"Teach Your Children Well..."
Dateline: 10/24/97
In recent news we've all heard about the lesbian Utah School Teacher who was fired and many voices are speaking out about this injustice, while she is forced to bring a lawsuit to regain her job.
You see, the district wanted her to refrain from making statements, specifically, "not to make comments, announcements or statements to students, staff members or parents of students regarding your homosexual orientation or lifestyle." and to refuse to answer any so-called personal questions, "[You] shall tell them that the subject is private and personal and inappropriate to discuss with them."
Notice that this prohibition wasn't just regarding students, but also as to adult co-workers and parents. However, I think it's rather clear that the intent of the requirement was to shield the children from homosexuality.
Throughout my years at school my teachers shared glimpses into their lives with their classes. These glimpses turned the teachers into human beings, thereby benefiting the educational environment.
When I was in elementary school (the time period most commonly referred to as "The Dark Ages"), we didn't have any "Ms" women teachers, they were all "Miss" or "Mrs" so we knew the marital status of each of them. As with most elementary schools in those days, we didn't have any male teachers until the 5th and 6th grade.
My 5th Grade teacher had a daughter the same age as the students in the class. He used to tell us stories about her, and what she was learning at her school. I seem to recall that one day he brought her to our class to visit.
Then there was Junior High...
When I was in the 8th Grade, one of my teachers enjoyed talking to the class about her life. We learned the most fascinating things about her and from the "more than we needed to know" files, we learned that she was only married because she wanted to have a baby. She planned on divorcing her husband once she gave birth. (A plan she carried out successfully, for those who were wondering)
High School was similar...
Somehow we all knew that our 10th Grade English teacher rarely dated, and when she did go on a date it became the subject of loving teasing by the class, especially the time she showed up with scratches on her hands.
Our 11th Grade History teacher had two wonderful children who were mentioned off and on throughout the year (and who turned out to be pretty super adults as well).
Additionally, throughout the years we reveled in the marriages of our teachers, and suffered their bad moods through their divorces.
I also had a lot of gay and lesbian teachers. You wouldn't know it from them sharing their lives, but students always know.
There was little doubt that our 9th Grade Spanish teacher was gay. When he retired from teaching and moved to Utah to "open a clothing store," the ignorant joke at the time was, "women's clothing, no doubt."
One of the (girls) PE coaches at my High School was gay. I'm sure that this comes as a shock to you. She was far from out, in fact, we didn't get along and I've always suspected it's because she knew about me (before I did) and was afraid because I already had a reputation as an outspoken person ... but every once in awhile we'd see her "friend" pick her up, and for anybody who noticed such things, there was no doubt as to their relationship.
Another teacher at the High School taught Health, and while I didn't have her for a teacher, I understand she would announce to her classes on the first day of school, "You may hear rumors about me, whether they're true or not is irrelevant, I'm your teacher and here's what we'll be learning this year..." A couple of years later I ran into her in the "Faculty Dining Room." She smiled, and seemed to know me even though I hadn't had her for a class. I have no doubt that the recognition was that other type of "Yes, here we both are" type of smile.
But none of the gay or lesbian teachers talked about their lives in the same manner as all the heterosexual teachers did.
I could spend a lot of time analyzing why Utah believes that there is something specifically wrong with students knowing that their teacher is gay or lesbian. I could delve into how inherently ignorant this attitude is, and compare it to the virtually free reign that heterosexual teachers have regarding sharing their personal lives, as noted above. I could pontificate about how important gay and lesbian role models, people to talk to, are important for gay and lesbian students. I could close with a ringing denouncement of the Utah action, asking you to all join me in my ire.
However, I'm sure you've already joined me, and I believe that Wendy Weaver will be successful in her Court battle.
Similar to when Utah wanted to bar all Gay & Lesbian student clubs and the Court ordered them to include a Gay & Lesbian Students Club in its schools as a matter of fundamental fairness, Utah will lose this one. In that case, Utah chose to ban all student clubs. But that's not going to work this time. After all, what is Utah going to do... ban all teachers?
In pride,
Deborah
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