Gender and Education

 Introduction
Sexual orientation and gender identity is an issue that is becoming increasingly important as the number of people who question their gender increases. The article Challenges for Educators: Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Families bring to focus the challenges that lesbian, Gay, and bisexual parents and their children face in their day-to-day lives.
Because of the traditional definition of family favored in the country, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) parents and their children face discrimination, harassment, and bullying. Discrimination, harassment, and bullying is against the law, however, children with LGBT parents face this every day at school. The article breaks down commonly held notions by providing scientific evidence that equates heterosexual marriages and children to homosexual marriages and children growing up in the families. This knowledge is of paramount importance to educators because it enables them to provide a better learning environment to the increasing number of students with homosexual parents.
Gender and Education
The main challenge faced by children of homosexual parents is the homophobia and heterosexism unbridled in the society today. This manifests in the irrational fear of homosexuals and the restricted legal definition of marriage and family. The low number of students reporting problems and poor performance in school because of their parents sexuality is not evidence that the issue is not a problem. Studies reveal that most students perceive the issues of their parents sexuality as embarrassing thus are less likely to report it as the cause of a bullying or fighting incident. As evident from the article, children from homosexual families suffer in silence and only reveal their suffering in rare occasions, such as during a therapy session (Sears, 1994).
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual marriages are discriminated against across every sector in the country. Even in legal matters, a lesbian, gay, or bisexual parent is less likely to get custody than a heterosexual parent is. Available evidence reveals that children brought up in homosexual homes face similar challenges to children brought up in heterosexual homes (Sears, 1994). The article identifies the irrational fear rampant in the society today and appreciates the role of educators in shaping this fear. The low number of homophobic related incidents reported in school is not a manifest of the low level of homophobia in the society or the low number of LGBT families. Most students never report this as a case of bullying or fighting thus, they come across as being arrogant or simply undisciplined. As the child grows older, he or she starts abusing drugs and engaging in other self-destructive behavior.
Educators must develop policies and training programs that are sensitive to the issue of LGBT families because teachers play a very significant role in the society. The current homophobia in the society has no scientific backing and while instituting legal rights for same sex marriages will help the situation, there must be a social change. At the heart of the society, shaping perceptions to the very fine details are educators. Rene Descartes perhaps the greatest philosophy said, I exist because I think. It is clear that existence is a state of consciousness and it is at this basic level that the teacher interacts with the society. The educator evokes self-realization in a child. This creates consciousness and a life long journey of self-discovery. The educator is a facilitator; the potential to achieve is embedded within each child. Through exposure to different materials, information, and environment, the educator shapes a childs perception. Educators have far-reaching influence on the society. As an architect of future generations, the teacher is best placed to solve the issue of discrimination against LGBT families (Sears, 1994).
The issue of homosexuality and the role that educators should play has brought to the forefront the role of school in the society. Ideally, a school should be a place where individuality is encouraged. Students are taught to respect other people as individuals and through critical thinking, the students should be able to view issues from different perspectives. However, this is far from the role that school is playing in the society today. Instead of encouraging individuality, schools encourage conformity through policies, which either passively tolerate discrimination of students from LGBT families or discourage the discussion of the issue in the classrooms. The current situation is a result of actions by self-appointed moral vigilant who systematically omit contribution of homosexual scholars from the curriculum (Sears, 1994). The educators have an opportunity of playing an active role in the acceptance of sexuality as a personal issue that does not need defining by the society or state. This is possible by educating children without omitting certain contributions associated with homosexuals, and using gender-neutral language in the curriculum.
Homosexuality has always been there, however, it has received much publicity lately possibly because homosexuals want the reorganization of the society and state as contributors in the society just like heterosexual members. Educators are the architects of future generation therefore, logic that anyone seeking to change something as ingrained in the society, as homophobia should start in schools. The current curriculum encourages homophobic behavior by either design or emission. To address the issue in totality, educators must be sensitive to the needs of this group in the society (Sears, 1994).
Conclusion
The article discusses the issue of homosexuality, which is a current affair in the schools, media, and judiciary. It outlines the facts and myths common in the society and clearly identifies the challenges that children in LGBT families face. While LGBT families are different from the traditional definition of family, the members of this family are no different from members of heterosexual families. Members face the same challenges, such as divorce, and the children have a similar experience during their childhood. The role of the educators in shaping the society is significant. This could aid in ending the homophobia, which will enable children from LGBT families to achieve their best in school and life.
References
Sears, J. T. (1994). Challenges for Educators: Lesbians, Gay, and Bisexual Families. The High School Journal. 77.1/2 pp. 138-156.