by Marie N. Riddle

Created on: January 07, 2009   Last Updated: July 04, 2009

It would be difficult to teach something like sexual identity in a single course. And it would be difficult to stop there when there are so many other issues that are equally important. At what age level would such a course be taught? And how much ground could one course be expected to cover? What would the goals of such a course be?

Obviously discrimination is still an issue. So is poor self esteem. But if every other subject in schools must be broken down into several categories and taught at many different levels of difficulty, then how could any real good come from teaching this in a single class? There is no doubt that there is a need for sexual identity to be taught to students, along with a whole host of other social issues. But this need stems from lack of respect for others and ourselves, and lack of tolerance for those we do not agree with.

If we instead taught our children to respect themselves, including their own bodies and to respect others rights to be individuals we would not have to teach them to understand sexual identity and expression. The result of teaching the next generation to respect others would be a decrease in bullying and hate. And by teaching our children to value themselves we would help avoid drug use, sex at increasingly younger ages, and many other self destructive activities that are sometimes a result of wanting to fit with others and belong.

And teachers alone are not enough to drive these points home. The issue is far too confused by pop culture and the way parents raise their children. Many of us have stereotypes now of buff lesbians, soft-spoken and fashion conscious men, and over-painted and over sequined drag queens. And next to these are almost always ridicule, shame, and even violence. If we want the next generation to see sexuality differently then we need to change the images we are projecting as a society. And the idea is not to convert' our children to any of these groups, but to teach them to be what they are and to let others do the same without fear or shame.

Perhaps the first step is not in teaching this to children currently in school. Why not first try to condense it as much as necessary and teach it as a required course for our future teachers? Then starting at the kindergarten level, we might teach an age appropriate class on respecting oneself and other human beings. This could be continued through elementary school and all the way through high school. Instead of merely teaching acceptance on this one issue, why not teach it on all?

These may seem to some to be unrealistic ideals, but the fact is if we can help this generation to look at humanity a little differently then they will in turn teach the next one the same. This may not change a great deal now, but gradual improvement is still improvement.

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