Reading/Discussion: Considering Transgender People in Education: A Gender-Complex Approach

This is the start of Rands’ Abstract for this complex article:

Schools serve as a setting in which students come to understand gender, but transgender students (those who transgress societal gender norms) are largely left out of discussions of education. The high level of harassment that transgender students face poses sizable obstacles to school success. If the field of education is committed to equity and social justice, then teacher education programs must prepare educators to teach gender in more complex ways that take into consideration the existence and needs of transgender people.

• Write your own discussion based on the attached file.
• Respond to all THREE student’s discussions.

First friend respond:

So while reading the article I took the following notes and added my own thoughts and opinions on the topic of transgender people in education.

Schools do need to provide more curriculum and acceptance for transgender students because they are already likely to feel left out in most things, or to get bullied by their peers, so how can they confide or go to their teachers for help when the teachers themselves haven’t been accepting as well

Transgender and nontraditional gender identities need to be more talked about in school because that is the time when a lot of students truly discover and speak out about their gender identity or sexuality.

It needs to be implemented before and to prevent a ki from ending their own life or hurting others

Transgender education needs to be introduced in the public school system because some students may not go to college, where it is more accepting, and won’t experience the acceptance and participation that college has to offer, but also so high school students don’t enter college with such a culture shock

High school is a stepping stone in life, so it should include things that kids are going to experience in the real world, so transgender education should be introduced so they are more prepared for what they might encounter, which includes many people who identify other than cis male or cis female.

Second friend respond:

While I was reading the article, “Considering Transgender People in Education” I realized that transgenders suffered especially in an academic environment. All sexes have the right to live together in any community without fear of one another. If there is gender classification for men and women in school then there should be a clear definition for transgender students or teachers too. non-binary genders should be fitted in that gender classification table. As a 17- years old transboy indicated in the article,” If I could change one thing, it would be that all people were required to understand that there are more than two categories of gender. That way other kids won’t have to suffer as I did.” Every academic environment should have an informative subject about transgender that should be thought in school to increase the level of same understanding among all genders and let classified genders (men and women) that there are other genders too that have the same rights that the classified genders have.

Third friend respond:

While reading the article, I was drawn towards the section “Harassment, Bullying, and Violence Against Transgender People”. It was unpleasant to read about the injustice being done to a person based on his or her gender classification, especially in school settings. Schools are a primary vehicle for educating, socializing, and providing services to young people. Nevertheless, for gender nonconforming students the academic environment has been awful. Every day, these students face challenges such as violence, bullying, psychological risk, exclusion, and discrimination (Rands,2009,p.422). As a result of the lack of policies and practices that support transgender youths and teachers. From elementary to high school, my teachers never introduced students to any other gender apart from male and female. I remember an incident from high school where one of my transgender male friends was verbally and physically harassed by other boys. When he reported the incident, neither the teacher nor the school administration believed him. Instead, they blamed him for being open about his sexual orientation. Constant harassment and not having his voice heard led him to become a school dropout. As his friend, there was less I could do to support him. In my opinion, this situation could have been avoided if other students and I had been informed that for some individuals their gender does not correspond to their sex at birth. Thus, this leads to my second point. The importance of public and private schools to include a curriculum through which students can learn, understand and accept gender identities apart from masculine and feminine. I assume that it will only be possible if an educator/teacher becomes a supportive ally for transgender individuals to create a safe academic environment. As an ally, teachers need to know and address the issues faced by the students based on their sexual orientation, be effective supporters, educate students, current and future staff. Also, teachers can advocate for equitable representation of students and staff in classrooms and beyond, regardless of their gender identity.