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How Safe Are Our Schools?

There is little doubt that LGBT children exist in our school systems, and the numbers are far larger than the boards or the parents are willing to admit.  The schools have extensive anti-bullying policies and that is well and good as long as they enforce a zero tolerance policy toward bullying.  However this is often left to the discretion of the principal of each school.

It is of course well understood that schools are places of learning and as such need to be a safe environment.  However the students are also learning more than the 3 R's.  They are also learning social constructs and behaviours.  This is where often the problems begin and they begin early, not in the 9th grade.  The very essence of kindergarten classes is one of socializing as well as learning.  So why does it appear to stop at the first grade?

Let's use the 0.5% number as a basis for identifying transgender children.  This is not an unreasonable but still arguable figure.  This means that in a school of 400 students, it is likely that 2 children will identify as transgendered.  How is the school equipped to identify theirs or other LGB students needs?  Is an anti bullying policy enough?  Are the teachers equipped to identify these students?  Are the "qualified" assistants employed in the classrooms equipped to identify and adequately counsel these children?

This is only the beginning of the problem since most LGBT students will stay under the radar to avoid any kind of discrimination from their classmates, teachers or school administrators.  This of course entirely ignores any acknowledgement of their being LGBT at home.  Teachers will argue that their responsibility is to teach curriculum.   They are correct, but they are also obliged to present a solid social role model to their students.  If that was not the case, then simply put the children in front of a computer; there would be no need for teachers.  This of course is ludicrous but a point made none the less.  Teachers are not taught to be counsellors and as such have little or no skills for dealing with problem behaviours.  They have no skills for dealing with LGBT students.

Equally problematic are the teaching assistants or educational assistants if you will.  Their qualifications have to be proven before they can be hired.  These qualifications include a formal education such as Child and Youth Counselling, Early Childhood Education or Developmental Services.  It is a reasonable demand since they will be working with children who are struggling with their educations either from a physical or mental disability or disadvantage.  These people receive education on normal growth and development and abnormal growth and development.  They are highly trained to identify problems with children and in some cases qualified to provide counselling.

The problem here is the quality of their education and the currency of their knowledge.  If these professionals received incorrect information during their own educations (and that is quite likely to be the case) then their effectiveness in supporting LGBT youth is limited at best.  The fact is that most will not see or differentiate between sex and gender treating gender identity as a sexual orientation.  This approach will harm not help the child.  Still, all of this depends entirely upon the child's willingness to make a disclosure.  If the "counsellor" is not empathetic enough, or the child doesn't feel protected, s/he will not come out and instead, continue to feed either current or future mental problems.

All of this lends itself to a lack of protection for LGBT children.  Unfortunately, most anti-bullying actions occur after the fact.  The schools need to be proactive in protecting these children who are at risk of becoming victims.  They also need to be proactive in educating the students about sexual orientation AND gender identification.  To do so requires educating everyone from the bottom to the top.  It requires a commitment by the school boards and all employees to be aware of LGBT youth and protect the interests of all the children including those who would bully.  LGBT youth are at high risk and it falls upon the shoulders of adults to protect them.  If just one of them fails, then we have all failed and frankly, the lost life of just child is one too many.