Teach with Pride

The crisis in our schools

The Stonewall Report 2012 proves that Homophobic Bullying continues to be endemic in Britain’s schools. More than half (55%) of lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have experienced direct bullying. The use of homophobic language is a particular issue. Almost all (99%) gay young people hear the phrases ‘that’s so gay’ or ‘you’re so gay’ in school and 96% of gay pupils hear homophobic language such as ‘poof’ or ‘lezza’. Homophobic bullying has a profoundly damaging impact on young people’s school experience. One in three (32%) gay pupils experiencing bullying change their future educational plans because of it and three in five say it impacts directly on their school work. Gay people who are bullied are at a higher risk of suicide, self-harm and depression.

Currently, only half of gay pupils report that their schools say homophobic bullying is wrong, but reports prove that:

  • teachers want to be given training and advice on how to tackle homophobia in their classrooms.
  • at schools where this has been done, LGBT students feel much more confident at reporting issues.

Norwich Pride’s Education Officer is Nick O’Brien

Nick is an LGBT activist in the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and teacher at Dereham Neatherd High School.

 

Nick O'Brien, teacher

Nick O’Brien

 

What is the Teach with Pride group going to do about it?

  • We want to send a clear message that LGBTphobia in schools is unacceptable and needs to be challenged. We are currently working with the NUT on the Prevalence of Homophobia Survey – which is being sent to every school and NUT member in Norfolk. We plan to publish the results at Norwich Pride 2013.
  • We want to help produce, share and signpost easy to use teaching resources and strategies for use in primary and secondary schools. We have worked with and organised joint meetings with LGBT History Month, Schools Out and Elly Barnes in the past.
  • Teach with Pride recently organised a Norfolk National Union of Teachers (NUT) free workshop in LGBT History Month at Bignold Primary School with Tony Fenwick – co chair of LGBT History Month. Rita Adair, Senior Educational Pyschologist for Norfolk who leads on anti-bullying work in the county also contributed. We plan another workshop at Norwich Pride 2013.
  • We want to provide opportunities for LGBT teachers and allies to network and build confidence.

What is your own coming out story?

This is a teaching resource that can be used with most students if adapted. It focusses on what it means to “come out” and encourages people who are not necessarily LGBT to show empathy with the decisions and feelings that LGBT people have.
It can be launched in English or PSHE sessions or can be slotted into a collective worship/ form time slot.

What is your own coming out story?

 

This lesson was inspired by “OUT140: The Little Book of Coming Out Stories” and copies of the book will need to be purchased (normal price £1.40 but please ask for the educational discount). For more information contact shell@shellytelly.co.uk.

IDAHO Day

 

May 17th is IDAHO Day- the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia.
We are encouraging all schools to fly the rainbow flag where possible and raise awareness with your students.

Teaching resources

Our Education Officer, Nick O’Brien, has provided teaching resources that he has found very useful in relation to IDAHO day.

The Powerpoint link below is a teaching resource from Nick O’Brien that can be used to facilitate lesson three in the UNESCO lesson plans – “The Mixing it up” activity. This activity is suitable for all students on secondary school age and best delivered in PSHE lessons or form time.

The Mixing it up activity

 

LGBT History Month

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month takes place every year in February. It celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community. 2014 is dedicated to music.

The team behind LGBT History Month are committed to celebrate its diversity and that of the society as a whole. They encourage everyone to see diversity and cultural pluralism as the positive forces that they are and endeavour to reflect this in all they do.

UK Website: lgbthistorymonth.org.uk
Norfolk Website: www.lgbthistorymonthnorfolk.org.uk

The following resources are available to support the teaching of LGBT History Month and to aid discussion:

Rita Adair, Senior Lead Educational Psychologist, has collated Norfolk pack for LGBT History Month containing information on resources that schools will find useful to use during LGBT History Month. This includes relevant policy documents, training resources and materials to be used in the classroom:

Norfolk also runs 2 one day courses targeted at tackling homophobia in the classrooms on the 13th and 14th Feburary 2014:

Di Cunningham from Future Radio / Pride Live! has pulled together a list of key Musicians and Songs for LGBT History Month in collaboration with Jules. It reflects music which is currently played on Future Radio’s Pride Live! Show (up to Feb 2014), the show from Norwich’s LGBT Community for everyone, broadcast locally on 107.8fm and worldwide @ www.futureradio.co.uk/listen live as well as via podcasts.

LGBT History Month

 

More information

For more information on how you can Teach with Pride and tackle homophobia and transphobia in your school,
email n.obrien80@googlemail.com