Article: Bridging Multicultural Education; Bringing Sexual Orientation into the Children's and Young Adult Literature Classrooms

Scholarly Article

Swartz, Patti Capel. Radical Teacher: Bridging Multicultural Education; Bringing Sexual Orientation into the Children's and Young Adult Literature Classrooms. Cambridge: Spring 2003. , Iss. 66; pg. 11

In her article, Patti Swartz explains that in an effort to bring multicultural literature into elementary and secondary classrooms, there has been a lack of representation for certain groups. The LGBTI community’s experiences have yet to be integrated into most school curriculum. There is a need for students to recognize the prejudices of the LGBTI community. It is important to make connections between stereotypes and oppressions to show student’s that our lives are not based solely on sexuality but instead there are many components that build a person. By not including this community into school curriculum, we are not attempting to rid students of their stereotypes instead we are allowing them to keep their misconceptions and prejudices by excluding this community from discussions. Swartz feels that by bringing these issues to student’s attention in literature classes allows them to read books with characters that identify as part of the LGBTI community, discuss issues and also write about them. For school districts that do not include anti-homophobic education in their curriculum, it is important for teachers to educate themselves on prejudices and methods for discussing homophobia, stereotypes and prejudices. These curriculum plans may include discussing name calling in order to explain why it is harmful and demeaning, challenging ideas about sexuality and teaching student’s to think about what our society constructs as “natural” and “normal.” Opening up discussion about sexuality and homophobia can change the way children perceive others and these ideas can be reinforced through reading. If schools are committed to providing students with multicultural literature and education, they cannot deprive students of learning about all groups, including the LGBTI community.