March 2011: Meet India Dastic, a Beginning Teacher at PUC Schools

Background

Meet India "We wish more teachers discussed these issues," were comments that India's students shared after she implemented the strategy, "'That's So Gay' -- How That Phrase Can Hurt." Earlier this school year, India, a beginning teacher who teaches high school Algebra and Geometry at PUC Schools in Los Angeles, caught two of her advisory students using sexual orientation slurs.  “They didn't see the harm in using the words ‘gay’ and ‘fag’ out of context and my hope was to open their eyes through this lesson.” Guidance from India on Adapting this Strategy for the Students or Mentees You’re Serving: ”I encourage everyone to spend time going over this topic with their students. At the end of my lesson, my students wished more teachers had discussed what using the word “gay” really means and how it can be harmful. I would also encourage teachers to make the lesson their own and tweak it for their students to make the most significant impact.” A Little More Background on India Before Diving Into the Strategy India was drawn to teach at PUC Schools because of its small class sizes, the determination of the organization to ensure that every student graduates high school with a focus on college, and the instructional support PUC offers to beginning teachers. “Working at PUC has stretched me in multiple ways,” she says, “but I have grown as a teacher because of it.”

India’s Strategy

“That’s So Gay” – How That Phrase Can Hurt Created by: India Dastic, PUC Schools America Learns Network member since 2009 Topics: Race; Culture; Gender Bias Awareness Grade Level: Ninth – Twelfth Arrangements: One-on-One; Small Group; Large Group Materials: Article for you to read before adapting the strategy for your students or mentees: 'Good Morning Boys & Girls' Lots of whiteboard/chalk board space OR markers & chart paper "Disagree with Grace" statements Letter assignment - - - - - - - - - - - - Situation: I was flipping channels one night and came across a Dr. Phil show discussing acceptance of gay, lesbian, and bisexual teenagers. It really spoke to me and got me wondering how I could express the importance of acceptance to my students. I decided to do an anti-bias lesson with my advisory students because two of them had used sexual orientation slurs in a classroom in the past three months. They didn't see the harm in using the words "gay" and "fag" out of context and my hope was to open their eyes through this lesson. I adapted the lesson from teachingtolerance.org, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center.  It was a very successful lesson that spoke to my students. The letters they wrote at the end of the lesson were quite touching. A few of them said they wished more teachers talked about these type of topics with them.     Step 1: Ask your students to briefly respond to the following questions in writing.  They'll keep their responses to themselves. Have you ever been called a name? How did that name-calling make you feel? What do you think of when you see the phrase “That’s so gay”?     Step 2: Introduce the expectations of the day's discussion and model the "disagree with grace" statements. Expectations: To discuss the phrase "That's so gay," and to express why that phrase may be hurtful to others. Explain that during the discussion, the students may disagree with one another, which is okay.  Should disagreements arise, it's important that students "disagree with grace."  Review and model the "disagree with grace" statements with your students.     Step 3: Hook #1: Galley Walk Write the following five questions on board space or butcher paper around your discussion space. What do you think of when you hear the word “gay”? In what ways have you heard the word “gay” used? Why do you think people sometimes use the phrase, “That’s so gay”? How would you feel if someone said, “That’s so gay” about something you were doing or about something you liked? What would you do if you heard someone say “That’s so gay” or another unacceptable remark? All at once, students will get up and answer or write down their thoughts beneath each question.  Explain that if they don't have a definite answer to a question, they should just write whatever comes to mind. Spend five or so minutes having students walk around the room reading responses. Pay attention to anything that stands out.     Step 4: Hook #2: Video Share the following video from Youtube/CNN, which deals with two children who committed suicide as a result of being taunted as "Gay" (among other labels) at school. Reflection questions to ask following the video: What’s your initial reaction to the stories that were shared? How do you think situations like these can be avoided? Did the video change your idea of the phrases, “That’s so gay” or “You’re so gay.”     Step 5: Discussion: As a class, come together to discuss the questions students' responses. Note: Clarify any definitions of words or phrases that come up during the discussion.  Be sure to ask students and to reinforce why words and phrases such as “That’s so gay,” “gay,” “fag,” “sissy” or anything else that came up are inappropriate.  Ask students to think about why these particular words are used, and encourage students to discuss specific examples they've come across.     Step 6: Letter Writing Activity: In a notebook or journal, ask your students to write a letter based on the discussion you just facilitated.  Possible topics: Imagine you are writing to a school newspaper, to the principal or to a bully. Write to the students in the video who bullied the students who later committed suicide. Write to the students who were bullied. Write your opinion about name-calling in school, why it happens, and how you and your classmates can put a stop to it. Ask the students to share and discuss the letters they wrote in small groups.     Step 7: Follow-up/Reflection: Form groups of two to three, and ask each group to make a poster about the information they discussed and thought about today.  They'll share this poster with the group.