and go on to college. Teachers go into teaching because they have the desire to help students learn and grow, because they want to inspire their students. Last June I heard the words that all teachers long to hear-that they had made a difference in a student's life.

I hope that when my daughter is graduating from high school that there is no need for a Gay-Straight Alliance, because our hard work of teaching tolerance and respect for difference will be the norm, and that all schools are a safe place to learn for all students, regardless of their sexual orientation.

In addition to her teaching duties, Anne Simon is a board member of the national Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network.

Open 24 Hours!

DECEMBER 22, 1995 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 9

HOLISTIC GROUP PRACTICE

DEPRESSION

FEAR SECRETS

CONFUSION

sw

SUSAN M. WEAVER

ATTORNEY AT LAW

216.621.7200 Fax: 694.3486

Serving the lesbian & gay coMMUNITY for over 14 years.

We cannot always click our heels three times to find our way. If you, or someone you know, is living with HIV and feeling lost, we can help. Our individual and group therapies are a place where clearer thinking, renewed heart and greater courage can be found.

For information or an appointment call Brian Gill CCDCIII or Stacy Trostler LISW at 216/556-2315 NEW GROUPS BEGIN JANUARY

LEAVE IT TO WEAVER.

1370 W. 6 Suite 213 Cleveland, Ohio 44113

Sw

New Year's Eve Extravaganza

на

Sunday December 31st 9 P.M. Till ?

eather

tallion aloon

CLEVELAND

·

Sandrakey

me

Champagne Toast At Midnight

Live DJ

Stan

Special Mini-Show

Starring: Magnolia Thunderpussy

Open Daily At 3 P.M.1 Sundays At 1 P.M. Enjoy Our Festive Happy Hour Daily Everybody Welcome! Cleveland, Oh 44114

2205 St. Clair Ave.

BROOKPARK NEWS & BOOKS PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING SERVICES

16700 Brookpark Rd.. Cleveland. Ohio (216) 267-9019 HOTTEST SELECTION OF

a

-

216.589-8588

JET

NEW RELEASES EVERY WEEK

TOP TEN ALL MALE & LESBIAN VIDEOS

IN-STORE SPECIAL

SEXUAL ENHANCEMENT TOYS

100s OF MAGAZINE TITLES

▼LUSCIOUS LEATHER APPAREL

Stress

MICHAEL SHASKY, MSW, LISW

CTIVE

SANI

Free

Initial Consultation

Specialty Areas including:

• Anxiety

Affordable

Fees

•

LADIES DAY

Most

EVERY WEDNESDAY

20% OFF ALL ADULT MERCHANDISE

Insurances Accepted

BRING THIS AD IN FOR 10% OFF ANY PURCHASE!

Hours by Appointment

Depression

• Adult Survivors of Abuse Relationship Issues

• Adolescent Concerns

Codependency

• Sexuality Issues

Confidentiality Assured

1155 West Third Ave Columbus, Ohio 43212

Phone: (614) 291-4848