Argument for Woke Kindergarten Video and RI Department of Education Guidance to Schools
In the Woke Kindergarten video, they describe the book's main message, which is for people to accept and respect all people and to understand what pronoun or pronouns someone may use to describe themselves. The argument for the RI Department of Education Guidance for Schools is to describe a school's responsibilities and expectations towards its students who are transgender or gender nonconforming. The video and reading both explain how important it is for people to be understanding and aware of students or people who don't use the gender that they are assigned at birth.
The video described people and the pronouns that they may use, even if a person wouldn't assume that those are the pronouns they use due to their visual appearance. A student may appear to be female due to the way they are dressed, but internally, the student could classify as male or they or something else. A person could also use multiple pronouns. One character in the book used both he and she to describe themself. Another thing the video mentioned is that if you aren't certain of a person's proper pronouns or you forgot, then you should refer to them by their name. But if you know a person's preferred pronouns, then you should use them to show your respect and understanding towards them. By not using someone's preferred pronouns you are telling that person that you don't respect, accept, or understand them.
The reading described multiple acts and documents that explain the responsibilities and expectations that schools and staff must follow regarding their students who are transgender or gender-nonconforming. One thing that schools must do is to create a safe, supportive, understanding, and bully-free environment. If the students don't feel safe or welcomed at the school, then the students won't want to participate in school activities, or they won't attend school altogether. A survey was done on 10,000 gender-nonconforming students in RI, and over half of the students don't participate in school activities due to fear of discrimination. Another thing schools must do is to promptly and effectively respond to sex-based harassment of all students. A school can't turn a blind eye in certain situations due to what pronouns a student may use. Schools and school staff are expected to respect a student's identity and to not inform parents or guardians if the student does not wish to inform them because it may jeopardize their home. A final thing schools should do is modify their dress code to make all students feel comfortable with what they wear.
I found this video and reading very important for us future educators because we must know our future responsibilities and expectations we have toward all of our future students. We must be understanding and respectful to all of our students and not allow any of our students to face bullying or harassment due to the pronouns they use or for any reason. Our students must feel welcomed and should want to come to school every day, if we fail to create a welcoming environment then we have failed the students.
Hi Leo! I like how you mentioned that if you are unsure of someone's preferred pronouns, that simply using their name solves that problem. Also, I think there is no harm in asking someone their preferred pronoun if you are not sure. I often hear people use the excuse "well how am I supposed to know? I can't tell what they are", when really this is just "hidden" bias and a bullying tactic, when simply asking is the obvious solution when you are unsure. Also, I really like the image you chose. I went to a school with uniforms and one of the girls in my class would wear the boys' uniform pants instead of the skirt we wore. She used she/her pronouns and identified as a girl as I know of, but she often liked to dress more "male" or more androgynous. I was glad my school allowed her to dress as she found to be comfortable.
ReplyDeleteHi Leo! I like how you talked about showing respect for someone by simply asking them what their pronouns are or just addressing them by name. Sometimes it is so difficult for people just to show respect, but even if you have bias you shouldn't reflect that onto others. It is important to show people that basic respect so that they can feel welcomed and safe in the classroom. If a student doesn't feel welcomed, it makes it difficult for them to learn which isn't fair to them.
ReplyDelete