Something discussed in class this past Monday really grabbed my attention, and related to part of the reading in Chapter 27. It was brought up in discussion that many of us don't think twice about when we see teachers wearing wedding rings or have photographs of their ("traditional"/heterosexual) families up in their classrooms. Many of us therefore fail to realize how how this might make LBGTQ students feel. On day one of my fieldwork, I noticed all the family photographs my cooperating teacher has up in her room—including a wedding one of the bride and groom kissing—but before Monday's class, never thought about the repercussions of this for some students and other teachers. This is most definitely part of the hidden curriculum that Peter Mclaren discusses that can lead to sexism and sexually accepted beliefs. The "unwitting and unintended granting of power and privilege" mentioned is one of the most dangerous things happening in today's classroom through the hidden curriculum (414).
What I find to be most frigthening about this is that we rarely see our own hidden curriculum to the extent that it exists or is being unknowingly taught, and that we rarely reflect on it....
4 comments:
I suppose it kind of falls into the "white privilege" category. If we aren't immeadiately affected by it, we tend not to notice it.
A bit off of the subject, but on the same lines, I was shocked to find out that some teachers ostracize students for belonging to the gay and lesbian alliance at Amy's school.
Being a heterosexual, I suppose it never occured to me that "wearing a wedding ring" or the picture of my kids on my notebook could make others feel uncomfortable. I don't think I would have any issues with gay/lesbian students having pictures of their significant others, however I am not the student body or in their peer group.
I completely agree that we have to beware the hidden curriculum that we inadvertently are placing on our students. However, I think the way the whole issue discussed is a bit ridiculous, specifically the terminology. I think the label, "hidden curriculum," makes the subject seem so evil, not the act of having photos out on our desks.
As teachers, we will be seen as role models for our students. We have to make sure we not only act properly, but also present ourselves in a proper manner. With that said, I think that rather than labeling the photos on our desks of our loved one (which may include only couples of a man and a woman) as hidden curriculum, we have to acknowledge that there is something that our students may take away from seeing the pictures and consider the implications. I suppose I am irked by the "hidden curriculum" nomenclature.
I completely agree with you Brad, and I am happy you brought up the counter point. I see how it implies a "hidden curriculum" that it might seem as if you are saying that being straight is the right way, but I don't think it is as bad as we are making it. I don't think that teachers should have to hide ther family pictures. That is just making the situation worse. As I stated in a previous blog of mine (read it if you want to understand the reference :)), i think that part of the problem is that we do make such a large deal about people who are gay. We are situating them as the "abnormal" in our society by doing this. It shouldn't matter if a teacher has a pictire of woman and a woman or a man and a man on his/her desk because it should just be normal either way. There shouldn't be a discussion; some people would just be born gay and some straight and everyone understands this. No questions would need to be asked; no educational seminars for students would have to be held; nothing that perpetuates the position of gay as abnormal by analyzing, or ignoring it. But I don't think this is going to happen any time soon. I can dream though, right?
I want to make clear what I meant when calling attention to hetero privilege: in no way was I advocating that straight folks hide who they are, put their pictures away, or take their rings off. Rather, understand that while straight folks can take their privilege for granted by saying things like, "I will not tell my students my sexual preference, so why should gays have to Out themselves to students?" gays continually labor to assimilate into the hetero world, keeping their happiness to themselves, changing pronouns, pretending their single when kids ask, and living a life of lies... and that is what oppression is.
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