In+respect+to+bullying,+how+safe+to+LGBT+students+feel+in+the+school+setting?

(2010, November 8). Bullying, a Deadly Sin. America, p. 5. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier Database. The significance of this article is that bullying can cause death. Tyler Clementi, an 18 year old college student, committed suicide on September 22, 2010 because his roommate captured a video of him with another man in his dorm room at Rutgers University. This video was uploaded online. The boy was beyond humiliated, to the point where he updated his Facebook status, stating that he was going to jump off the bridge. A week later they found his body floating in the Hudson River. The article also states that Mr. Clementi felt isolated. He was not the only one feeling this way because in fact, more than 3.2 million young people are victims of bullying. It also states that cyber-bullying victims have a higher depression than those bullied in different ways. At Harris Pool, in the year of 2005, a survey found that 90 percent of teens who identify themselves as homosexuals, were bullied that whole year. It also talks about individual's religious views and beliefs. The article provides resources where LGBT students can go if they need help or just someone to talk to. The support centers are the National Center for Bullying Prevention (pacerkidsagainstbullying.org) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/kids). Also, for gay and lesbian teens there is also, “It Gets Better Campaign.” It is a series of videos on YouTube, and many gay and lesbian adults tell their stories regarding being bullied and surviving suicide attempts. At a City Council meeting in Texas, Councilman Joel Burns, who is gay, lets teens know they are not alone.

This article relates to the LGBT issues here in Rhode Island. One reason the article relates to Rhode Island is because in the city of Providence, Mayor David Cicillini, is an openly gay man, and he enforces the fact that it’s okay to be gay. Living in Rhode Island, I have seen several kids in my high school get laughed at, pointed at, and talked about because of their sexual orientation. In my high school, The lesbians were more openly accepted than gays. This article, made me realize that there are many cruel people in this world. If you disagree or agree with someone’s sexual orientation, no one should be treated and humiliated in any different way.

Conoley, J. (2008). Sticks and Stones Can Break My Bones and Words Can Really Hurt Me. School Psychology Review, 37(2), 217-220. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database. A young boy was shot twice in his head by one of his classmates, due to the openness of his sexual orientation. A young boy in the foster care system was the target of harassment from other classmates, because of the way he dressed and presented himself. The National Center for Education Statistics on school safety reports that 43% of middle school teachers say that students are bullied at school daily and even weekly. Victims of bullies are usually chosen on their appearance, academic success and their sexual orientation. This article also goes into details about how teachers may not know how to intervene when bullying is occurring within their schools. Some believe that bullying is a normal part of developing as young adult. Universities now are trying to educate their upcoming teachers about the effects of bullying, and what they can do to stop bullying and change the patterns with their students.

I feel that as educators, they should be informed and educated on the signs of bullying, and what we can do to prevent such a tragedy. Reading this article, I realized I have never experienced losing any loved ones or friends through suicide, because of being bullied over their sexual orientation. I strongly feel it’s the teacher’s responsibility to pay close attention to their students. I'm sure there was obvious clues that could have revealed that both of these young men were being bullied right in the classroom.

Khadaroo, S. (2010, September 29). Death of California youth puts focus on rise in anti-gay bullying. Christian Science Monitor, p. N.PAG. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database. This article talks about a young boy who lived in California that had committed suicide because of bullying due to sexual preference. The spokesman for Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network say that bullying has always been a crisis; it’s just becoming more severe. There has been an enormously high peak in the death tolls due to suicide by children, because of their sexual preference. The spokesman is hoping that the rise in suicide, and the media also brought to our attention that such a cause, will cause the bullying to stop and also provide a safe haven for the victims being attacked daily. A survey was taken in 2009 about 7000 LGBT middle and high school students, saying that an average of 84.6 percent said they were verbally harassed, 40.2 percent where physically harassed, and 18.8 percent were physically assaulted at school because of their sexual orientation. Some states have the Safe schools Improvement Act, which is supported by the US House of Representatives, that supports bullying prevention in schools.

I feel this article elaborates on the efforts some of the schools are trying to bring to middle and high schools. They are trying to have the suicide rates declined, and come up with different solutions for students being bullied. I am a firm believer in the idea that things can change, and that the suicide rates will go down with different techniques to stop the bullying of our young children.

// The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Middle School Students: Findings from the 2007 National School Climate Survey. Research Brief //. Rep. New York: Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Networ, 2009. ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED506942. Print. This article defines that LGBT students in middle schools are less safe than those in high schools. In middle schools they hear regularly derogatory remarks. Students receive little intervention from middle school staff. This results in negative effects on student’s academic performance and their attitudes toward schools. The article states that middle school students do not receive school-based resources like students in high schools such as, the Gay-Straight Alliance. In this article there were five major findings. The first finding of this article is that Homophobic remarks and comments towards their gender expression were often in schools. LGBT students reported that in middle school you hear more biased remarks than in high schools. Most of the time, middle school staff failed to address these issues while in the school setting. The second finding in the article is that most LGBT middle school students experience verbal harassment because of their sexual orientation or their gender expression. Middle school students reported higher than high school students on experiencing victimization. Middle schools students never told school authorities about any of the incidents. The third finding in this article is that middle school students missed class or did not attend school because they felt unsafe. The fourth finding of the article found that an unsafe environment for LGBT middle school students affected their academic performance, and their ability to attend school. The last finding resulted that several LGBT students did not receive or have access to resources that can improve school climates.

As I began to read this article I noticed that people use the word “gay” often. People may not necessarily use the word directing it towards a homosexual person, but they may take offense to it. As for the teachers and staff, they need to improve on making their school environments safer. For example, in my high school there was one teacher who enforced the safety of those who were LGBT. If you said any homophobic words or anything offensive to a LGBT student, she would not tolerate it. If all teachers had the same concern for LGBT student, the environment would be much safer for them.

WRIGHT, T. (2010). LGBT Educators' Perceptions of School Climate. Phi Delta Kappan, 91(8), 49- 53. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database. The importance of this article is to discuss the importance and safety of LGBT students in schools. In this article it describes what a safe school should be. Faculty, students, and staff need to interact in a positive way where it promotes education while also promoting personal growth and relationships. In the words of Markow and Feln, LGBT students have never felt safe in schools. The past decade educators included this issue in teaching; This helped create safer climates. The (GLSEN) Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network also helped. Research has been made off of three themes. The three themes are, the history of LGBT educators, the climates faced (in schools) and experience of LGBT students. There were nine major questions and three ways to improve school climates. The results of these questions found that students do not feel safe in their school settings.

This article, is absolutely amazing. I feel LGBT violence needs to come to a complete stop. This article provides information on how schools can make a safer environment for those who are LGBT students. The article also provides some questions that were researched concerning gays. The questions were great because it gave a clear insight on how safe and unsafe LGBT students feel. Reading this article, reminded me of a kid that went to my school that was gay and wore women’s clothing. Kids use to laugh at him because of the way he dressed. On several occasions I felt teachers would even laugh at him. If he had to answer these 9 questions, I think his result would have concluded that he didn't feel safe in his school setting.

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