Sunday, February 23, 2014

"Safe Spaces"

Extended comment

For my blog post this week, I decided to do an "Extended Comments" piece on Alex's post :) Ever since I was told that we need to at least do one of the different types of posts each week, I was choosing between an extended comment and relating it to one of our previous readings. I realized I had no idea how I could relate it, so I started reading other people's posts to see who I could expand upon. I thought Alex had a great post because she was able to connect something that I wasn't sure how to connect!



Like Alex said, I wish that Rodriguez was able to read this piece. He lost the only thing that really held his family together, his language. He thought that in order to fit in, and as the nuns said "to get ahead in the classroom", he would have to start speaking English at home too. While reading the "Safe Spaces" piece, one could clearly see that you don't need to forget what you are (or where you came from), but just be aware that there are other things (if that makes sense) besides what you may be. I also loved how Alex said that in "Safe Spaces", they "gave plenty of scenarios in classrooms where teachers connected the idea of being LGBT as a normal, great thing to be or to be connected to". I believe if every teacher did this, there would be no LGBT problem at all since it would be a "norm". But then again, that's not how society works. We can only try to make it better.

I also loved Alex's connection to Collier's piece. She said it could relate to "Safe Spaces" because if "their ideas of instituting topics like these in the classroom all the time, for the sake of giving the students the background knowledge they need and should be comfortable with talking about and thinking about." I completely agree with this because you don't necessarily have to talk about it all the time, but when you need it - it's there. It's not affecting your teaching ability... If anything, it's improving it.



LASTLY, I LOVED THE VIDEO. At first, I saw Madison's and Sarah's comments saying how much they liked the video so I started watching it. In the beginning, I was like "oh, I'll just watch a few minutes" but before I knew it I ended up watching the entire thing. It was amazing how young these kids were and how unaffected they were by the topic. One little girl kept saying it was crazy for a man to propose to a man, but she said it was okay. It wasn't a bad thing. If you're happy with someone, be with them. It shouldn't affect anyone else's life, it's your decision after all.



Although this isn't as interesting as Alex's video, I really liked watching this... It's a teacher talking about sexuality and LGBT issues. She started a group called "Affective Beginnings" that talks about a variety of topics. She said that her group is going to help teachers with this subject. I think that's a great idea! :) 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjSxUbUqUHQ

2 comments:

  1. I AM SO HONORED YOU USED MY BLOG this makes me so happy! I love when you said "it isn't affecting your teaching ability, its improving it" that couldn't be any more true! Differences and culture only expand our knowledge and make us better as people. Even though we are teachers and we teach others, we have to learn from our students! Love this :)

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  2. THis is why I offer the Extended COmments option -- so that you can reflect on the things your peers have posted and add a little more to the dialogue. Great post.

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