Dignity for All
Safeguarding LGBT Students
1st Edition
Published on 10. July 2012
Book
Paperback/Softback
136 pages
978-1-4522-0590-8 (ISBN)
Description
All students deserve a safe, respectful school environment
Students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered are susceptible to harassment from their peers and are at high risk of dropping out of school. This book provides professional development ideas and real-life vignettes that will help educational leaders foster a more caring school culture not only for LGBT students, but for all students. Peter DeWitt presents specific strategies for school leaders that include:
Implementing a student code of conduct and school board policies to safeguard students
Helping staff members recognize and respond to overt and covert LGBT issues
Professional development guidelines to equip staff to intervene
Ways to include appropriate LGBT topics in the curriculum
Supporting Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA) in middle and high school settings
This practical and compassionate guide contains numerous cases and examples, strategies and templates for codes of conduct (including the NY Code), book study questions, and links to pertinent articles, websites, and blogs for further information. Dignity for All helps inform educators of the issues and methods for building acceptance in a diverse world.
Students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered are susceptible to harassment from their peers and are at high risk of dropping out of school. This book provides professional development ideas and real-life vignettes that will help educational leaders foster a more caring school culture not only for LGBT students, but for all students. Peter DeWitt presents specific strategies for school leaders that include:
Implementing a student code of conduct and school board policies to safeguard students
Helping staff members recognize and respond to overt and covert LGBT issues
Professional development guidelines to equip staff to intervene
Ways to include appropriate LGBT topics in the curriculum
Supporting Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA) in middle and high school settings
This practical and compassionate guide contains numerous cases and examples, strategies and templates for codes of conduct (including the NY Code), book study questions, and links to pertinent articles, websites, and blogs for further information. Dignity for All helps inform educators of the issues and methods for building acceptance in a diverse world.
Reviews / Votes
"Dignity for All is a wise book that will help administrators, teachers, and parents work together to make sure that our schools are welcoming for all of our students. Peter DeWitt provides the insight and ideas to lead the way in including LGBT students." -- Diane Ravitch, Research Professor "In this book, a group of students that is often misunderstood and frequently maligned finds a voice. Educators whose reach extends to every student will discover here a deeper understanding of these students' needs as well as sound advice on addressing those needs." -- Carol Ann Tomlinson, William Clay Parrish, Jr. Professor "Leaders set the tone for their buildings. Peter DeWitt offers an important resource for teachers and administrators that will help create an inclusive school for all students." -- Todd Whitaker, Professor "Dignity for All provides educators with critical information on the experiences of LGBT students in our schools and how to create safe and affirming spaces for these youth. Grounded in his experience as a teacher and school administrator, Peter DeWitt makes vital knowledge accessible for those on the front lines in schools." -- Eliza Byard, Executive Director "This book is a valuable resource guide for schools considering a course of action. It is recommended for all high schools seeking progressive change." -- Kevin Beach * VOYA, August 2012 *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Thousand Oaks
United States
Publishing group
SAGE Publications Inc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Weight
227 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4522-0590-8 (9781452205908)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Peter DeWitt (Ed.D) is the founder and CEO of the Instructional Leadership Collective, and approaches everything with a learner's mindset. He was a K-5 teacher for 11 years and a principal for 8 years. For over 12 years, he has been facilitating professional learning nationally, and internationally, based on the content of many of his best-selling educational books.
DeWitt's professional learning relationships are a monthly hybrid approach that includes both coaching and the facilitating workshops on instructional leadership and collective efficacy. His work has been adopted at the state level, university level, and he works with numerous school districts, school boards, regional networks, ministries of education around North America, Australia, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the U.K.
Peter writes the Finding Common Ground column for Education Week with Michael Nelson and they host Corwin's Leaders Coaching Leaders podcast. In 2020 DeWitt co-created Education Week's A Seat At the Table where he moderates conversations with experts around the topics of race, gender, research, trauma and many other educational topics.
Peter is the author, co-author or contributor of numerous books and his articles have appeared in educational research journals at the state, national and international level. His books have been translated into numerous languages.
DeWitt's professional learning relationships are a monthly hybrid approach that includes both coaching and the facilitating workshops on instructional leadership and collective efficacy. His work has been adopted at the state level, university level, and he works with numerous school districts, school boards, regional networks, ministries of education around North America, Australia, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the U.K.
Peter writes the Finding Common Ground column for Education Week with Michael Nelson and they host Corwin's Leaders Coaching Leaders podcast. In 2020 DeWitt co-created Education Week's A Seat At the Table where he moderates conversations with experts around the topics of race, gender, research, trauma and many other educational topics.
Peter is the author, co-author or contributor of numerous books and his articles have appeared in educational research journals at the state, national and international level. His books have been translated into numerous languages.
Content
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
1. The Silent Minority
Our School Experiences
What It Means to Be Gay
The Need for Role Models
Harassment and Discrimination of LGBT Students
Negative Stereotypes of LGBT Students
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
2. Bullying of LGBT Students
Where Bullying Behavior Begins
Cyberbullying
Setting the Tone in School
Safeguarding and Supporting LGBT Students
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
3. The Role of Schools
The Impact Schools Can Have on LGBT Students
Keeping Students Safe
Teacher Biases
Professional Development
Parent Outreach
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
4. Curriculum Matters
Diverse Literature at an Age-Appropriate Level
Supportive Learning Environments for LGBT Students
Curriculum
Elementary School Gender Differences and Character Education
English Language Arts
Social Studies
Guest Speakers Who Address Bullying
After-School Enrichment
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
5. Gay-Straight Alliances
Why Schools Should Offer a GSA
The Parameters of Creating a GSA
Events Held by a GSA
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
6. Following Through: School Board Policies and Codes of Conduct
Laws That Support School Decisions
School Leaders Embracing the Sexual Diversity of Students
A Shared Vision: Creating School Codes of Conduct
Creating School Board Policies
How Parents, Staff, and Students Can Help
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
Questions to Ponder
7. Important Stories From Higher Education
Appendix: NASP Position Statement: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth
References
Index
Acknowledgments
About the Author
1. The Silent Minority
Our School Experiences
What It Means to Be Gay
The Need for Role Models
Harassment and Discrimination of LGBT Students
Negative Stereotypes of LGBT Students
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
2. Bullying of LGBT Students
Where Bullying Behavior Begins
Cyberbullying
Setting the Tone in School
Safeguarding and Supporting LGBT Students
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
3. The Role of Schools
The Impact Schools Can Have on LGBT Students
Keeping Students Safe
Teacher Biases
Professional Development
Parent Outreach
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
4. Curriculum Matters
Diverse Literature at an Age-Appropriate Level
Supportive Learning Environments for LGBT Students
Curriculum
Elementary School Gender Differences and Character Education
English Language Arts
Social Studies
Guest Speakers Who Address Bullying
After-School Enrichment
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
5. Gay-Straight Alliances
Why Schools Should Offer a GSA
The Parameters of Creating a GSA
Events Held by a GSA
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
6. Following Through: School Board Policies and Codes of Conduct
Laws That Support School Decisions
School Leaders Embracing the Sexual Diversity of Students
A Shared Vision: Creating School Codes of Conduct
Creating School Board Policies
How Parents, Staff, and Students Can Help
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
Questions to Ponder
7. Important Stories From Higher Education
Appendix: NASP Position Statement: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth
References
Index