There are a couple of interesting articles in this week’s Westword newspaper about how schools are increasing their efforts to protect gay students from being bullied and harassed.
You can find the articles here:
http://www.westword.com/2012-05-31/news/gay-bullying-in-schools/
http://www.westword.com/2012-05-31/news/gay-bullying-legislation-in-colorado/
Much of the article is devoted to national efforts, but the second link discusses efforts in Colorado to protect gay students.
In my experience as a former teacher and administrator, I’ve witnessed firsthand how a handful of students can make life miserable for a gay student. I’ve seen students who have routinely been insulted, intimidated and threatened — and I know how intensely these things can affect a student’s physical and emotional well-being, not to mention their academic performance.
The Westword article makes it clear that Colorado law and Colorado schools have become more effective in guarding against the ullying of gay students, and in my experience this certainly is true. Most schools these days don’t tolerate the kinds of slurs against gays that were considered acceptable a decade or two ago. In fact, schools are going beyond simply disciplining students who harass and bully gay students. Through the use of restorative justice programs, they’re getting such students to understand the harm that their actions bring about. Moreover, schools are growing increasingly supportive of Gay-Straight Alliance student-led groups.
Unfortunately, bullying against gays continues to take place in schools, and some schools don’t take this type of behavior as seriously as they should. Any parent of a gay student who is being harassed and/or bullied should remember that schools have a responsibility to protect all students, and they shouldn’t be reluctant to express their dissatisfaction to school administrators whenever a school is not doing enough to ensure a student’s safety.