Talking Points #3

Gayness Multicultural Education and Community
Dennis Carlson

Premise:
- gay identity
-gay community
-stereotypes
-silence
-systemic oppression
-invisibility
-selective respresentation

Authors Argument:
Carlson argues that public schools appear to help children participate in communities that teach respect, but that in reality the public school community shows the gay community as a negative force, and keeps them from being represesnted in the mainstream classroom.

Evidence:
1. "Three techniques of normalization and marginalization have been of primary importance in this regard: (1) the erasure of gayness in the curriculum,(2) the "closeting" and "witch hunting" of gay teachers, and (3) verbal and physical intimidation of gay teachers and students."
2. " At the level of state educational policy, it is noteworthy that no state currently recognizes gays and lesbians as legitimate minority or cultural groups to be considered in textbook adoption or to be inculded in multicultural education;"
3. " the school community has been sanctioning of the verbal and physical intimidation of gay teachers and students.... These abuses get tolerated because gay teachers and students operate in an environment where they feel afraid to stand up for themselves."

Questions/Comments
This is my reality, as hard it is to read I cant thank Carlson enough for calling it into the limelight, class will be a challenge for me- I am requesting your respect.
Thank you