Professional Resource

Emfinger, Kay (2007). Rethinking welcoming literacy environments for LGBT families. (educating children on sex differences). Childhood Education. 84.1 (Fall 2007): 24(5). Academic OneFile. Gale. Michigan State University Libraries. 18 Nov. 2008.

As teachers, it’s important to create a safe learning environment for all children and to teach the importance of accepting differences among students. All students should be treated and treat each other equally. A huge strategy to create an equal and warm classroom environment is by providing a plethora of literature with all religions, cultures, sexual orientations, ethnicities, etc. This way the students will not feel left out when reading pieces of literature.

It’s important for students while reading to be able to connect and relate with books, especially at younger ages when they’re searching their own identity. “Young children need to see their own experiences reflected and validated in school (Emfinger, p. 24).” Literature is a perfect way for the children to relate. However, the LGBT community is often excluded from classroom and/or school libraries in fear of raising debate and concern from families who disagree with this “issue.” We need to realize that it’s not an issue but an actual multicultural group. Excluding the LGBT community from our literature selection in schools is like excluding Native American literature because a parent isn’t comfortable exposing their children to this issue. The LGBT community is just as much as a multicultural group as any other. It’s a way of life for certain individuals and deserves just as much respect and inclusion as any diverse group. We also need to realize that there is literature out there on LGBT, but the problem is few teachers and librarians are putting these books onto bookshelves. We need to reach all of our students and it’s important to include every student and family’s individual differences.

The inclusion of this literature can have a positive effect on your students who are tomorrow’s leaders. “Modeling and teaching behaviors appropriate in a diverse society creates paths to equal opportunity for all learners (Emfinger, p. 25).” First, it’s important to recognize our own stereotypes and biases by education ourselves. Then, we can not only tolerate other multicultural groups but also understand them and accept them. By us as teachers modeling this openness and acceptance, our students will learn through us the importance of equality. “Teaching provides a new lens through which to see the world...a way to let students know that everything is possible (Emfinger, p. 25).”