Dennis Carlson, 'Gayness, Muliticultural Education, and Community' Argument

"This Author, Dennis Carlson, argues that schools use their power of influence to keep gayness 'hidden', 'in it's place', and not to be part of the 'normal' that is accepted in our society. He feels that it is a major problem for these children that are in fact homosexual, to go through school feeling they need to hide or stay 'in the closet' to be a 'regular part' of their educational journey. It begins in the schools, and remains in the eyes of the society, especially in the earlier years, to be socially wrong and unacceptable.

    Carlson has a big problem with the way that our school systems have made it so that the 'normal' individual is characterized by a specific race, gender, ethnic background, and sexuality. He is not totally blaming this problem on just the school, but he feels that they play a huge role in the turbulence that surrounds us as early as our youth, and continues on through our lives.

   The schools try to keep the fact that a teacher is homosexual so hidden from view, that it is not discussed, but 'hidden' from their fellow faculty. In the earlier years, if a teacher was found to be gay, they were fired and treated like an outcast. Homosexuality was just not allowed, they were like the so called 'witches'of the past, treated like they had a plague or disease. A teacher just would not even be able to get a job if anyone knew they were gay. This caused many of the homosexual community to stay away from the teaching career, which hurt us because some of these people would have been great educators, and in the end, we lost out. They were just  thought of as ineffective educators. Our schools did not think of any of the positive aspects  that these people as individuals could 'bring to the table of education'.

Carlson argues that there are  three main ways that our schools contribute to the 'invisible presence' of homosexuality.

1-the erasure of gayness in the curriculum
2-the "closeting" and "witch hunting" of gay teachers
3-verbal and physical intimidation of gay teachers and students


   Carlson feels that the 'normalizing' of our community is a problem. That we have our traditions in our community, and that is what is expected, and all that will be accepted. This causes a mask for any other particular thing that may be different than the tradition to be a sort of 'outcast', and not viewed as acceptable.
This causes people to be unable to feel and become an individual. It makes them feel unable to express who they truly are in life.


   I attached a website that has books that can be incorporated into the classroom to help open children's eyes to the fact that we are all different. This includes race, gender, sexuality and even our minds thoughts and beliefs.
http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=2000154901

  Even today, unless a child is in health class, and discussing the topic of aids, it is barely ever spoken about or discussed. It was only in the recent years that they were able to 'come out of the closet' in the media. It is not as big as a problem as the past, but we are still not at the point of 'social acceptance'. It is still considered 'odd' and not in the normal range of our society. He discusses that in some high schools, in the recent years, have formed their own groups of homosexuality clubs, where they can be open with their sexuality. There are many social groups now that stand for the rights of the gay community. One is called "Children of the Rainbow". This group fought  for a curriculum that will include lessons in of racial, sexual, ethnic, and religious diversity.

  I would just like to add in my own words, that I feel we all should open our eyes to all the differences in the people of the world. We all have something to bring, some talent that each may learn from. I myself attend 'Gay Bingo" every third Thursday of the month to support the gay rights. I also really enjoy going. I am in-fact a heterosexual woman, but what does that matter. I find 'difference' enlightening in all aspects of the world.



I also added a list of celebrities that have in fact 'come out of the closet', and stand strong to their individualism. 


http://gaylife.about.com/od/gaycelebrityprofiles/ig/Gay-Celebrity-Profiles/index.06.htm