Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 17:27:11 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 10/19/99 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. Survey on standards 2. England: News items from Schools' Out! =========================================================== [not strictly LGBT-related, but important] Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 05:59:45 -0700 From: Ncea@aol.com Subject: survey on standards Dear NCEA friends and members, Rethinking Schools' managing editor Barbara Miner is working on an article following up on the recent National Education Summit held at the IBM headquarters (the one with Clinton, all these corporate heads and governors, on implementing high standards). She would appreciate your responses to any or all of the questions below. Please respond directly to Barbara at barbaramin@aol.com no later than Monday, October 25. Please note whether you are a k-12 classroom teacher, parent, administrator, policy analyst, etc. If you are willing to have your comments "on the record," please include your name, title, and a phone number. If there are sections of your comments you want "off the record," please note those. Thanks, debi duke Questions: 1. How do you define "the standards movement?" 2. How does your definition conform to or differ from the view reflected in the various National Education Summits, such as the one held in the beginning of October at the IBM headquarters? 3. What are the pros and cons of using high-stakes tests such as the MCAS in Massachusetts or the IGAP test in Illinois to help implement higher standards? 4. Have the "no social promotion" policies in New York City and Chicago, which have led to summer school for thousands of students in an effort to help them pass gate-keeping tests, been helpful or harmful to the students' education and to implementing higher standards? Why? 5. What is the best way to implement higher standards in schools? 6. What is the best way to demonstrate to the public that higher standards are being met? 7. What has been the impact of the "higher standards" movement on classroom practice? Thank you for your help. ================================================================================ Subject: Schools' Out! National News 27.9.99 Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 17:40:17 +0100 News from Schools' Out! National [working for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transperson equality in education] http://www.schools-out.org.uk E-mail secretary@schools-out.org.uk NO ONE IS BORN PREJUDICED GUIDELINES ON HOMOPHOBIC BULLYING PRIDE IN EDUCATION CONFERENCE DISMISSED BECAUSE OF YOUR SEXUALITY? NO ONE IS BORN PREJUDICED "No one is born prejudiced. We learn to be prejudiced and so the best place to prevent prejudice is at school" Says eighteen year old James Hudson in a STONEWALL leaflet appealing for funds for the campaign to repeal Section 28. He also recounts the following experience:- "On Monday 22 March a boy at my school head-butted me and broke my nose. I had given his sister a kiss and he told me he didn't want his family 'contaminated by queers.' My teacher wouldn't take me to hospital, saying he was too busy. As for the head teacher he refused to punish the boy who hit me. "It's not that he's soft on bullies. If it had been racial abuse the boy would have been expelled immediately. It's just that he is soft on queer-bashing. In Assembly he told us that he thought homosexuality was abhorrent. He encouraged an atmosphere of hate and prejudice towards gays which resulted in the violence towards me. "The boy who hit me is being prosecuted, but he is still at school. I am the one who's had to stay at home to study for my A-levels." Section 28 of the 1988 Local Government Act contributes to the environment in which young gay people like James Hudson are the victims of hate crimes. There is chance to get repeal of Section 28 included in the Queen's Speech this November. Members of Parliament and Government Ministers need to be lobbied NOW. Further information on the STONEWALL campaign from http://www.stonewall.org.uk/ GUIDELINES ON HOMOPHOBIC BULLYING The South West based project "Joint Action Against Homophobic Bullying" have produced guidelines for school staff on preventing and dealing with homophobic bullying. They will be circulated to all schools in Devon. The National Association of Governors and Managers of Schools have suggested that the JAAHB guidelines should be made available nationally. Further details from jaahb@intercom.freeserve.co.uk PRIDE IN EDUCATION CONFERENCE The National Union of Teachers is holding its "Pride in Education: Conference on Lesbian and Gay Equality in Education" in London on Saturday 4th December 1999. The theme this year is "Towards Equality; the Next Step" and the keynote speaker will be Professor Maritin Mac an Ghaill, author of "The Making of Men: Maasculinities, Sexuality and Schooling." There will be two sets of workshop groups during the day on a variety of themes. Plenary discussion will allow input from Conference participants. Further information and application forms from: Education and Equal Opportunities Dept., National Union of Teachers, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD Telephone 0171 387 8458 DISMISSED BECAUSE OF YOUR SEXUALITY? A woman is researching an original stage play featuring a teacher who is persecuted and dismissed because of his sexuality. She is an established playwright and would very much like to talk to any gay man who has had a similar experience, preferably in the teaching profession or in youth work in order to gather information on how such persecution affects those involved.Contact: Clare 0181 9959721 ========================================================================================================== Jean Richter -- richter@eecs.berkeley.edu The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project (Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation Nationally) These messages are archived by state on our information-loaded free web site: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/