Below is an article that is saddening. A teacher and students were bullying a student. Interesting read: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/03/17/Bullying_Teacher_to_Publicly_Apologize/
Bully Teacher to Publicly Apologize
By Neal Broverman
A shop teacher who mocked Florida gay student Luke Herbert (pictured) will publicly apologize as part of a settlement between the Flagler County School District and the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.
The Palm Coast, Fla., freshman was told he couldn’t keep his soda in the same refrigerator as other students or they’d turn out gay. Herbert, 15, said he and his mother complained to school officials several times about the teacher, but no one took the complaints seriously. He also asked to be moved to another class, which he says didn't happen in a timely manner.
"I reported the bullying to the administration, but it never seemed to change anything," Herbert said in a press release. "I felt alone, and it made me stop wanting to go to school. My breaking point came when one of my teachers started telling antigay jokes and mocking me in front of the entire class."
Herbert was also bullied by students at his school; a physical altercation took place between him and a homophobic student. Herbert began missing classes because of the bullying, and he was in danger of flunking out of school.
As part of the settlement, the school district offered Herbert several options to complete his education in an environment where he feels safe, including attending "virtual school." The shop teacher has been officially reprimanded and has agreed to make an official apology. The school district is also recommending to the school board that specific protections for sexual orientation and gender identity or expression be added to the student code of conduct and the school district's bullying and harassment policy. Lastly, the district is working with the Flagler Palm Coast Gay-Straight Alliance to create a series of public service announcements addressing bullying and harassment.
"What happened to Luke is inexcusable but unfortunately is an all-too-common occurrence for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students," said ACLU of Florida LGBT Advocacy Project attorney Shelbi Day in a release. "Schools have an obligation to ensure that teachers and students understand that bullying and harassment of any student is prohibited and to act swiftly and appropriately to address it when it occurs."
Nina's Advising Blog: This page is dedicated to this group of students who allows me to share their space and facilitate silliness are the most honest, caring, exciting, individualistic people I've met. I have the honor of watching how dedicated they are to each other and how they are willing to grow.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
St Francis Trip
Service learning is a huge part of our students' experience at Trillium. Below Nina's middle school students are giving the thumbs up to sandwich making at St. Francis. Students made over 70 sandwiches and put together 70 sack lunches for Portlanders experiencing homelessness.
Buddy Reading Days
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Fairness Activity Debrief
Last Thursday we did a fairness activity. We all colored a kenpo samurai with more or less resources. We were grouped by age and given resources based on what group we were in, 10 year olds, 11 year olds, 12 year olds, 13 year olds, and 14 year olds.
Students debriefed the activity. They had big group and small group discussions. Students then wrote individual reflections. The questions students were asked to reflect or answer these questions: What does prejudice mean? What group were you in? How did it feel? Have you ever had less resources than others? (explain?) Have you ever had more resources than others? (explain?) Why did Nina make us take part in this painful ridiculous arguably dangerous activity?
Some responses were:
How would you describe fairness?
"Treating others equally : )"(F) "Equal access to resources"(S) "Equal access to the same things" (S)
How did it feel to have more or less? "Like I was gum on the bottom of the 12 year olds baby seal lofers, waiting to be scraped off and chewed." (B) It feels bad when you see some one with less things or more things than you but you could ask or borrow from a a friend (D)It felt very unfair but at the same time I felt like it was okay because I had better resources than others"
Have you ever had less resources than others? (explain?) (S) "Of course I have, but I am lucky for the resources that I do have" "Not until yesterday" (C) "Well, I don't have the best house and we don't have resources that most have AND IT SUCKS to be treated different because of that people pelt my house with eggs because they think its haunted" (B)
Why did Nina make us take part in this painful ridiculous arguably dangerous activity?
"Becuase to learn that its not OK and to show example of unfairness in sisiaty" "I think to teach us about unfairness and because she is crazy" (C) "To example fairness in society (P)" "Because she loves us (C)" "To whirl us into a depresion"
Students debriefed the activity. They had big group and small group discussions. Students then wrote individual reflections. The questions students were asked to reflect or answer these questions: What does prejudice mean? What group were you in? How did it feel? Have you ever had less resources than others? (explain?) Have you ever had more resources than others? (explain?) Why did Nina make us take part in this painful ridiculous arguably dangerous activity?
Some responses were:
How would you describe fairness?
"Treating others equally : )"(F) "Equal access to resources"(S) "Equal access to the same things" (S)
How did it feel to have more or less? "Like I was gum on the bottom of the 12 year olds baby seal lofers, waiting to be scraped off and chewed." (B) It feels bad when you see some one with less things or more things than you but you could ask or borrow from a a friend (D)It felt very unfair but at the same time I felt like it was okay because I had better resources than others"
Have you ever had less resources than others? (explain?) (S) "Of course I have, but I am lucky for the resources that I do have" "Not until yesterday" (C) "Well, I don't have the best house and we don't have resources that most have AND IT SUCKS to be treated different because of that people pelt my house with eggs because they think its haunted" (B)
Why did Nina make us take part in this painful ridiculous arguably dangerous activity?
"Becuase to learn that its not OK and to show example of unfairness in sisiaty" "I think to teach us about unfairness and because she is crazy" (C) "To example fairness in society (P)" "Because she loves us (C)" "To whirl us into a depresion"
Monday, February 7, 2011
Hunger Banquet vs. Fairness Game
We recently did a fairness simulation in class. It was a edited hunger banquet with supplies as opposed to food. It was a discussion during the simulation with the students with the smallest age group singled out. It brought up a lot of emotions and feelings about the topic of fairness and prejudice. Students supported each other working out how this may or may not reflect society and how it may or may not affect the outcomes of adult education and life skills.
We've had several good conversations about it. It will fit into our work this next semester on bullying, fairness, and prejudging people before you know them.
Students will be reading Lord of the Flies, will be watching movies about bullying, and will be having lots of discussions. We will watch Karate Kid, excerpts from Lord of the Flies the movie, clips of TV shows, and more. If you you would not like your student to be watching movies about bullying and prejudice please let me know.
If you have a spare copy of Lord of the Flies please please write y'alls name and phone number in the front and send it with your student to class.
Thank you, and I look forward to this next semester!
We've had several good conversations about it. It will fit into our work this next semester on bullying, fairness, and prejudging people before you know them.
Students will be reading Lord of the Flies, will be watching movies about bullying, and will be having lots of discussions. We will watch Karate Kid, excerpts from Lord of the Flies the movie, clips of TV shows, and more. If you you would not like your student to be watching movies about bullying and prejudice please let me know.
If you have a spare copy of Lord of the Flies please please write y'alls name and phone number in the front and send it with your student to class.
Thank you, and I look forward to this next semester!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
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